The Game Awards is breaking new ground. For the first time since launching in 2014, Geoff Keighley’s annual celebration of gaming excellence will stream live on Prime Video when it broadcasts from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025. This marks the first time the awards show has partnered with a subscription streaming service, expanding its reach beyond the free platforms where it traditionally lives.
What This Partnership Means
The Game Awards will continue its tradition of free streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, TikTok, X, and other platforms where it’s always been available. Prime Video adds another massive distribution channel without removing existing access points. The show streams live from 5 to 8 PM PT (8 to 11 PM ET) on December 11, featuring world premieres, major game announcements, musical performances, and awards honoring 2025’s best games and creators.
Geoff Keighley explained the partnership’s logic during the announcement. We’re thrilled to bring our global celebration of video games to even more audiences with the addition of Prime Video. With the upcoming launch of Fallout Season 2 and an exciting slate of game adaptations, Prime Video is a natural home for our show. We’re honored to have Amazon stand alongside so many other entertainment technology companies as partners to our show.
That Fallout reference isn’t just casual marketing speak. Stars from Amazon MGM Studios’ Fallout series will present awards during the ceremony, creating cross-promotional synergy between Prime Video’s gaming adaptations and the awards show celebrating the medium those adaptations are based on. The series won Best Adaptation at The Game Awards 2024, beating out Arcane Season 2 in what became one of the night’s most surprising moments.
The Numbers Behind the Move
The Game Awards 2024 shattered viewership records with 154 million global livestreams, up 31 percent from 2023’s already impressive 118 million. That number surpassed the Super Bowl’s average viewership by 30 million, exceeded the Academy Awards sevenfold, the Grammy Awards ninefold, and the World Series tenfold. Reggie Fils-Aime, former Nintendo of America president, called it the biggest global entertainment event of our time.
Those viewing figures make The Game Awards attractive to streaming platforms looking for live event programming that draws massive global audiences. Prime Video reaches over 200 million subscribers across more than 200 countries and territories. Adding those potential viewers to the already enormous YouTube and Twitch audiences creates distribution scale few entertainment properties can match.
The show’s growth trajectory has been remarkable. The 2014 inaugural broadcast attracted 1.9 million viewers. By 2017, that grew to 11.5 million. The 2024 show’s 154 million represents exponential growth driven by gaming’s increasing mainstream acceptance and The Game Awards’ evolution into must-watch programming for both awards and major game reveals.
Twitch Gets an Upgrade Too
While Prime Video grabs headlines, Twitch (also owned by Amazon) is upgrading its Game Awards experience significantly. For the first time, the show will stream in 2K resolution (1440p) on Twitch globally. This higher quality feed benefits the thousands of creators who co-stream the event to their communities.
Last year, more than 11,000 Twitch channels co-streamed The Game Awards, joined by over 4,500 YouTube channels, creating a combined 15,900 co-stream broadcasts. This co-streaming strategy turns the awards into a massive distributed viewing party where creators provide their own commentary and reactions while the main show plays for their audiences.
Twitch Drops return for 2025, rewarding viewers who watch 30 minutes or more with exclusive in-game content and a limited-edition Game Awards chat badge. The specific games and rewards participating in this year’s Drops campaign will be announced closer to the event. Previous years featured content from major titles across multiple genres, giving viewers tangible rewards just for watching.
This co-streaming approach differentiates The Game Awards from traditional awards shows that guard their broadcasts jealously. By letting thousands of creators rebroadcast with their own commentary, The Game Awards reaches fragmented gaming communities who follow specific streamers rather than tuning into official channels. It’s a distribution strategy perfectly suited to how gaming audiences actually consume content.
Amazon Becomes Official Retail Partner
The partnership extends beyond streaming. Amazon becomes The Game Awards’ official retail partner, relaunching its dedicated shop at amazon.com/thegameawards with special deals on games, hardware, and accessories running from now through December 31, 2025.
During the live December 11 broadcast, Prime members get access to exclusive limited-time flash deals revealed in real time during the show. These Prime-exclusive offers cover nominated games, new releases, hardware, and accessories. Once revealed, deals run for up to 24 hours while supplies last. The setup creates urgency around shopping during the live broadcast itself.
Last year’s Game Awards partnership with Amazon featured deals like 50 percent off select nominated titles including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Silent Hill 2, and Star Wars Outlaws, 40 percent off a Samsung 48-inch OLED TV, up to 50 percent off gaming accessories from Turtle Beach, Razer, SteelSeries, and PDP, and a $50 in-store credit with Meta Quest 3S purchases. Expect similar aggressive pricing for 2025’s show.
This retail integration transforms The Game Awards from pure entertainment into a shopping event. Viewers watching game reveals and awards announcements can simultaneously purchase featured titles at discount prices without leaving their streaming device. For Amazon, it’s brilliant cross-platform commerce leveraging Prime Video viewership to drive retail sales.
Why Prime Video Now
The timing makes strategic sense for both parties. Amazon has invested heavily in gaming-related content through Prime Video, with Fallout Season 1 becoming one of 2024’s breakout streaming hits. Season 2 arrives in 2026, and Amazon needs to maintain momentum with gaming audiences between seasons. Secret Level, the video game anthology series, launched on Prime Video in December 2024, featuring episodes based on franchises like Mega Man, Warhammer 40,000, The Outer Worlds, and more.
For The Game Awards, partnering with a major streaming service lends additional mainstream legitimacy while opening access to casual viewers who might not actively seek out gaming content on YouTube or Twitch. Prime Video subscribers browsing their app on December 11 will see The Game Awards prominently featured, potentially drawing in viewers who wouldn’t have watched otherwise.
