Megabonk — the roguelike, 3D bullet-hell sensation that sat comfortably atop Steam’s charts for weeks — recently earned a nomination for Best Debut Indie at The Game Awards. But instead of celebrating a career-defining moment, its developer, known online as vedinad, has chosen to step back from the category for an unexpectedly admirable reason.
Initially, Megabonk was listed alongside other breakout indie hits like Dispatch, Blue Prince, Despelote, and the current GOTY darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With Megabonk pulling out, the category now temporarily stands at four contenders.
Why Megabonk Pulled Out
In a post shared on the game’s official X account, vedinad — affectionately dubbed “John Megabonk” by the community — explained the decision clearly:
“I’m withdrawing from The Game Awards. It’s an honor and a dream for Megabonk to be nominated… but unfortunately, I don’t think it qualifies for the category ‘Debut Indie Game.’ I’ve made games in the past under different studio names, so Megabonk is not my debut game.”
They ended the message by thanking fans for their support, adding that voters should throw their energy behind one of the actual debut titles in the lineup.
It’s a rare thing in the industry — a creator voluntarily stepping away from a major awards spotlight out of fairness. Unsurprisingly, the community reacted with overwhelming respect. The comments quickly filled with praise, plus a healthy dose of playful speculation about which earlier studio name might belong to vedinad. The prevailing theory? Danidev, the Norwegian developer behind Crab Game and Karlson 3D. Of course, that’s still nothing more than fan detective work.
What Happens Next?
The big question now is whether TGA will simply move forward with a four-game race or introduce a replacement nominee. Either option would make sense, and fans are already weighing in with their preferred solution.
