The eagerly awaited 2024 Game Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, with streaming available on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. This year’s event, hosted by renowned gaming figure Geoff Keighley, celebrated its 10th anniversary and included a notable collection of 29 competitive categories, highlighting games competing for the prestigious Game of the Year award.
Among the nominees for Game of the Year were popular titles such as “Astro Bot,” “Balatro,” “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree,” “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,” and “Metaphor: ReFantazio.” As one of the highlights of the gaming calendar, Keighley and his team promised exciting surprises, including announcements for upcoming games set to release in 2025 and beyond.
Some major reveals included the new game “Split Fiction” from Hazelight Studios, the teaser for “Borderlands 4,” and previews of “Mafia: The Old Country,” “Game of Thrones: Kingsroad,” “The Witcher 4,” and FromSoftware’s teased “Elden Ring Nightreign,” anticipated for a 2025 release.
A notable award received during the ceremony was the Gamechanger award presented to Amir Satvat from Tencent, acknowledging his efforts in supporting developers impacted by layoffs in the industry this year. In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the significant loss of job opportunities within the gaming sector, estimating approximately 34,000 jobs were eliminated.
The 2024 Game Awards were held amid ongoing tensions caused by the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike against major video game publishers, concerning unresolved contract negotiations and issues related to the use of generative AI.
In the spirit of the awards, winners were announced across various categories, including prestigious accolades for Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, and Best Narrative, among others.
This year’s event showcases not only the remarkable achievements of the gaming industry but also reflects its ongoing evolution and the resilience of its community, highlighting a hopeful future filled with innovation and creativity.
Summary: The 2024 Game Awards celebrated the best in gaming at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Geoff Keighley. The event featured numerous award categories, including Game of the Year, with major reveals and an acknowledgment of industry challenges amid labor strikes, promoting a sense of community support and resilience in the gaming sector.