Logo

The Game Awards 2025 — Date, Nominations, How to Watch

Roni Sarkar
Roni Sarkar
Published: 3 months ago
The Game Awards 2025 — Date, Nominations, How to Watch

Mark your calendar for December 11 and get ready for The Game Awards 2025. On this night, gamers, developers, and tech fans from around the world gather to celebrate the year’s biggest achievements in gaming. Expect an exciting evening filled with announcements and trailers that will light up your social feeds. This guide has all the essentials: when and where to watch, streaming options, nomination highlights, and tips to help you enjoy the event, whether you’re watching alone or with friends.

Quick facts: everything at a glance

  • Date: December 11, 2025.
  • Time (US): 8:00 PM ET—expected runtime ~3 hours (show typically runs 8–11 PM ET).
  • Venue: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles.
  • Where to stream live: Amazon Prime Video (first time streaming on Prime globally), plus the usual multi-platform streams. Prime members can watch without additional cost. This year, Prime Video will offer unique features such as exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive polls during the broadcast, and special Prime member rewards. Gamers can look forward to these added perks and enjoy a richer, more engaging viewing experience.
  • Nominations announced: November 17, 2025 (Noon ET). Full categories include Game of the Year, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Performance, and many more.

What are the Game Awards?

A quick primer

The Game Awards is an annual ceremony founded and produced by Geoff Keighley to celebrate excellence across the video game industry—think Oscars energy but for games. It’s a hybrid: awards, world premieres, live performances, and big-name presenters all rolled into one livestreamed production. The event connects developers, publishers, streamers, and players.

Why it matters

For studios and indies, a Game Awards nomination or win is both recognition and a marketing rocket boost. For players, it’s the moment to discover standout titles and get hyped for new releases. For everyone else, it’s a three-hour spectacle with trailers designed to dominate the next month’s headlines.

Date, time, and venue—the logistics you actually need

When exactly does it start?

The main broadcast is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET on December 11, 2025. If you’re outside the U.S., that time will shift—for example, that’s typically around 01:00–02:00 CET the next day for much of Europe. Always check a timezone converter so you don’t miss the opening monologue.

Where is it being held?

This year, the ceremony will be staged at Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles (the venue formerly known as Microsoft Theater), right inside the L.A. LIVE complex. It’s a large-capacity performance space built for televised events and big shows.

Tickets and attending in person

Public tickets generally go on sale ahead of the event—check the official Game Awards site for availability and updates. If you plan to attend, expect strict production schedules, security checks, and limited re-entry.

How to watch The Game Awards 2025 online—streaming options

Prime Video takes center stage.

For the first time, The Game Awards will stream live on Amazon Prime Video globally, so Prime members can tune in without an extra charge. This partnership expands the broadcast’s reach and may include Prime-specific features, deals, or integrations during the show.

Other platforms and formats

The Game Awards streams across multiple platforms like Twitch, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and other regional services. While each of these platforms offers high-quality streams, the experience varies. The Twitch broadcast is especially known for its vibrant community features, such as interactive chats and Twitch Drops, but this can lead to a chaotic viewing experience. To join the interactive chat on Twitch, simply log into your Twitch account and navigate to The Game Awards channel during the broadcast. Claiming Twitch Drops requires you to link your Twitch account with the corresponding game account, which can be done in the settings menu of your Twitch profile. Additionally, keep an eye out for community polls that might appear in the chat, allowing you to engage actively with fellow viewers. On the other hand, Prime Video provides a cleaner, more streamlined feed with fewer distractions, allowing viewers to focus on the awards presentation itself. When choosing your viewing platform, consider whether you crave the interactive chaos of Twitch or the focused clarity of Prime.

Pro tips for smooth streaming

  • For the most stable stream, use a wired internet connection if available. Wi-Fi can cause hiccups, especially during peak events.
  • Log in to Prime a bit early to avoid last-minute login hiccups.
  • If you rely on a VPN, test a minute or two before showtime—streaming platforms sometimes rate-limit or block certain IP ranges.
  • Want to chat while watching? Open the Twitch/YouTube stream for the public chat; the Prime Video stream offers the broadcast without the same chat overlay.

Nominations—the full picture and category highlights

The nominations were released on November 17, 2025, at noon ET. The slate covers a broad set of categories—everything from Game of the Year to specialized awards like Innovation in Accessibility and Best Adaptation. The list below pulls the major categories together so you can see who’s in the running.

Game of the Year nominees

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Hades II
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

Notable category roundups

  • Best Game Direction: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Split Fiction.
  • Best Narrative: Clair Obscur, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Kingdom Come II, Silent Hill f.
  • Best Art Direction / Best Score and Music / Best Audio Design: Multiple overlaps among Clair Obscur, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Death Stranding 2, showing strong cross-category presence for these titles.

Standouts and nomination leaders

According to coverage, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 led the pack with a large number of nominations, establishing itself as a major contender across both creative and technical categories. Sony emerged as a heavily nominated publisher overall this year. (Crecente, 2025)

Full list (compact)—categories you’ll want to scan quickly

Below is a compacted, readable list of categories that were included in the official announcement. We’ve grouped them so your eye can find what matters to you fast: GOTY, narrative/art/audio, indie & mobile, multiplayer/esports, and specialty awards.

