Gaming’s biggest night is here. The Game Awards 2025 broadcasts live tonight, December 11, 2025, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with host Geoff Keighley returning for the twelfth consecutive year. The show kicks off with a 30-minute pre-show at 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT) followed by the main ceremony at 8:00 PM ET. This year’s event promises world premiere trailers, major announcements, live performances, and awards honoring the best games of 2025.
When and Where to Watch
The Game Awards streams free across virtually every platform imaginable. You can watch on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, TikTok Live, Steam, Amazon Prime Video, and dozens of other services. The pre-show starts at 7:30 PM ET with smaller awards, announcements, and trailers before the main ceremony begins at 8:00 PM ET. The entire event typically runs three to four hours, so plan accordingly.
International viewers have plenty of options too. The show airs at 12:30 AM GMT (early morning December 12 in the UK), 6:00 AM IST in India, 1:30 AM CET across Europe, and 9:30 AM JST in Japan. For Australian viewers, the show starts at 11:30 AM AEDT on December 12. No matter where you are, The Game Awards makes sure you can tune in.
Clair Obscur Breaks Records with 13 Nominations
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 enters The Game Awards as the most nominated game in the show’s history with 13 total nominations including Game of the Year. The sci-fi turn-based RPG developed by Sandfall Interactive impressed critics and players with its stunning visual style, innovative combat system, and compelling narrative set in a world where a mysterious Painter executes everyone who reaches a certain age.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei follow with seven nominations each. Hades II grabbed six nominations, while Hollow Knight: Silksong secured five. Split Fiction rounds out the major contenders with four nominations. The competition for Game of the Year includes Clair Obscur, Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
What Announcements to Expect
The Game Awards has become as much about world premiere trailers as actual awards. This year’s confirmed appearances include deeper looks at Exodus, a new playable character reveal for Invincible VS, an official release date for Phantom Blade Zero, and a fresh trailer for Resident Evil Requiem. Evanescence will perform “Afterlife” from the Netflix Devil May Cry adaptation during the ceremony.
Speculation runs wild about other possible reveals. Industry observers predict announcements for Blade and Wolverine from Insomniac Games, potential footage of Silent Hill: Townfall, and possibly a release window for State of Decay 3. Some are hoping for a Hades II console release announcement since the game currently only exists on PC and Switch. Fallout Season 2 drops on Amazon Prime Video on December 17, so expect some cross-promotion with cast members possibly appearing on stage.
The Monolith Mystery
One of the strangest pre-show stories involves a mysterious monolith that appeared at The Game Awards venue. A trademark filing appears to have spoiled the surprise, suggesting it relates to an unannounced project. Geoff Keighley loves building hype through cryptic marketing, and this monolith situation fits perfectly with his approach to creating buzz around surprise announcements.
The exact nature of what the monolith represents remains officially unconfirmed, but trademark paperwork rarely lies. Whatever gets revealed will likely be one of the show’s biggest moments, either a completely new IP or a long-awaited sequel that fans have been demanding for years.
The Marketing Machine
The Game Awards functions as a massive marketing event for the gaming industry. According to sources familiar with the show, a 60-second trailer during the 2025 ceremony costs up to $450,000, while three-minute spots can run significantly higher. Publishers treat The Game Awards like gaming’s Super Bowl, using it to launch major marketing campaigns heading into the holiday shopping season and setting up hype for releases throughout 2026.
That commercial aspect doesn’t diminish the genuine excitement around the awards themselves. Developers and studios take nominations seriously, with wins providing significant marketing benefits and validation for years of hard work. The combination of honoring achievement while previewing the future makes The Game Awards unique in gaming culture.
Major Category Nominees
Beyond Game of the Year, several categories feature fierce competition. Best RPG includes Clair Obscur, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Monster Hunter Wilds, Lies of P Overture, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Best Action Game pits Hades II against Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden 4, Battlefield 6, and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance.
Best Action Adventure sees Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Split Fiction competing. The Innovation in Accessibility category highlights Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Atomfall, Doom: The Dark Ages, EA Sports FC 26, and South of Midnight. Games for Impact features Consume Me, Despelote, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, South of Midnight, and Wanderstop.
FAQs
What time does The Game Awards 2025 start?
The pre-show begins at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT on December 11, 2025. The main ceremony starts at 8:00 PM ET and runs approximately three to four hours.
Where can I watch The Game Awards 2025?
The show streams free on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, TikTok Live, Steam, Amazon Prime Video, and numerous other platforms. No subscription required.
What game has the most nominations at The Game Awards 2025?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads with 13 nominations, the most in Game Awards history. Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei follow with seven nominations each.
Who are the Game of the Year nominees?
The six Game of the Year nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
Will there be new game announcements at The Game Awards?
Yes. The Game Awards traditionally features dozens of world premiere trailers and announcements. Confirmed reveals include Exodus gameplay, Phantom Blade Zero release date, Resident Evil Requiem footage, and an Invincible VS character reveal.
Who hosts The Game Awards 2025?
Geoff Keighley returns as host for the twelfth consecutive year. The show takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with a live audience.
How long does The Game Awards usually run?
Including the pre-show, The Game Awards typically runs three to four hours. Some years have approached four hours in total length depending on the number of trailers and performances.
Can I attend The Game Awards in person?
Tickets for the live audience at the Peacock Theater were available for purchase earlier this year, though availability for the actual show day would need to be checked through official channels.
Why This Year Matters
The Game Awards 2025 arrives at an interesting inflection point for the gaming industry. After years of massive layoffs, studio closures, and consolidation, tonight’s ceremony celebrates games that actually shipped and connected with audiences. Clair Obscur’s record-breaking nomination count demonstrates that new studios can still break through despite the dominance of established franchises. The battle between indie darlings like Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong against big-budget productions shows that creativity and execution matter more than budget size. Whether you’re watching for the awards, the world premieres, or just the spectacle of gaming’s biggest night, The Game Awards 2025 promises to deliver hours of entertainment and probably at least one surprise announcement that breaks the internet. Set your alarms, clear your schedule, and get ready for Geoff Keighley to say “world premiere” approximately 47 times tonight.