Red Desert won the Golden Joystick Award for "Best PC Game," but discussions surrounding the result extended beyond the game itself. The nomination lineup, scope of eligibility, and voting mechanism for this category became the main focus of player controversy.
This year's nominees included Starfall Decree, Star Wars: Zero Squadron, and Dawnwalker's Blood. Some players felt that only the latter two titles could truly compete in terms of scale and quality; others questioned whether certain games that had remained in Early Access for an extended period should be eligible for annual awards years after their 1.0 release.
Award categories and the timing of the ceremony also influenced the pool of nominees. Console games were placed in a separate category, so Resident Evil: Requiem competed for the top annual award and was not included in the Best PC Game shortlist. With the ceremony held in early November, titles released during the winter season were also ineligible for this year's awards.
The Golden Joystick Awards are decided by player votes. Supporters of Red Desert primarily highlighted its open-world scale, freedom of action, and long-term playability, while critics focused on world content, narrative, and media review scores. Pearl Abyss previously adjusted the storyline via a patch, indicating that the team had taken note of related feedback. Differing opinions do not represent all players, and the award result alone cannot serve as definitive proof of a title's quality.