Game Awards 2025: Record Nominations, Major Reveals and Everything You Need to Know

The Gaming Industry’s Biggest Night Returns

The Game Awards 2025 is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, with Geoff Keighley returning to host the annual gaming celebration from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. This year’s event promises to be particularly significant, combining prestigious awards recognition with highly anticipated game announcements and world premieres.

Beyond the awards themselves, The Game Awards has become just as famous for its world premieres and major announcements. Industry insiders predict reveals ranging from new Silent Hill remakes to potential announcements from major franchises, making this year’s ceremony a must-watch event for gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

Historic Nominations Led by French Indie Studio

Leading the pack is the well-received French fantasy RPG adventure game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, with a total of 12 nominations — the most in the 11-year history of The Game Awards. This turn-based RPG, developed by Sandfall Interactive, a thirty-person studio from Montpellier, proves that an indie game can compete with the biggest budgets.

The coveted Game of the Year award is the biggest award of the night, and this year, the GOTY nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. This diverse lineup showcases everything from indie darlings to highly anticipated sequels, reflecting an exceptional year for gaming.

Major Reveals and Industry Anticipation

Speculation is rife about what major announcements will steal the spotlight. It has been revealed over on The Game Awards Twitter account that the release date will be revealed during the show for several anticipated titles, including Phantom Blade Zero. Meanwhile, rumours suggest potential appearances from Monolith Soft’s Project Legacy and other high-profile projects.

Finding a stream for The Game Awards 2025 won’t be difficult—the show will broadcast simultaneously across multiple platforms to reach the widest possible audience. Fans can vote from now through December 10 via The Game Awards’ website and Discord server.

Significance for the Gaming Industry

The Game Awards 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry. With an indie studio leading nominations and diverse representation across categories, the event highlights gaming’s evolution beyond traditional blockbuster dominance. The ceremony serves not only as recognition for creative excellence but also as a powerful marketing platform that can significantly boost sales for nominated titles.

For developers and publishers, the stakes are high. Sony Interactive Entertainment is the most nominated publisher this year with 19 nominations — three more than 2024′ when it also led — followed by Kepler Interactive with 13 nominations and Electronic Arts and Microsoft both with 10. These numbers reflect the competitive landscape and the importance of industry recognition in driving future success.