On June 19th, 2019, Desmond Amofah, more commonly known as Etika by his fans, decided to take his own life due to mental health issues. His passing away touched a great number of people in the gaming community, leaving an immense amount of fans in grief and shock. Many can say that Etika changed their lives, inspired them to be better, and love themselves for who they are.

We do not ask The Game Awards to grieve for Etika's death during the ceremony, but rather include a segment to celebrate his accomplishments and contributions to the community, as well as promote mental health awareness.

The gaming commmunity can sometimes be a toxic and hateful place, and slurs and insults often fly around during online games. Harmful comments made by complete strangers can wear down self-esteem, and can lead to depression, which, if left untreated, can push a person to suicide. Anxiety is also a common side effect to harsh treatment, and, when coupled with depression, is a major catalyst in the decision to leave the world behind.

Games should be about having fun and being entertained. Judging, bullying or rejecting others is not, and should not be a staple of the gaming experience. The Game Awards is a celebration of video games, both as an art form, and as a medium for people to connect and grow as a community. We ask the organizing comitee to let Etika's message reach the eyes and ears of gamers around the globe, to promote awareness for proper mental health care and help the Joycon Boyz (Etika's fans) make this world a better one to live in.

#JoyconBoyzForever