The sound of a beast's roar thundered through the theater, followed by another earth-shaking bellow. In the darkness, a flash of steel cut cleanly through flesh. On the screen stood a warrior, helmeted, shield raised, sword gleaming, unyielding against the void.
Behind him, an immense black dragon dissolved into shimmering starlight, ascending toward the heavens. It was the legendary moment of the Dragonborn's descent, the sealing of Alduin from the world, rendered with breathtaking grandeur.
The instant this scene appeared, the audience already knew.
"Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim!" The host's voice rang out, carried by the swelling, passionate Dragonborn battle hymn.
In that moment, countless fans of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim erupted into cheers, their excitement bursting forth like a dam finally broken.
On the other side, Steven let out a quiet sigh and shook his head, though he quickly joined in the applause. If he claimed he didn't mind Epic Continent losing Game of the Year, it would be a lie, but even so, he had to admit that The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim earning this honor was entirely justified.
If the award had gone to any other title, Steven might have walked out without hesitation. But this was The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Against that, he had no argument. Because this game had truly earned it.
Next came another major award: Best Game Producer of the Year. This time, it unexpectedly went to Steven. However, compared to the thunderous reaction that greeted The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and the absent John, who had missed the ceremony due to his wedding, the audience's response felt noticeably more subdued. The emotional peak had already passed; the earlier excitement had drained the room.
Backstage, Koch glanced at the stack of trophies beside him and couldn't help but smack his lips in amazement.
"I really rode President John's coattails and left my own mark in gaming history," he muttered with a grin.
Despite knowing the awards had little to do with him personally, the fact that he was the one standing on stage to receive them filled him with genuine excitement. When people looked back on this year's International Game Awards, his presence would be impossible to ignore.
As the ceremony concluded, news of PixelPioneers Games' triumph and the unexpected twists during the event spread across the globe like wildfire.
Overseas, PixelPioneers hadn't always been a household name. Many players recognized their titles, such as Resident Evil, Resident Evil Resistance, and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, but not necessarily the studio behind them. Now, with The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim claiming Game of the Year, countless international players finally took notice of this exceptional developer.
Of course, what fascinated them even more was the story of John and Luna. Across major international gaming communities, discussions exploded:
"The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim winning Game of the Year was expected. It was basically a two-horse race. What surprised me is that the developer skipped the ceremony… to get married?!"
"Did you see the wedding video? John is so young! I imagined someone more like Steven."
"This is unbelievably romantic, winning the industry's highest honor on your wedding day, and having such a beautiful bride."
"Breaking news, I found something on a Huaxia video site. When John proposed, he actually built a custom VR experience!"
At the same time, some resourceful players managed to dig up footage of John's proposal.
"Damn, if my boyfriend proposed like that, I'd marry him instantly!"
"Boyfriend? Your profile says you're a man!"
"Yeah, and? Can't a man have a boyfriend?"
"…Fair enough. I'll see myself out."
Meanwhile, back home, players and media, especially those who hadn't watched the ceremony live, woke up the next morning to an overwhelming flood of news. As they unlocked their phones and opened chat groups, forums, and social feeds, they were momentarily stunned.
What happened overnight? It felt like an earthquake had shaken the entire gaming industry. Everywhere, people were talking about PixelPioneers Games. Not just gamers, but even sectors like finance and mainstream media had picked up the story, reporting on PixelPioneers winning the international Game of the Year award. Even the national news broadcast dedicated nearly a full minute to the achievement, a rare and prestigious recognition.
Within the domestic industry, employees across countless game companies were discussing PixelPioneers and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. There was no doubt: this was a landmark moment.
For the first time, a domestic game developer had claimed such a heavyweight international award. In the past, there had been nominations, even smaller wins, but when it came to the top honor, they had always fallen short.
Of course, some argued that this year's competition was simply between The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Epic Continent. But anyone with discernment understood the truth; those two titles stood far above the rest. They weren't just competitors; they were anomalies. Whether placed in any previous year, either game would have dominated the field.
At the same time, many players expressed sympathy for Epic Continent. Despite collecting numerous smaller awards, it had lost the most important one. Even though Steven secured Best Game Producer, individual recognition simply couldn't compare to winning Game of the Year.
Naturally, there were still critics. Some claimed that awarding The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim was a strategic move to expand into the market, suggesting commercial bias. But such voices were quickly drowned out. Was it "fair" when foreign games won awards, but "manipulated" when a domestic game succeeded?
Media outlets worldwide placed The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim front and center in their headlines. Even organizations unrelated to gaming seized the moment, though their coverage focused more on the story behind the success, on John, Luna, and PixelPioneers.
As for the players, once the initial excitement settled, anticipation began to grow again. Their eyes turned toward the future, to PixelPioneers Games' next project, the highly anticipated Metal Gear: Phantom Pain.
Meanwhile, as the world buzzed with discussion, John and Luna quietly stepped away from the noise. Shielded from the frenzy of the internet, they spent a peaceful and joyful honeymoon in Hawaii, accompanied only by the discreet protection of their bodyguards.