Megabonk retires from TGA after incorrect nomination in indie debut

The indie developer behind the Megabonk game withdrew the title from The Game Awards (TGA) after being nominated for Best Debut Indie Game. The developer admitted that Megabonk does not qualify for the category as he is not a new creator.

The developer, known as John Megabonk and who presented himself as Vedinad, shared the decision on social media: “I am withdrawing from The Game Awards. It is an honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated for TGA, but unfortunately I do not think it qualifies for the 'Best Debut Indie Game' category. I have made games in the past under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut game.”

The honesty of the creator came in contrast with the confusion caused by his mysterious identity, which led to the incorrect nomination. He asked fans to vote for other titles, saying: "You should vote for another of the amazing debut titles, they are all amazing games! Thank you again! New Megabonk update coming soon."

Geoff Keighley, creator of The Game Awards, confirmed that the nomination was officially removed from the category: "We are grateful for his honesty. As a result, Megabonk will be removed from the category," wrote Keighley, respecting the developer's decision to not take recognition away from "other debut teams."

The controversy raises criticism about the category's criteria, as other nominated titles, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dispatch, are the first games from new studios, but their developers have already worked in other companies.

Despite the withdrawal, Expedition 33 made history at TGA 2025, becoming the most nominated game of all time with 12 nominations, including Game of the Year. The other games remaining in the Best Debut Indie Game category are Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Despelote, and Dispatch.