Fact check: What happened to the WGA award for writing in video games?

1. Summary of the results

The WGA video game writing award existed from 2008 to 2019, recognizing notable games like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us ^[1]. The category was discontinued after the 2019 awards ^[2], with the WGA stating they would only reinstate it when there is a "critical mass of videogames covered by the WGA" ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial factors contributed to the award's discontinuation:

• Structural Issues: There were insufficient WGA members submitting game scripts and limited pathways for game writers to become full WGA members ^[3]
• Industry Criticism: Notable game writers provided different perspectives on the decision:
• Neil Druckmann and Josh Scherr called it "a misguided slap in the face" and "incredibly short-sighted" ^[3]
• Chet Faliszek and Shawn Kittelsen suggested the award was primarily a membership recruitment tool for the WGA ^[4]
• Industry Trends: The removal may also reflect a decrease in AAA story-driven games and limited mainstream exposure for game writing ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple question of "what happened" masks several important contextual elements:

• Recognition Continues Elsewhere: While the WGA dropped the category, other organizations like BAFTA and The Game Awards continue to recognize video game writing ^[1]
• Power Dynamics: The situation reveals a complex relationship between:
• The WGA, which benefits from maintaining exclusive membership requirements
• Game writers, who are effectively excluded from recognition despite their work
• Traditional entertainment industry structures that may not fully understand or accommodate the gaming industry's unique characteristics

The situation appears to be less about the quality of game writing and more about institutional barriers and industry politics.