If you’ve been scouring the internet trying to figure out when is the 2024 game awards, you might be feeling a little late to the party.
The big night has already come and gone. It’s over. The trophies have been handed out, the "World Premieres" have stopped flashing on our screens, and Geoff Keighley is probably already deep in meetings for the 2025 show. Honestly, time flies in this industry. If you missed the live stream, don't sweat it. You weren't the only one trying to balance a Thursday night schedule with a four-hour gaming marathon.
The 2024 Game Awards officially took place on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
It wasn't just some small Zoom call, either. The event took over the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, kicking off its main broadcast at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET. For folks in the UK, that meant staying up until 12:30 AM on Friday, which is basically a rite of passage for dedicated fans at this point.
Why Everyone Was Searching for the 2024 Game Awards
The hype leading up to this specific show was different. It was the 10th anniversary of the ceremony. Because of that milestone, the rumors were flying faster than a Helldivers 2 drop pod. People weren't just looking for a date; they were looking for The Witcher 4 updates and hoping for a Silksong release date that—shocker—never showed up.
Kinda wild how we do this to ourselves every year, right?
The show itself ended up being a massive record-breaker. We're talking 154 million global livestreams. That is a 31% jump from the previous year. It seems like the more people complain about the length of the show or the number of ads, the more people actually tune in to watch it.
The Big Winners and What They Mean
When the dust settled, one little robot stood taller than the rest. Astro Bot took home the Game of the Year (GOTY) award.
A lot of people thought Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree would snag the top spot. But Team Asobi’s platformer won hearts by basically being a giant love letter to PlayStation history. It wasn't just a win for Sony; it was a win for "fun" games that don't necessarily need a 100-hour grimdark narrative to be considered a masterpiece.
Other major highlights included:
- Balatro proving that a poker-themed roguelike made by one person can absolutely dominate, winning Best Independent Game and Best Mobile Game.
- Black Myth: Wukong winning the Player’s Voice award, which really showed off the massive influence of the Chinese gaming market this year.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio sweeping up categories like Best RPG and Best Narrative, cementing Atlus as the current kings of the genre.
What Actually Happened on December 12?
If you had tuned in when the clock hit 7:30 PM ET, you would have seen more than just awards. The show has evolved into a weird, beautiful hybrid of an Oscars ceremony and a giant commercial.
Snoop Dogg performed. Twenty One Pilots did a set for Arcane. We even saw Harrison Ford show up. It’s gotten to the point where the "Game" part of the Game Awards is almost secondary to the spectacle. Geoff Keighley has built this thing into a cultural pillar, for better or worse.
One of the most talked-about moments wasn't even a game trailer. It was the Game Changer award given to Amir Satvat. In a year where the industry was rocked by constant layoffs, Satvat was recognized for helping thousands of game developers find new jobs. It was a rare moment of grounded reality in a show usually defined by corporate gloss.
Misconceptions About the Date and Time
Every year, people get confused because of the "Pre-Show."
Basically, the "Opening Act" usually starts 30 minutes before the official time listed. So, while the 2024 Game Awards officially started at 7:30 PM ET, the stream was actually live at 7:00 PM ET. If you showed up "on time," you probably missed three or four smaller award announcements and at least two "World Premiere" trailers.
Also, some people still think the show happens on a weekend. Nope. It’s almost always a Thursday. This is a strategic move to catch the maximum amount of "water cooler talk" on Friday before everyone disappears for the weekend.
🔗 Read more: When Was Hollow Knight Released: What Most People Get Wrong
What You Should Do Now
Since the 2024 show is in the rearview mirror, you have a few ways to catch up if you missed it:
- Watch the VOD: The full 3-hour and 12-minute broadcast is still up on the official Game Awards YouTube channel.
- Check the Trailers: If you don't care about the trophies, most gaming sites have "Just the Trailers" playlists. Look for The Witcher 4 teaser and the Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reveal.
- Play the Winners: Honestly, if you haven't played Astro Bot or Balatro yet, you're missing out on the best of what 2024 had to offer.
The industry moves fast. By the time you finish reading this, rumors for the 2025 nominations will probably already be starting. But for now, that's the story of the 2024 Game Awards—a night of high production, a few surprises, and a very happy small robot.
Next Step: Head over to the official Game Awards website to see the full list of winners across all 29 categories to see if your personal favorite got snubbed.