It's been five years since Xbox boss Phil Spencer joined PlayStation's Shawn Layden and Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aimé on-stage at The Game Awards 2018 - delivering a lovely speech about unity across the gaming industry. Half a decade on, as part of a recent Q&A session ahead of this year's awards show, TGA host Geoff Keighley looked back on the now-famous gaming moment.
During this Q&A chat, Keighley was asked about whether such a coming together could ever happen again. The host was doubtful of a repeat despite being open to one, and he also took a few moments to discuss the "special" circumstances at TGA 2018:
"It was a special time when we did that, it was unique, and I think to repeat that moment - I don't know, you can't do it every year. If there was a reason for that to come together in an interesting way I think it could happen [again]. I was really proud of that, I was so excited when we finally were able to make that happen.
The stars aligned, it worked out, it was amazing, and I now focus on other things that we can do and not necessarily like 'let's do that moment again'. But yeah, we're open to it if the stars aligned, as I said."
As for this year's show, we're not entirely sure what to expect aside from the Baldur's Gate 3 release date announcement for Xbox. There's been some controversy already about Bethesda's Starfield not making the GOTY nominee list, but there are some Xbox titles up for other awards at the show - including Starfield in the 'Best RPG' category. We'll have to see how everything shakes out when the show goes ahead on December 7th.
As for a moment like this specifically, we agree that the 2018 coming together was special, and after everything that's happened over Microsoft's ActiBlizz deal since - we can't see something like it happening again anytime soon!
Do you remember this moment fondly? Tell us what you want to see at the 2023 show down below!
Comments 6
For a brief moment we had a glimpse of a better timeline with less tribalism and gamers uniting. Can't see it happening now.
Replicating this would be impossible with Jim Ryan, but maybe the next PlayStation head will be less of a Jim Ryan.
@themightyant I think it’s possible. MS and Nintendo still have a close relationship, and I can see Bowser going in on such an appearance. The issue is all on Sony leadership, and that is about to change early next year, so who knows. Maybe next year or the following. Whomever is lead at Sony will be highly incentivized to work with MS due to CoD, and depending on attitudes, things might work again.
Proof that the “console wars” is made-up nonsense in the minds of fanboy losers.
@Tharsman To be honest I think MS trying to buy out the whole industry has severed any relations that might have been there. Like an oil/sugar daddy rich football club just cherry picking all the best players from other smaller clubs then asking to 'be friends' afterwards doesn't always work. Then fans of such club telling the 'smaller' club fans they are being petty and are the problem doesn't endear them either.
But who cares really. Competition raises the bar. As Klopp and Guardiola said, the rivalry has pushed them both to up their game.
@StonyKL even if we wanted to make a case for MS acquisitions being the reason, that does not explain:
A) how come Nintendo still having a fruitful relationship with Microsoft
B) Sony having a terrible relationship with Nintendo
The truth is Sony does not get along with anyone. They want to be the only player, and that mindset has been dialed up to 11 under Jimmy's leadership.
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