Honestly, if you weren't staring at a screen on December 12, you missed what basically became the Super Bowl of the digital age. It’s wild to think that just a few years ago, we were all arguing about whether a "video game Oscars" could even work. Now, here we are. The Game Awards 2024 didn't just happen; it absolutely exploded, pulling in 154 million livestreams and making the traditional Hollywood award shows look kinda quaint by comparison.
Geoff Keighley took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and for three hours and change, the entire industry held its breath.
Why does everyone care so much about when is game awards 2024? It’s not just about the shiny trophies. It’s the "World Premieres." It’s that feeling of seeing a trailer for something like The Witcher 4 or Naughty Dog’s new sci-fi project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and knowing your social media feed is about to become a war zone of theories and hype.
When Was the Big Night?
If you're looking back and wondering exactly when the madness went down, The Game Awards 2024 took place on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
The show kicked off its 30-minute "Opening Act" pre-show, hosted by Sydnee Goodman, at 4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET). The main event followed at 5:00 PM PT. It was a long night—clocking in at roughly three hours and twelve minutes—but when you’ve got Snoop Dogg performing and Harrison Ford showing up to present, time kinda flies.
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The Astro Bot Sweep and the Winners Circle
Going into the night, the big question wasn't just when is game awards 2024, but who would actually walk away with the heavy metal. Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth were neck-and-neck with seven nominations each.
In the end, Astro Bot took home the big one: Game of the Year.
It’s a win that felt right to a lot of people. It’s pure, unadulterated platforming joy. But the night had plenty of other highlights:
- Black Myth: Wukong grabbed Best Action Game and the fan-voted Players' Voice award.
- Balatro, that addictive poker-roguelike, defied the odds by winning Best Independent Game and Best Mobile Game.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio cleaned up in the RPG and Narrative categories.
- Helldivers 2 naturally secured Best Multiplayer and Best Ongoing Game, which surprised absolutely no one given how much of our lives that game consumed this year.
One of the most touching moments was Melina Juergens winning Best Performance for her role as Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. You could tell how much it meant to her, and honestly, the crowd's reaction was one of the loudest of the night.
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The "DLC in GOTY" Controversy
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was nominated for Game of the Year.
A lot of people were... let's say "vocal" about this. Is a DLC really a full game? The jury decided yes, but it sparked a massive debate across Reddit and X that lasted for weeks. While Shadow of the Erdtree didn't win the top prize, the fact that it was even there changed the rules for how we look at expansions forever.
Why 154 Million People Tuned In
The numbers are just staggering. A 31% increase over 2023.
Geoff Keighley’s "no friction" approach basically means you couldn't escape the show if you tried. It was on YouTube, Twitch, Steam, TikTok, Instagram—you name it. In China alone, it was carried on over a dozen platforms like Bilibili and WeChat.
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It’s more than just a broadcast; it’s a global hangout. Over 15,000 creators co-streamed the event. That’s the secret sauce. You’re not just watching a corporate show; you’re watching your favorite streamer lose their mind over a Mafia: The Old Country reveal.
The Trailers That Stole the Show
Let's be real: half the people asking about the date were just waiting for the "World Premieres." This year delivered some heavy hitters.
- The Witcher 4: CD Projekt RED finally gave us a glimpse, and while it was brief, it was enough to set the internet on fire.
- Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet: Naughty Dog’s new IP. It looks like a massive departure from The Last of Us, and Tati Gabrielle is starring.
- Okami Sequel: This was the "out of nowhere" shocker. Hideki Kamiya is back at the helm, and the art style still looks legendary.
- Split Fiction: The next game from the It Takes Two creators. It looks like another co-op masterpiece, mixing sci-fi and fantasy genres on a split screen.
What You Should Do Now
The 2024 show is in the history books, but the games it celebrated are just getting started. If you missed the live broadcast, you can still find the full 4K VOD on The Game Awards' official YouTube channel.
Your next steps:
- Check your backlog: Many of the winners, like Balatro and Astro Bot, frequently go on sale right after the show.
- Watch the Orchestra: If you haven't seen the 10th-anniversary GOTY medley, do yourself a favor and look it up. It’s the highlight of every year for a reason.
- Update your wishlist: With games like Mafia: The Old Country and Elden Ring: Nightreign announced for 2025, it’s time to start planning your gaming budget.
The industry is moving faster than ever, and while The Game Awards 2024 provided a perfect snapshot of where we are, the trailers we saw suggest that 2025 is going to be even crazier.