In December 2022, supporters of Sonic Frontiers and Genshin Impact campaigned against one another for The Game Awards’ Players’ Voice award, a category decided by public voting. Social-media calls to vote—including the #SonicSweep hashtag—turned the final round into a noisy fandom contest. Claims that either side used bots or vote inducements were not established by the contemporaneous reports.
What was the Players’ Voice contest?
Players’ Voice was The Game Awards’ public-voted category in 2022. The final field reported on December 7 comprised five games: Elden Ring, Genshin Impact, God of War Ragnarök, Sonic Frontiers, and Stray. Push Square’s December 7 report covered the finalists and the arguments around the vote.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sonic Frontiers - Nintendo Switch | $21.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 | $47.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sonic Frontiers (Switch) Import Region Free | $26.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sonic x Shadow Generations Nintendo Switch Video Game - EU Version Region Free | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Sonic Origins Plus (Day One Edition) | $21.85 | Buy on Amazon |
The dispute was between supporters campaigning for their preferred games; it is not evidence of a formal rivalry between Sega and HoYoverse, nor does it establish that the voting was fraudulent.
How the vote snapshots changed
Reports published on different days captured sharply different moments in a fast-moving final round. They should be read as dated snapshots, not combined into a single tally or treated as the official result.
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#1 Best Overall
- Race across five massive overworlcl islands, each with their own unique action-platforming challenges and hidden secrets to uncover
- Blaze a trail as you see fit and discover side quests, solve puzzles, scale enormous structures, go fishing, and encounter a firendly face or two along the way
- Unlock Cyber Space levels featuring signature 3D platforming at Sonic speeds and a variety of challenges to test your skills like never before
- Use the all-new battle system and skill tree upgrades, combining moves such as dodges, parries, counters, combos, and the new Cyloop ability to take down mysterious foes
- Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes
| Report and date | Snapshot | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| PC Gamer, December 5, 2022 | Sonic Frontiers 48%; Genshin Impact 29%; Elden Ring 13%; God of War: Ragnarök 8%; Stray 2% | A time-specific report of the final-round standings, not the final tally. PC Gamer |
| GamesRadar+, December 6, 2022 | Genshin Impact 52%; Sonic Frontiers 32%; the remaining finalists were behind | A separate snapshot taken at a different time, not the official final result. GamesRadar+ |
| PC Gamer, December 6, 2022 | The two leaders appeared tied at the last available check | PC Gamer said the displayed results were no longer available, so its report could not reconstruct the final tally. PC Gamer |
The differing figures are not necessarily contradictory: each outlet described what it saw at a particular time. Neither snapshot proves who ultimately won, and the cited contemporaneous coverage does not provide an official 2022 final tally.
How the two fan campaigns played out
Sonic Frontiers supporters
Sonic Frontiers supporters urged people to vote and used #SonicSweep as a campaign phrase. PC Gamer reported that Evan Bader, identified in its coverage as Sega senior PR manager, posted, “Can we get a Sonic Sweep?!?!?!” That public encouragement is documented; it does not by itself establish anything about how votes were counted.
Rank #2
- The Comprehensive Experience: Experience Sonic's lates 3D adventure, featuring all game mode and content updates in one package. Beyond Sonic, also play as Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, each with their own unique abilities and fighting styles in the "Final Horizon" campaign.
- Open 3D Adventure: Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes. Race across five massive overworlds islands - each, a unique action-platforming challenge and loaded with hidden secrets to uncover.
- Action-Packed Combat System: Combine moved such as dodges, parries, counters, and combos with a battle system and set of skill tree upgrades that allow you to fight more strategically than ever before. Against mysterious foes and colossal titans, use the new Cycloop ability to take them down!
- Additional Bonus Content: Get even more out of the entire Sonic Frontiers content: Explorer's Treasure Box, "Monster Hunter" Collaboration Pack, "Sonic Adventure 2" Shoes, Holiday Cheer Suit, and a special Digital Art Book with Mini Soundtrack.
- Game-key card: 32 GB Full game download via internet required.
Genshin Impact supporters
Genshin Impact supporters also organized around the vote, and their game was ahead in GamesRadar+’s December 6 snapshot. The reporting describes accusations that supporters were being offered in-game rewards in exchange for votes, but PC Gamer said it found no evidence for that claim.
Social-media campaigning and allegations about tactics became part of the story, but the cited reports do not verify claims that either group used bots or that Genshin Impact votes were bought with rewards. Treat those statements as allegations, not established facts.
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- Race across five massive overworld islands, each with their own unique action-platforming challenges and hidden secrets to uncover
- Blaze a trail as you see fit and discover side quests, solve puzzles, scale enormous structures, go fishing, and encounter a friendly face or two along the way
- Unlock Cyber Space levels featuring signature 3D platforming at Sonic speeds and a variety of challenges to test your skills like never before
- Use the all-new battle system and skill tree upgrades, combining moves such as dodges, parries, counters, combos, and the new Cyloop ability to take down mysterious foes
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
Was Players’ Voice 100% fan voted?
PC Gamer described the 2022 Players’ Voice category as entirely up to the public. The Game Awards’ official 2025 Players’ Voice page also describes a public-vote process, with three rounds narrowing 30 nominees to 10 and then five. Those are 2025 figures; they should not be applied to the 2022 contest.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reports can—and cannot—tell us
The contemporaneous coverage establishes that the contest drew visible campaigning, rapidly changing reported standings, and accusations traded between fans. It does not establish an audited vote record, prove the bot or inducement claims, or supply an official 2022 winner. One supporter quoted by Push Square, Katie Chrz, urged fans to keep the contest in perspective: “Whether we win or lose, remember this is a celebration for great games. The path to the top doesn’t have to be lonely and certainly shouldn’t mean war.”
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 16 classic titles, 1 timeless collection
- Premium physical edition
- Classic sonic re-defined in widescreen hd
- Classic and anniversary modes
- New playable characters
Rank #4
- Past meets present in SONIC GENERATIONS! Modern and Classic Sonic team up to defeat Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater to restore their timeline to normal!
- Spin dash through a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D versions of iconic stages from past Sonic games, now with updated visuals and reworked cinematics
- In this new standalone campaign, Black Doom has reemerged and threatens to take over the world. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.
- Harness Shadow's new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions. DLC content may or may not work unless selecting the proper region.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
