On March 31, 2025, the gaming world is reeling from a bombshell dropped by Asmongold, one of the most influential streamers in the industry, as he exposed what he claims is a deep-seated bias in the Game of the Year (GOTY) voting process. Known for his unfiltered takes, Asmongold has ignited a firestorm by alleging that titles like Black Myth: Wukong, Stellar Blade, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 are being systematically sidelined—not for their quality, but because they refuse to conform to what he calls a “woke agenda” infiltrating gaming journalism. His analysis of voting irregularities, particularly around Black Myth: Wukong, has raised serious questions about fairness, transparency, and the influence of media outlets like IGN in shaping industry narratives.

The controversy erupted when Asmongold dissected IGN’s GOTY voting process, which invited fans to vote in head-to-head matchups between games, with the winner determined by the most victories. Initially, Black Myth: Wukong—a Chinese-developed action RPG that sold over 20 million copies and set Steam records for concurrent players—dominated the poll with a 90% win rate. But within a single hour, its vote count plummeted by 51,000, dropping its win rate to 72%. Meanwhile, competitors like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Helldivers 2 saw their vote counts rise by just 3,000 each in the same window. Asmongold, diving into the statistics, pointed out the mathematical impossibility of such a drastic drop without corresponding gains for other games. “The math doesn’t add up,” he said in a recent stream, highlighting how the win rate of Wukong’s additional duels was an implausible 9%, suggesting either bot interference or deliberate manipulation.

What made matters worse was IGN’s response—or lack thereof. Shortly after Wukong’s vote count tanked, IGN tweeted an update about their GOTY poll, conspicuously excluding Black Myth: Wukong from the conversation entirely. Asmongold called this “a degree of shamelessness I’ve never seen,” accusing IGN of erasing the game to suppress its success. This isn’t the first time Wukong has faced scrutiny from Western media. In 2024, IGN published a report criticizing developer Game Science for alleged sexism, based on mistranslated comments from founder Feng Ji. Asmongold later highlighted evidence that these translations were inaccurate, framing Feng’s words as lewd when they were not. The article, which also referenced the studio’s refusal to work with consultancy firm Sweet Baby Inc.—a group accused of pushing diversity quotas for a $7 million fee—seemed designed to smear Wukong’s reputation.

Asmongold’s critique extends beyond Wukong. He argues that Stellar Blade and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 have faced similar bias. Stellar Blade, a South Korean action game, drew ire for its protagonist Eve, whose fit and curvy design—based on a real Korean model—was labeled “unrealistic” and “harmful” by critics, despite fan appreciation for its authenticity. The game’s director, Hyung-Tae Kim, emphasized creative freedom over diversity quotas, a stance that clashed with Western media expectations. Similarly, Space Marine 2 was criticized for its lack of a female protagonist, with outlets calling the decision regressive, even though the game adheres to the male-dominated lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch, in a 2024 comment on Asmongold’s YouTube channel, expressed frustration with games that “impose morals,” hoping Space Marine 2 and Wukong signal a return to fun-focused gaming.

The Game Awards 2024 further fueled the controversy. Despite nominations, Black Myth: Wukong, Stellar Blade, and Space Marine 2 were overshadowed, with Astro Bot taking GOTY. Wukong did win Best Action Game and the Players’ Voice award, the latter determined solely by fan votes, suggesting a disconnect between public sentiment and jury decisions. Asmongold and others have pointed to the Awards’ voting system—90% jury, 10% public—as a potential source of bias, especially given the jury’s composition of over 120 media outlets, including IGN. Posts on X reflect fan frustration, with many calling the process “rigged” and pointing to Wukong’s commercial success as evidence of its worthiness.

Asmongold’s revelations have sparked a broader conversation about the role of media in gaming. Are outlets like IGN prioritizing political agendas over merit? The backlash against Wukong, Stellar Blade, and Space Marine 2 suggests a pattern: games that prioritize creative freedom over forced inclusivity are often marginalized. Asmongold’s call for accountability resonates with millions, urging gamers to question the narratives they’re fed. As the industry moves into 2025, the choice is clear—will the community demand fairness, or let bias dictate the future of gaming?