Yes. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2024. The awards’ published FAQ says games from previous years can remain eligible in any category when the jury considers their new content, improvements, or service updates meritorious. That is a conditional rule—not a promise that every expansion automatically qualifies.
Was Shadow of the Erdtree a Game of the Year nominee?
Yes. The Game Awards’ official 2024 nominee announcement named Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree among that year’s Game of the Year nominees. That establishes the specific outcome: this expansion was eligible and made the shortlist. It does not, by itself, establish that every DLC or expansion can enter GOTY automatically.
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Can DLC or an expansion qualify for The Game Awards’ GOTY?
The published FAQ & Rules says: “Games released in previous years are eligible in all award categories, so long as the jury feels their inclusion is merited due to new content, improvements or service updates.” This is the clearest general guidance for expansions and updated games: prior release does not necessarily rule a game out, but the jury must consider the new material or changes worthy of inclusion.
The FAQ does not spell out a separate universal rule saying every expansion is eligible as an independent GOTY entry. The careful answer is therefore that DLC can be represented in GOTY under the published conditional eligibility language, and Shadow of the Erdtree is a concrete precedent—not that any expansion automatically receives a nomination or competes under a guaranteed separate category.
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How are nominees and winners selected?
The Game Awards FAQ describes nominations in most categories as coming from an international jury of more than 100 media and influencer outlets. Each outlet submits a confidential, unranked ballot; the five games appearing on the most ballots become nominees, with additional nominees possible in a tie. The FAQ says the winner is determined by a blended vote: 90% jury and 10% public fan vote. These are the published mechanics; they do not reveal the jury’s specific deliberations about Shadow of the Erdtree.
Does the annual cutoff change eligibility?
Yes. The FAQ gives the cutoff for public consumption for the 2025 awards as November 21, 2025, at 9 p.m. PT, and says releases after that cutoff are eligible for the 2026 ceremony. The date is specific to that awards cycle; consult the current FAQ for the applicable year rather than treating it as a permanent cutoff. The FAQ’s separate statement about prior-year games concerns whether new content, improvements, or service updates merit consideration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is Shadow of the Erdtree, and can you play it without Elden Ring?
Bandai Namco describes Shadow of the Erdtree as an expansion and new chapter for ELDEN RING, taking players to the Realm of Shadow with new bosses, gear, abilities, weapons, and armor. Its June 21, 2024 launch announcement listed PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
The publisher’s product page states that the DLC requires the ELDEN RING base game. It lists a Shadow of the Erdtree Edition combining the base game and expansion, as well as a Deluxe Edition that adds digital artbooks and soundtracks. The publisher’s August 28, 2026 announcement describes a Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 that includes the base game and expansion. Check the relevant platform’s current listing for availability and edition details.
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What the nomination does—and does not—mean
The nomination means the jury included Shadow of the Erdtree among the 2024 GOTY nominees. It demonstrates that an expansion can be considered for that award under The Game Awards’ approach. It does not make all expansions automatically eligible, guarantee a nomination, or establish a separate GOTY award reserved for DLC.
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