The Game Awards’ Future Class Program Still on Hold
▼ Summary
– The Game Awards has confirmed it will not induct a new Future Class for 2025 and has no active programming plans for current or past honorees.
– Organizers have removed the Future Class page from their website and are no longer monitoring the alumni Discord server, leaving no definitive record of past honorees.
– Former Future Class members feel neglected and disrespected, citing a lack of communication and support from the organization after their initial recognition.
– Honorees had previously pressured The Game Awards to address political issues and improve post-nomination support, but these efforts did not lead to sustained engagement.
– Alumni criticized the program for using marginalized individuals for publicity without providing meaningful ongoing support or opportunities.
The current status of The Game Awards’ Future Class program remains uncertain, with organizers confirming there will be no new cohort for 2025 and no active programming for past honorees. This marks the second consecutive year without new inductions into the initiative that previously spotlighted professionals representing video games’ inclusive future. Program director Emily Weir stated that last year’s activities concluded with the 2023 Future Class mixer and no subsequent classes are planned, though the dedicated Discord server will remain accessible for alumni networking.
Previous honorees report feeling abandoned by the organization, with many expressing disappointment about the lack of communication. Game writer Emma Kidwell, recognized in 2023, described repeatedly attempting to contact organizers through Discord messages without receiving responses. “It makes everything feel disingenuous,” she noted, adding that the silence suggests organizers “want us to go away quietly.” Fellow writer Anna Webster echoed these concerns, wishing the organization had been more transparent about the program’s status and characterizing a 2024 networking event as what now appears to have been “a last hoorah.”
The program’s online presence has diminished significantly, with The Game Awards removing the Future Class page from its website, effectively erasing the official record of past honorees. While the 2023 cohort appears missing from the program’s Medium page, organizers did update the Future Class Steam Curator page with games from recent inductees, suggesting possible internal inconsistencies in maintaining program archives.
Multiple alumni described the situation as particularly painful given the program’s original mission. Malek Teffaha, a 2022 honoree, shared that the news “honestly hurt,” explaining that participants believed the initiative would “bridge the gap between industry workers and leaders and help shape the future of the game industry.” JC Lau, another 2022 alum, expressed being “disappointed, but not surprised” by the development, questioning how support could exist without any communication from organizers throughout the past year.
The Future Class program faced internal challenges during 2023-2024 as honorees pressed for two significant changes. First, members urged host Geoff Keighley to advocate for a ceasefire during The Game Awards broadcast amid escalating conflict in Gaza, though no such statement was made. Second, alumni lobbied for improved post-nomination support, citing inadequate accommodations during ceremonies and minimal ongoing engagement after their recognition period ended. While organizers initially appeared receptive to this feedback and offered additional networking opportunities in 2024, these efforts weren’t sustained into 2025.
One anonymous alum criticized the approach, stating it seems “incredibly stupid” to gather talented industry professionals only to provide “the bare minimum” of support. They accused the organization of leveraging marginalized individuals for superficial recognition without substantive follow-through. The Game Awards has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the program’s indefinite hiatus and alumni concerns.
(Source: Game Developer)
