The gaming community has been playing detective for the past few days after The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley posted a cryptic message on social media. What started as three mysterious words turned into a full-blown treasure hunt leading to an 8-foot demon statue glowing red in the California desert. Now veteran games journalist Jason Schreier is systematically crushing everyone’s theories while insisting the actual reveal is going to be incredible.
How This Wild Hunt Started
On November 29, 2025, Geoff Keighley tweeted just three words – “regal.inspiring.thickness.” No context, no explanation, just those three oddly specific words that sent fans scrambling for answers. It didn’t take long for someone to figure out he was using What3Words, a location-finding app that divides the entire world into 3-meter squares, each with a unique three-word address.
Those coordinates pointed to a remote area in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree, California. The Game Awards official account added fuel to the fire by posting a satellite image confirming something was indeed at those exact coordinates. Curious fans who made the pilgrimage discovered a massive statue covered in demonic imagery, featuring skulls, skeletons, a roaring lion, an angry crocodile, and what appears to be a sinister portal design that lights up with fiery red illumination after dark.
The Diablo 4 Theory Gets Shot Down
Given the demonic imagery and portal design, the internet’s first instinct was Diablo. Windows Central reporter Jez Corden even claimed the statue teased Diablo 4’s next major expansion “but also more,” suggesting something bigger than just DLC. The theory made perfect sense – Blizzard has a history with The Game Awards, and the dark aesthetic matched perfectly with the franchise’s hellish themes.
Jason Schreier quickly put that theory to rest on the gaming forum ResetEra. “No idea where Jez is getting that, but this statue is not teasing the Diablo 4 expansion,” he wrote. “I don’t currently plan on reporting what it is, sorry, but it’s a good one.” That last part – “it’s a good one” – immediately shifted the conversation from disappointment to renewed excitement. If a journalist as plugged-in as Schreier thinks it’s worth keeping secret, it must be something special.
God of War Gets Ruled Out Too
The statue features prominent animal imagery including what looks like a bear or lion, which led many fans straight to God of War. Previous rumors suggested the franchise might explore Egyptian mythology in its next installment, and some of the statue’s design elements could fit that direction. The theory gained serious traction until Sony Santa Monica Studio director Cory Barlog himself stepped in.
During a livestream on YouTuber Luke Stephens’ channel, Barlog appeared in the chat to confirm the statue has nothing to do with God of War. That eliminated another major franchise from consideration, leaving fans back at square one but with even more questions. What could possibly warrant this level of secrecy and hype if it’s not one of gaming’s biggest franchises?
Elder Scrolls 6 Dreams Crushed
With Diablo and God of War off the table, speculation naturally turned to The Elder Scrolls 6 – arguably the most anticipated game in the industry right now. Some fans analyzed the statue’s reptilian features and daedric-looking imagery, convinced it pointed to Bethesda’s long-awaited sequel. Others noted the Mojave Desert location could be a subtle nod to Fallout New Vegas 2, which has been heavily rumored.
Jason Schreier returned to ResetEra on December 2 to crush those dreams as well. “I’ll do this one more time because people are getting out of control: no, the statue isn’t teasing Elder Scrolls 6,” he wrote. “Now I’m gonna stop responding about this. Unless someone finds me at the JW bar next week and asks really nicely, then maybe I’ll answer, depending on how many drinks I’ve had.” His frustration with the speculation was clear, but so was his commitment to keeping the actual secret under wraps.
What Could It Actually Be
With three of gaming’s biggest franchises eliminated, the field is wide open for speculation. Some theories making the rounds include Soulframe, the upcoming action game from Digital Extremes (creators of Warframe). However, Digital Extremes typically saves major announcements for TennoCon, their own convention, making this seem unlikely.
Housemarque’s mysterious project Saros has come up repeatedly in discussions. The Finnish studio behind Returnal has been working on something new, and a dramatic desert statue reveal would certainly match the scale of attention Sony typically gives their projects. The timing would also make sense for a 2026 or 2027 release window.
More optimistic fans have thrown out Half-Life 3 and a new DOOM game as possibilities. The portal imagery on the statue could theoretically fit either franchise. However, Valve rarely participates in The Game Awards for major announcements, and id Software just released DOOM: The Dark Ages trailer recently, making another DOOM reveal feel premature.