Creative & technical categories

  • Game of the Year
  • Best Game Direction
  • Best Narrative
  • Best Art Direction
  • Best Score and Music
  • Best Audio Design
  • Best Performance

Impact & accessibility

  • Games for Impact
  • Innovation in Accessibility

Ongoing, community & support

  • Best Ongoing Game
  • Best Community Support

Indie & debut

  • Best Independent Game
  • Best Debut Indie Game

Platform-specific & genre

  • Best Mobile Game
  • Best VR/AR Game
  • Best Action / Best Action-Adventure / Best RPG
  • Best Fighting / Best Family / Best Sim/Strategy / Best Sports/Racing / Best Multiplayer

Esports & creators

  • Content Creator of the Year
  • Best Esports Game / Best Esports Athlete / Best Esports Team

(Full, granular nominee lists per category were published with the November announcement.)

What these nominations say about 2025—quick analysis

2025’s list shows a balanced field where indie creativity and AAA spectacle both earned recognition. Several trends are clear:

  • Indie games remain forceful. The presence of multiple indie titles in top categories indicates the industry’s ongoing appetite for risk and artistic statements.
  • Cross-category dominance. A handful of titles appear across narrative, technical, and audio categories, highlighting studios that built cohesive packages rather than one-hit features.
  • Media adaptations matter. Best Adaptation nominees (from game-to-film or film-to-game) reflect the growing interplay between games and streaming/film IP.

Predictions—who’s likely to win (our quick takes)

We’re not crystal-ball fortune tellers, but some trends and nomination counts let us make sensible guesses:

  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks positioned to take multiple awards, given its high nomination count.
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades II are perennial favorites in creative categories—expect them to snag at least one big trophy.
  • Death Stranding 2 could win for narrative or direction, given the series’ pedigree and technical ambition.

Remember, winners are decided by a mix of jury (majority) and public votes, so community campaigns and juror preferences both influence outcomes.

How voting works (short and useful)

The Game Awards uses a weighted system: industry juries (media outlets and experts) account for a large share of the decision, while public voting contributes a smaller percentage (typically around 10%). (The Game Awards 2025 Nominations: Dates, Times, Streams, and What to Expect, 2025) There are special exceptions like Players’ Voice, which is fully public. Voting usually closes shortly before the ceremony. The jury composition and public platforms are listed on the official site around nomination time.

What to expect during the show—world premieres, music, and more

Trailers and world premieres

The Game Awards are famous for premiering trailers and surprise announcements. Expect a mix of big AAA reveals and indie showcases. This year’s Amazon partnership could amplify the scale of certain reveals, especially around IP tied to Prime Video properties.

Live performances and presenters

Musical guests and celebrity presenters are staples. The show often features in-person appearances from developers, actors, and content creators. With Amazon’s involvement, cross-promotion with TV show talent is possible.

Watch-party checklist—host like we mean it

  • Queue up the stream 10 minutes early. Start a countdown with friends.
  • Prepare snacks and a mute button. Trailers are loud. So are reactions.
  • Have a backup stream. If Prime hiccups, Twitch or YouTube usually carries the feed.
  • Vote in categories that allow public input. Don’t leave your favorite unvoted for.
  • Clip the best reveals. The first minutes after a big announcement are gold for social shares.

For developers and studios—why The Game Awards matters professionally

Sales and discoverability

Nominations increase discoverability, which can lead to sustained sales or renewed interest in catalog titles. A well-timed trailer or award mention often results in measurable traffic spikes.

Industry recognition

A juried win validates the team’s craft and can attract new collaborators, publishers, or talent. It signals both creative and technical credibility to peers and the press.

After the show—where to find highlights and analysis

Once the live stream ends, official channels post recorded highlights, acceptance speeches, and trailers. Game outlets and creators publish breakdowns and postmortems—perfect if you missed the live energy or want curated takes. Official recaps appear on The Game Awards website and partner platforms.

Quick FAQ (short answers you’ll actually use)

Q—How can I watch The Game Awards 2025 in my country?

A—Prime Video will carry the stream globally for Prime members. The show also streams to platforms like Twitch and YouTube in many regions; local outlet availability varies.

Q—When were the nominations announced?

A—November 17, 2025, at Noon ET.

Q—Who had the most nominations this year?

A—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 led nomination tallies, with multiple nods across categories.

Q—Is public voting open?

A—Public voting is available for many categories via the official site and social platforms until shortly before the ceremony; Players’ Voice typically opens later. Check the official Game Awards voting page for exact deadlines.

Q—Will there be Twitch Drops or platform-specific bonuses?

A—The show has offered community features in past years; with Prime Video as a partner, watch for possible Prime-related promotions. Specific Twitch Drop plans, if any, will be announced closer to the show.

Summary

The Game Awards 2025 promises to be a major industry moment: a December 11 live ceremony at Peacock Theater, streamed globally on Amazon Prime Video and other platforms. With nominations announced on November 17, the field features a mix of indie darlings and big-studio blockbusters—led by games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Whether you’re tuning in for the awards, the trailers, or the fashion choices, this year’s show will be a key cultural moment in gaming. Watch early, vote where you can, and keep your clip tool ready.

Five FAQs (expanded)

How do I watch The Game Awards 2025 live?

Stream it via Amazon Prime Video (included with Prime membership) or on the show’s official channels, such as Twitch and YouTube. Check local platform availability and time zones.

When were the official nominations released?

The nominations were announced on November 17, 2025, at Noon ET, covering all major categories from Game of the Year to Best Multiplayer and Best Esports Game.

Which titles are top contenders this year?

Titles repeatedly mentioned in major categories include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Clair Obscur notably led the nominations.

Does public voting affect winners?

Yes—public votes contribute to winners, but juried (industry) votes carry the majority weight. Players’ Voice and certain special categories may be fully public.

Will there be premieres and live performances?

Expect both: world premiere trailers and live musical performances are staples of the show. The Amazon Prime partnership may bring additional integrations and cross-promotional content.

References

Related posts