The highly anticipated 2024 Game Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by the renowned gaming personality Geoff Keighley. This year’s event saw a range of exciting developments in the gaming world, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and streaming across platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the awards featured an impressive lineup of 29 competitive categories, including the prestigious Game of the Year. The contenders in this category included “Astro Bot,” “Balatro,” “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree,” “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,” and “Metaphor: ReFantazio.”
Throughout the event, significant game reveals kept audiences engaged. Among them were Hazelight Studios’ new title “Split Fiction” and a teaser trailer for “Borderlands 4.” Other standout announcements included the trailer for “The Witcher 4,” along with FromSoftware’s sneak peek at the upcoming “Elden Ring Nightreign,” set for release in 2025.
One notable recognition during the event was Tencent’s Amir Satvat, who received the inaugural Gamechanger award for his efforts in assisting developers affected by industry layoffs. He emphasized the indelible connection between gaming excellence and the talent behind it, citing alarming job losses in 2024.
The Game Awards coincided with ongoing strike actions by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA against prominent game publishers, highlighting the industry’s current challenges. The union’s struggle centers around negotiations on a new contract, particularly regarding the use of generative AI technology in gaming.
From the ceremony, a live-updating winners list has been released, showcasing various categories and their recipients. Some highlighted awards include:
– Game of the Year: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
– Best Performance: Melina Juergens for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
– Innovation in Accessibility: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
– Best Multiplayer Game: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
This year’s awards not only celebrate exceptional game development but also underline the industry’s resilience in the face of adversity. Such resilience points towards an optimistic future in gaming, as creative minds continue to thrive and innovate despite the challenges they face.
This event demonstrates the gaming community’s strength and forward momentum, promising even more thrilling developments in the year ahead.