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Megabonk Pulled From Game Awards Debut Indie Category at Developer’s Request

The creator says previous games released under other names make the nomination ineligible.

Overview

  • The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley confirmed Megabonk’s removal from Best Debut Indie and thanked the developer for the clarification.
  • The developer, who publishes as vedinad and signs posts as “John Megabonk,” said the game is not a first release due to earlier projects under different studio names.
  • The category is intended for a new independent studio’s first shipped game, a definition organizers reiterated while honoring the withdrawal.
  • Coverage notes renewed debate over what counts as “indie” or a true “debut,” citing how funding, publishers and prior credits complicate eligibility.
  • The developer has not disclosed their past work, and Megabonk remains a Steam hit with reports of 1 million sales in two weeks and a new update “coming soon.”