A guy playing an alto flute in The Game Awards orchestra won the night

Tonight’s Sport Awards was in all probability one of many extra entertaining showcases within the occasion’s 10-year historical past and it has nothing to do with any of the video games that swept the awards and every thing to do with a man and his flute.

Al Pacino began the present, not with a bang however with a poorly legible whimper because the celebrated actor struggled to learn the no-doubt tiny phrases of the teleprompter. Then Christopher Choose, in accepting the award for Finest Efficiency for his unbelievable, soulful, and heartening efficiency as Kratos, rambled for a great handful of minutes longer than he ought to have. Although his speech was a bit awkward and long-winded, I firmly consider Mr. Keighley let Choose go on for so long as he did as a way to maintain the remainder of the present blessedly transient and to probably reduce off Josef Fares if he determined to get all curse-y once more.

Al Pacino wasn’t the one aged performing legend to take the stage. Michael Madsen, who I’m positive numerous the youthful Gen Z-ers within the viewers in all probability gained’t even acknowledge, got here out to advertise 505 Video games latest title Crime Boss. The crime motion sport options not solely Madsen however — get this — Kim Basinger, Danny Trejo, Michael Rooker, Daimon Poiter (no relation), Danny Glover, and, curiously, Vanilla Ice.

However regardless of all of the awards and bulletins (what’s it with Kojima and infants?) tonight’s winner by a rustic mile was a curly haired session musician by the title of Pedro Eustache and the infectious, ebullient vitality with which he performed his flutes.

Over the last efficiency of the night time, The Sport Awards orchestra performed a medley of all the principle theme’s of the video games nominated for Sport of the Yr. Throughout Elden Ring’s part, the digicam reduce to Eustache who was rocking the hell out pumping his fist within the air as he performed a humorous trying curved flute. (An alto flute for all my fellow band nerds on the market which was, sarcastically, not the weirdest instrument of the occasion since Bear McCreary bought on stage with a hurdy-gurdy earlier within the night time.) This man was superior! He had simply essentially the most pleasant and impressed efficiency by a flautist since Jethro Tull or Will Ferrel’s bit in Anchorman. Eustache grew to become an on the spot hit on social media with Twitter flooding with feedback praising Eustache’s breakout efficiency.

The Verge has reached out to Eustache to listen to extra of his story and to listen to extra about why he was simply so into his efficiency and I hope to listen to again from him quickly. This man has change into an on the spot legend and made the 2 and a half hour lengthy trek by gaming’s longest business nicely value it.