The Game Awards 2024 Opening Act brought us some of the year’s most exciting announcements, but for esports fans, it also served up a moment of whiplash. In what felt like the awards-show equivalent of a speedrun, the winners of three esports categories—Best Esports Game, Best Esports Athlete, and Best Esports Team—were announced in quick succession, and the whole segment wrapped up in under two minutes.

The winners? League of Legends (Best Esports Game), Faker (Best Esports Athlete), and T1 (Best Esports Team). If you’ve been paying any attention to the latter half of 2024, this should come as no surprise. Faker and T1’s historic fifth Worlds title win was the stuff of legends, revitalising both the game’s popularity and its place in esports history. League of Legends itself has also enjoyed a resurgence, solidifying its position as a juggernaut in competitive gaming.

But for all the prestige and effort that goes into making esports what it is, you’d think they’d get more than a passing mention. The brevity of the segment made it feel like a box-ticking exercise rather than a celebration. Sure, the main show is packed with announcements, performances, and awards to hand out—but surely the esports community deserves a little more time in the spotlight?

Esports isn’t just a genre of gaming; it’s a cultural phenomenon with millions of fans worldwide. Its players and teams dedicate their lives to competing at the highest level, and its games continue to push the boundaries of what multiplayer experiences can be.

Here’s hoping next year’s show gives esports its due—because these moments, and the people behind them, deserve more than a fleeting nod.