Megabonk has been removed from the Best Debut Indie Game ballot at The Game Awards 2025 after its solo creator admitted the title does not meet the category rules. The developer known as Vedinad said the game is not a debut because of prior releases under different studio names.
The announcement came via the official Megabonk X account, where the creator wrote that withdrawing felt like the right thing to do because the nomination was for debut studios only. The post thanked fans for the support and encouraged votes for other new indie teams.
I'm withdrawing from The Game Awards.
It's an honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated for TGA, but unfortunately i don't think it qualifies for the category "Debut Indie Game"
I've made games in the past under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut game 🥸
— Megabonk (@MegabonkGame) November 18, 2025
The Game Awards rules reserve Best Debut Indie Game for studios releasing their first major title in 2025. Even though Megabonk appears under a new studio identity, Vedinad said prior work disqualifies the entry from that specific category.
Geoff Keighley confirmed the withdrawal on X and thanked the developer for being forthright. Keighley added that the show would remove Megabonk from the category so the award remains focused on true first time studios.
.@MegabonkGame, a nominee for Best Debut Indie Game, reached out to clarify that he is an established solo developer who had been presenting himself as a new creator under the name Vedinad.
We’re grateful for his honesty. As a result, MegaBonk will be removed from the category. pic.twitter.com/mTR5lmMubb
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) November 18, 2025
With Megabonk gone the Best Debut Indie Game list drops from five to four nominees. That leaves titles such as Clair Obscur pushing forward with strong momentum and other first-time teams holding the field, which could change how voters and the jury weigh the category. Readers who want the full nomination context can see our earlier coverage of the nominations.
The decision has drawn praise from many corners of the indie scene for its transparency. The conversation around Megabonk also echoes an earlier moment where another developer told players to stop debating games online and just play, a comment we covered when Megabonk first gained attention Palworld dev comments highlight how community chatter can follow a breakout indie and shape its public image, for better or worse.
The Game Awards will stream live on Dec. 11 and fans can still vote through TheGameAwards.com by logging in with Google, X, Facebook, or Twitch. Fan voting counts for 10 percent of the final result while a jury of more than 100 outlets supplies the remaining 90 percent.
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