The Game Awards keeps getting bigger. Geoff Keighley announced on December 16, 2025, that this year’s ceremony reached 171 million global livestreams, setting a new record for the most-watched Game Awards in history. That’s an 11 percent increase from 2024’s 154 million viewers and significantly higher than Super Bowl LIX’s 127.7 million audience earlier this year. While the comparison isn’t entirely apples to apples, the numbers prove gaming events can rival or exceed traditional sports broadcasts for mainstream viewership.
The Numbers Keep Growing
The viewership growth trajectory tells the story of how The Game Awards transformed from a niche industry event into mainstream entertainment spectacle. The show reached 118 million livestreams in 2023, jumped to 154 million in 2024, and now hit 171 million in 2025. That’s 45 percent growth over just two years, remarkable for any media property but especially impressive for a show that only launched in 2014. The 171 million figure doesn’t even include viewers who watched on Prime Video, which streamed The Game Awards for the first time in 2025.
According to Streams Charts, the ceremony peaked at 4.4 million concurrent viewers, another all-time high and 9 percent increase from 2024. The official YouTube broadcast alone pulled 1.4 million concurrent viewers, up 8 percent from last year. Twitch accounted for 1.8 million peak concurrent viewers. Beyond English-language streams, The Game Awards broadcast globally across platforms including TikTok Live, Steam, Facebook, Instagram, and Chinese platforms Bilibili and WeChat.
Co-Streams Exploded
One major driver of increased viewership came from co-streamers who broadcast their own reactions and commentary while watching The Game Awards. The show had 23,000 co-streams across Twitch and YouTube in 2025, a staggering 50 percent increase year-over-year. This community-driven viewing model creates engagement traditional broadcasts can’t match. Viewers choose their preferred personality or friend group to watch with, creating parasocial viewing parties that keep people tuned in for the entire multi-hour show.
Keighley also reported that conversations about The Game Awards on X (formerly Twitter) increased 12 percent compared to 2024. Social media engagement matters because it extends the show’s impact beyond the live broadcast. Clips of major announcements, award acceptance speeches, and cringe moments circulate for days afterward, keeping The Game Awards in the cultural conversation far longer than the actual event.
Player Voting Participation
Voting engagement also reached new heights, with over 123 million votes cast for The Game Awards categories, particularly the Players’ Voice award. That’s more than 10 percent growth from 2024’s voting numbers. The interactive element distinguishes The Game Awards from passive entertainment like the Oscars or Grammys. Fans don’t just watch. They participate directly in determining winners, creating investment that translates into viewership and social media discussion.
Why The Comparison To Super Bowl Matters
Critics rightfully note that comparing The Game Awards to the Super Bowl isn’t perfectly fair. The Super Bowl happens once per year on a single network at a specific time, while The Game Awards streams simultaneously across dozens of platforms worldwide with no geographic or time-zone restrictions. A family watching together on one TV counts as one Super Bowl viewer, while five people watching separate streams of The Game Awards count as five viewers.
Still, the comparison serves a purpose. For decades, the gaming industry fought for legitimacy and mainstream recognition. Non-gamers dismissed video games as kids’ toys or violent nonsense. Gaming events couldn’t compete with traditional sports for advertising dollars, sponsorships, or cultural relevance. The fact that The Game Awards now surpasses the Super Bowl in raw viewership numbers, even accounting for methodology differences, demonstrates how thoroughly gaming has penetrated mainstream culture.
The Announcements Drove Viewership
Let’s be honest about why people watch The Game Awards. Most viewers tune in for the game announcements and trailers rather than the actual awards. The 2025 show delivered massive reveals including Larian Studios announcing Divinity as their next project after Baldur’s Gate 3, Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic from Respawn Entertainment, the new IP Highguard, and major updates for existing games. These announcements create event television that drives viewership.
Keighley has defended this announcements-first approach, arguing it creates the wide audience that makes winning Game Awards meaningful. When Clair Obscur Expedition 33 swept the night with nine wins including Game of the Year, millions of people witnessed it rather than a few thousand industry insiders. Games like Balatro saw huge sales boosts after winning awards at the show. The announcements subsidize everything else by attracting eyeballs that make advertisers willing to pay premium rates.
The Advertising Revenue Reality
Speaking of advertisers, reports suggest The Game Awards can charge between $1 million to $3 million for 30-second ad spots based on the show’s massive reach. That’s not quite Super Bowl pricing, which hit $8 million for 30 seconds during Super Bowl LIX, but it’s substantial revenue for what started as a passion project. The 171 million viewership figure justifies those rates and likely pushes prices even higher for The Game Awards 2026.