One fascinating possibility nobody can quite rule out is a completely new IP from a major publisher. Schreier calling it “a good one” while refusing to leak it suggests something significant enough that even a journalist known for breaking major stories wants to preserve the surprise. That level of restraint hints at either a beloved franchise returning after years of absence or an ambitious new project from a respected developer.
The Marketing Genius Behind It
Regardless of what game the statue actually represents, you have to admire the marketing strategy. Geoff Keighley has turned The Game Awards into gaming’s biggest night partly through stunts like this. Creating a physical statue in a desert location, using coordinates instead of direct communication, and watching the internet collectively lose its mind over what it means – that’s pure marketing gold.
The physical nature of the reveal adds authenticity other teaser campaigns lack. People can actually drive out to the Mojave Desert, see the statue with their own eyes, and take photos that spread across social media. That tangible element makes it feel more real than a simple trailer drop or cryptic tweet. The fact that it glows red at night only adds to the mystique and encourages multiple visits at different times.
When We’ll Find Out
The Game Awards 2025 broadcasts live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025. That’s when this mystery finally gets solved and we discover whether all the speculation was worth it. Based on Schreier’s confidence that “it’s a good one,” expectations are sky-high despite three major franchises being eliminated from consideration.
The reveal will likely be one of the show’s major moments, possibly saved for a dramatic announcement slot. Keighley knows how to build anticipation and drag out mysteries for maximum impact. Don’t be surprised if the statue itself makes an appearance during the broadcast, either in video form or potentially as a physical prop on stage.
FAQs
What is the mysterious Game Awards statue?
It’s an 8-foot demon statue located in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree, California. The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley revealed its location using What3Words coordinates on November 29, 2025. The statue features demonic imagery with skulls, animal heads, and a portal design that glows red at night.
Is the Game Awards statue teasing Diablo 4?
No. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier confirmed on ResetEra that the statue has nothing to do with Diablo 4 or its upcoming expansion, despite initial speculation based on the demonic imagery.
Could the statue be related to God of War?
No. Sony Santa Monica Studio director Cory Barlog personally confirmed during a livestream that the statue is not connected to God of War in any way.
Is the mysterious statue teasing Elder Scrolls 6?
No. Jason Schreier explicitly stated on December 2, 2025, that the statue is not teasing The Elder Scrolls 6, despite fan theories about its reptilian and daedric-looking design elements.
What games are still possibilities for the statue reveal?
With Diablo 4, God of War, and Elder Scrolls 6 ruled out, popular theories include Soulframe from Digital Extremes, Housemarque’s Saros project, a new DOOM game, or potentially a completely new IP from a major publisher. However, none of these have been confirmed.
When will we find out what the statue means?
The Game Awards 2025 takes place on December 11, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The statue’s meaning will almost certainly be revealed during the broadcast, likely as one of the show’s major announcements.
Where exactly is the statue located?
The statue is in the Mojave Desert in California, near Joshua Tree. The exact location corresponds to the What3Words coordinates “regal.inspiring.thickness,” which fans used to track down the physical sculpture.
Did Jason Schreier say what the statue is teasing?
No. Schreier confirmed he knows what it is and called it “a good one,” but he refuses to report on it before the official reveal. He joked he might answer if someone finds him at a bar during The Game Awards week “depending on how many drinks I’ve had.”
Why did Geoff Keighley put a statue in the desert?
The physical statue creates a unique marketing experience that encourages real-world exploration and generates organic social media buzz. It’s a creative way to build anticipation for The Game Awards while creating a mystery the gaming community can collectively try to solve.
Conclusion
The mystery statue campaign has already succeeded in its primary goal – getting everyone talking about The Game Awards before the show even starts. By systematically ruling out the biggest franchises people expected, Schreier and Keighley have paradoxically made the actual reveal even more anticipated. Whatever game this statue represents needs to deliver something truly special to justify weeks of speculation and hype. With only days until December 11, the gaming world won’t have to wait much longer to see if this elaborate desert mystery was worth all the fuss. At least we can say for certain it’s not Diablo, God of War, or Elder Scrolls – which somehow makes it even more intriguing.