The partnership also fills a content gap for Prime Video. Live event programming draws audiences reliably and creates appointment viewing that keeps subscribers engaged. The Game Awards provides three hours of live content with global appeal, massive built-in audience, and integration opportunities with Amazon’s gaming and retail operations.
What to Expect December 11
The Game Awards 2025 follows the established format mixing awards with world premiere game reveals. Past shows featured major announcements like Elden Ring’s initial reveal, BioShock 4’s confirmation, Wonder Woman game first looks, and numerous other bombshells that dominated gaming news cycles for weeks afterward.
Geoff Keighley has transformed The Game Awards into gaming’s answer to E3, becoming the industry’s premier stage for revealing new projects. Developers save major announcements specifically for The Game Awards, knowing the massive audience guarantees maximum exposure. This creates a cycle where viewers tune in as much for surprise reveals as for awards themselves.
Musical performances add entertainment value beyond pure gaming content, with past shows featuring orchestral arrangements of game soundtracks, performances by artists whose music appears in games, and celebrity appearances from adjacent entertainment industries. The show walks a balance between celebrating gaming excellence and providing spectacle that appeals to broader audiences.
The awards themselves span 30-plus categories covering everything from Game of the Year to Best Independent Game, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Innovation in Accessibility, and Content Creator of the Year. Voting combines input from gaming media outlets, content creators, and fan votes, attempting to balance critical assessment with popular opinion.
The Broader Industry Context
The Prime Video partnership reflects gaming’s increasing cultural mainstream acceptance. When The Game Awards launched in 2014, gaming was still fighting for legitimacy as an entertainment medium worthy of prestige recognition. Now, the awards draw larger audiences than established entertainment events and attract partnerships with major streaming platforms.
This trajectory mirrors gaming’s financial ascendance. The global gaming market generates over $180 billion annually, dwarfing film box office revenue and music industry earnings. Major entertainment companies have noticed, investing heavily in gaming-related content through adaptations, documentaries, and original programming targeting gaming audiences.
Amazon’s gaming ambitions extend beyond content. Amazon Games publishes titles like New World and Blue Protocol while Amazon Luna provides cloud gaming services. The company owns Twitch, the dominant gaming livestreaming platform. The Game Awards partnership fits Amazon’s broader strategy of positioning itself across the entire gaming ecosystem from content creation to retail to streaming to game publishing.
Will It Stay Free
The biggest concern among gaming communities involves whether this Prime Video partnership signals future moves toward paywalled access. Geoff Keighley addressed this explicitly in announcements, emphasizing that free streaming on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms continues unchanged. Prime Video represents an additional distribution option, not a replacement for existing free access.
This distinction matters enormously to The Game Awards’ audience. Gaming culture values accessibility and resists artificial barriers to content. If The Game Awards moved to Prime Video exclusively, requiring subscriptions for access, backlash would be immediate and severe. The show’s growth has been built on removing friction, letting anyone anywhere watch for free on their platform of choice.
Maintaining free access while adding premium distribution creates the ideal scenario for all parties. Existing fans watch on their preferred platforms. Prime Video subscribers discover the show through browsing. Amazon drives retail sales through integrated shopping. Game publishers reach maximum audiences for reveals. Everyone wins without sacrificing The Game Awards’ fundamental accessibility.
FAQs
When does The Game Awards 2025 air?
The Game Awards 2025 broadcasts live on December 11, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM PT (8 to 11 PM ET) from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Do I need a Prime Video subscription to watch?
No. The Game Awards streams for free on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, TikTok, X, and other platforms as it always has. Prime Video adds an additional viewing option but does not replace free access.
What are the Amazon exclusive deals?
Prime members get access to limited-time flash deals on games, hardware, and accessories revealed during the live broadcast. Deals are available at amazon.com/thegameawards for up to 24 hours while supplies last.
Will there be Twitch Drops?
Yes. Twitch viewers who watch 30 minutes or more earn exclusive in-game content and a limited-edition Game Awards chat badge. Specific participating games will be announced closer to December 11.
What is the Twitch 2K upgrade?
For the first time, The Game Awards will stream on Twitch in 2K resolution (1440p) globally, providing higher quality video for viewers and the thousands of creators who co-stream the event.
Who is presenting at The Game Awards 2025?
Stars from Amazon MGM Studios’ Fallout series will present during the ceremony. Additional presenters will be announced closer to the event date.
How many people watched last year?
The Game Awards 2024 drew 154 million global livestreams, up 31 percent from 2023’s 118 million. This surpassed Super Bowl viewership, the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and World Series.
Can streamers co-stream The Game Awards?
Yes. Thousands of creators co-stream The Game Awards on Twitch and YouTube, providing their own commentary while the main show plays. Last year saw over 15,900 combined co-stream channels.
What games will be announced?
Specific announcements remain secret until the live show. Past Game Awards featured major reveals including Elden Ring, BioShock 4, and numerous other significant projects. Expect similar blockbuster announcements for 2025.
Conclusion
The Game Awards’ expansion to Prime Video marks another milestone in gaming’s ongoing mainstream evolution. What began as a niche industry awards show has transformed into a global entertainment phenomenon drawing larger audiences than traditional prestige events. The Amazon partnership brings additional legitimacy, broader distribution, and integrated commerce while maintaining the free accessibility that built The Game Awards’ success.
For viewers, the practical impact is straightforward. Watch on whatever platform you prefer, whether that’s YouTube, Twitch, Prime Video, or one of the many co-streaming channels. If you’re a Prime member, check out the exclusive flash deals during the live broadcast. And prepare for three hours of game reveals, awards, surprises, and whatever chaos Geoff Keighley has planned for December 11. Gaming’s biggest night just got bigger, and somehow, it’s still completely free to watch.