Megabonk has decided to withdraw from The Game Awards, stating, "It's an honor, but I don't think it qualifies for Debut Indie Game"

The creator known as Vedinad has decided to withdraw Megabonk from the Best Debut Indie Game category at the upcoming The Game Awards. This decision was announced shortly after the nominations for The Game Awards 2025 were revealed, where Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive dominated with nominations in ten categories, including Game of the Year.

Posting on social media, Vedinad stated that although he was honored by the nomination, Megabonk does not fit the criteria as it is not his first game. "I'm withdrawing from The Game Awards," he shared. "It’s a dream for Megabonk to be in the mix for TGA, but it doesn’t qualify as a debut indie game since I’ve developed games previously under various studio aliases."

In another message, he encouraged supporters to vote for other contenders in the category, stressing their remarkable quality. This message was signed 'John Megabonk'.

Geoff Keighley from The Game Awards later confirmed via social media that the developer clarified his experience as an established solo developer, which led to removing Megabonk from the debut category. Keighley expressed appreciation for Vedinad's transparency and intent not to overshadow new teams deserving of recognition, while acknowledging the excellence of the game itself.

Megabonk has already achieved significant success, selling over a million copies on Steam.