The Game Awards: Date, Time, Nominees, Voting and Past Winners

Summary: The Game Awards return on Thursday, December 10, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and streamed free worldwide. Nominees are usually revealed in mid-November, a jury of media outlets picks the winners with fans adding a share of the vote, and GTA 6's November 19 launch puts it right on the edge of eligibility. Below is the full date and time guide, how voting works, every Game of the Year so far, and why last year's sweep by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still shapes the race.

• When are the Game Awards? Thursday, December 10, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
• Game Awards nominees are expected in mid-November, with fan voting opening the same day.
• Last year's Game of the Year was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which won nine awards in total.
• The show streams free on YouTube, Twitch and other platforms, and is known for big game reveals.

The Game Awards are on Thursday, December 10. Host and producer Geoff Keighley confirmed the date in August, and the show returns to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for another year. It is the biggest night in video game awards, mixing trophies with world premieres, so expect the Game Awards announcements to dominate gaming news the next morning.

This guide covers the Game Awards time and how to watch, when the Game Awards nominees are revealed, how Game Awards voting works, and the full list of the Game Awards winners for Game of the Year.

When Are the Game Awards?

The ceremony is held on a Thursday in early or mid-December every year, and this year is no different. Here is how the date compares with recent shows:

When is the Game Awards in your time zone? It is an evening show in Los Angeles, which means late night in Europe and early morning on December 11 in Asia and Australia. Check the official Game Awards site closer to the date for the exact start time and the pre-show schedule.

Game Awards Time: When It Starts and How Long It Lasts

The Game Awards time is set for the US evening. In recent years the main show has started in the late afternoon Pacific time, which is evening on the US East Coast, with a pre-show running before it. The official start time is usually published a few weeks ahead.

How long is the Game Awards? The main broadcast usually runs around three hours, and longer if you count the pre-show. Most of that time goes to trailers and world premieres rather than the awards themselves, which is why the Game Awards reveals get as much attention as the winners.

How to Watch the Game Awards

The show is free to watch. It streams live on YouTube and Twitch, and has also been carried on platforms such as TikTok, X and Steam in previous years. You do not need an account or a subscription, and replays of the trailers go up on publishers' channels within minutes.

Game Awards Nominees: When They Are Announced

Game Awards nominees are usually revealed about three to four weeks before the show, in mid-November. Last year, the Game Awards nominations were announced on a Monday in the middle of November, and the same timing would put this year's list around November 16. Game Awards nominations cover more than 25 categories, from Game of the Year to Best Indie, Best Narrative and Best Esports Game.

Fall is packed with big releases, so the shortlist is hard to predict until the Game Awards nominees are out. Titles released before the eligibility cutoff in late November are in the running.

How Game Awards Voting Works

Game Awards voting has two parts. A jury of more than 100 media outlets from around the world decides most of the result, while fans can vote on the official site and in partner apps once the nominees are revealed. The fan vote counts for a smaller share, around 10% of the outcome, so the jury has the final say. Fans also pick one category entirely on their own, the Players' Voice award.

• Game Awards voting opens: the day the nominees are announced.
• Who votes: an international media jury plus fans on the official site.
• How to vote: sign in on the Game Awards site and pick one game per category.

Could GTA 6 Win at the Game Awards?

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19, and Take-Two has repeatedly said the date is firm. Last year, games had to be out by November 21 to qualify for the current show. If the cutoff falls on the third Friday of November again, that would be November 20, one day after GTA 6 launches.

That would make it eligible on paper, although a game released three weeks before the show leaves the jury very little time to play it. Our GTA 6 release date guide covers editions, platforms and preorders. GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only, so a console gift card is the easiest way to cover it.

The Game Awards Winners: Every Game of the Year

Here are the Game Awards winners for the top prize since the show began in 2014:

The list of the Game Awards winners shows a clear pattern: big single-player games tend to win, and since 2021 the winner has often come from outside the usual blockbuster franchises.

Why Expedition 33's Game Awards Sweep Still Matters

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won nine awards last December, including Game of the Year, the most any game has taken in a single night. The Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Game Awards run was remarkable because it came from Sandfall Interactive, a small French studio, with a mid-priced turn-based RPG rather than a big-budget franchise.

The Expedition 33 Game Awards result also carried into the rest of awards season, including Best Game at the BAFTA Games Awards in April. For this year's race it raises the bar: a smaller studio can win, and voters clearly reward a strong story and art direction over budget.

Game Awards Announcements and Reveals to Expect

For many viewers the trailers are the main event, and Geoff Keighley builds the show around them. Last year's Game Awards announcements included a new Mega Man game, multiple Tomb Raider projects, and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which went on to become one of this year's best-reviewed games. Expect a similar mix of world premieres and release dates this December, which is why searches for Game Awards reveals peak the night of the show.

Gift Ideas for Game Awards Season

The Game Awards land a week or two before the Steam Winter Sale and right in the middle of holiday shopping, so it is a good moment to buy the winners at a discount. Key stores like Fanatical regularly discount award-winning PC games, and if someone on your list is upgrading their setup for the new releases, a Logitech headset or controller is an easy pick. For everyone else, a Steam gift card lets them choose the winner themselves.

FAQ

When is the Game Awards?

When is the Game Awards this year? Thursday, December 10, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

What time does the Game Awards start?

What time does the Game Awards start? In the US evening, with the exact time confirmed on the official site a few weeks before. The pre-show starts earlier.

How long is the Game Awards?

Around three hours for the main show, plus the pre-show.

Who won Game of the Year at the last Game Awards?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Its Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Game Awards haul of nine trophies, Game of the Year included, is the most in the show's history.

Can fans vote in the Game Awards?

Yes. Game Awards voting opens to fans when the nominees are revealed, and the fan vote counts for about 10% of the result in most categories.

Are video game awards like the Game Awards free to watch?

Yes. The Game Awards and most other video game awards shows stream free on YouTube and Twitch.

Where can I see the Game Awards winners?

The Game Awards winners are posted live on the official site and social channels during the show.

What to Watch For on December 10

Mark December 10, check the nominees in mid-November, and cast your fan votes before the show. Whether it is GTA 6, a surprise indie or another Expedition 33, the winner will be on sale soon after, so grab a Steam gift card and be ready to play it.