Publishers also reportedly pay significant sums to show game trailers during the broadcast. While exact figures haven’t been disclosed publicly, industry insiders suggest securing premium trailer slots at The Game Awards costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. For publishers, that’s money well spent given the guaranteed massive audience and social media amplification. A well-timed Game Awards trailer can generate more awareness than months of traditional marketing.
Clair Obscur’s Historic Night
Among all the viewership records, Clair Obscur Expedition 33 made history as the biggest winner in Game Awards history with nine total wins including the coveted Game of the Year. The French-developed turn-based RPG from Sandfall Studio came out of relative obscurity to dominate gaming’s biggest night. Sales spiked dramatically following the wins, with Steam sales up 76 percent, PlayStation 5 sales up 21 percent, and Xbox sales up 3 percent in the days immediately after the show.
According to market analyst Rhys Elliott from Alinea Analytics, Clair Obscur sold over 200,000 additional copies in just a few days following The Game Awards, with an estimated 80,000 new players picking it up via Xbox Game Pass. This demonstrates the tangible commercial impact of Game Awards success beyond just prestige and recognition. Winning at The Game Awards translates directly into sales and player acquisition, which justifies publisher investment in promotional campaigns around the event.
Looking Toward 2026
Keighley will bring The Game Awards back in December 2026, though his next event comes sooner with Summer Game Fest scheduled for June 2026. The question facing organizers is whether viewership growth can continue or if the show has reached a plateau. At some point, most interested viewers will already be watching, and growth becomes mathematically difficult. However, gaming’s expanding mainstream acceptance suggests there’s still runway for The Game Awards to reach even larger audiences.
International expansion represents a major growth opportunity. While The Game Awards already streams globally, deeper localization and partnership with regional platforms could tap audiences who don’t typically watch English-language gaming content. Mobile gaming integration could also expand reach, as mobile represents the largest gaming audience globally but receives minimal attention at The Game Awards currently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people watched The Game Awards 2025?
An estimated 171 million global livestreams across all platforms, not including Prime Video viewers. This is an 11 percent increase from 2024’s 154 million viewers.
Did The Game Awards beat the Super Bowl in viewership?
Yes in total livestreams, but the comparison isn’t direct. The Super Bowl drew 127.7 million viewers through traditional broadcast, while The Game Awards counted streams across dozens of platforms worldwide.
What was the most-watched moment of The Game Awards 2025?
The show peaked at 4.4 million concurrent viewers, likely during a major game announcement or the Game of the Year reveal, though specific moment data hasn’t been released.
How many awards did Clair Obscur Expedition 33 win?
Nine total awards including Game of the Year, making it the biggest single-night winner in Game Awards history and breaking previous records.
Where can I watch The Game Awards?
The show streams free on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, TikTok Live, Facebook Gaming, Instagram, X, and numerous international platforms. Prime Video also streamed it in 2025.
When is The Game Awards 2026?
December 2026, though a specific date hasn’t been announced yet. Geoff Keighley confirmed the show will return next year.
How much do advertisers pay for Game Awards commercials?
Between $1 million to $3 million for 30-second spots based on the show’s reach, though exact pricing varies. Publishers also reportedly pay substantial sums for trailer slots.
Can I vote for Game Awards categories?
Yes. Public voting opens before the show for most categories, especially the Players’ Voice award. Over 123 million votes were cast in 2025.
Gaming’s Mainstream Moment
The Game Awards’ record-breaking viewership represents more than just impressive numbers. It’s validation that gaming has fully entered mainstream entertainment culture alongside movies, music, and sports. When 171 million people tune in to watch video game announcements and celebrate the year’s best games, you can’t dismiss gaming as a niche hobby anymore. The industry has matured from scrappy underdog to cultural juggernaut capable of drawing audiences that rival or exceed the Super Bowl. Whether you love or hate The Game Awards’ balance between awards and advertisements, you can’t deny its impact. Geoff Keighley built something that matters, something that reaches hundreds of millions of people and drives real commercial outcomes for winners. As gaming continues expanding into every corner of global entertainment, The Game Awards stands as the industry’s clearest demonstration of mainstream acceptance. The question isn’t whether viewership will keep growing. It’s what gaming does with all this attention once it has it.