Despite the pretty miserable year that has been 2020, videogame fans have been treated to some truly stellar releases this year.
The Game Awards is back, despite the global pandemic, but as we know, it's not just about the awards.
The event has become a place where games are revealed, and even console designs shown for the first time.
Here's all we know about this year's event.
How To Watch The Game Awards 2020
The event is scheduled for Thursday 10 December, but we don't yet have a timeslot.
Part of this could be down to this year's production being split between LA, London, and Tokyo.
Thankfully, it'll be streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook, and once we have a firm schedule we'll update this piece.
Latest News and Leaks
Keanu Reeves Will Be Presenting At Game Awards - December 10
John Wick/Neo himself will be presenting at the show, as confirmed by the Game Awards' Twitter account.
We welcome KEANU REEVES as the latest #TheGameAwards presenter to celebrate an incredible year for video games.Don't miss the live show tomorrow at https://t.co/i3gkmHsM49pic.twitter.com/ZxJGwvgO8D
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards)
December 9, 2020
Ghost of Tsushima wins Player's Voice - December 8
Ghost of Tsushima has been awarded the Player's Voice award the category determined by, you guessed it, the players.
What this means for the other awards it has been nominated for, and for the Game of the Year award specifically, we don't yet know but this is a good barometer for how people are feeling right now.
Judge's votes matter much more in other categories, so we'll just have to wait and see on December 10!
Geoff Keighley AMA Confirms A Dozen Reveals - December 8
Game Awards host/creator Geoff Keighley has been spilling the beans on Reddit, and noted that there will be twelve to fifteen reveals as part of the main show ranging from "big triple-A games and also smaller titles too".
Find out what he has to say here.
Microsoft Planning Announcement At Game Awards - December 7
Gamesbeat writer Jeff Grubb noted on a video stream last week and noted that Microsoft will have something to show at The Game Awards this week.
While we don't yet know what that'll entail, we do know it won't be Halo Infinite.
With Xbox Game Pass apparently "warming up", could it be a huge announcement?
AG approved gaming 🔥 on @XboxGamePass, and we’re just getting warmed up ahead of the holiday season! https://t.co/8nqusbMitZ
— matt percy (@mattpercyprime)
December 2, 2020
Dragon Age 4 Look At Game Awards - December 4
Geoff Keighley has confirmed that Dragon Age 4 will be shown at the event.
Don't miss a special look at the next DRAGON AGE from @bioware during #TheGameAwards next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/zPKHWroH7i
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley)
December 4, 2020
New Among Us Map Will Be Shown - December 3
If you've been playing Among Us and are desperate for a new map, you're in luck.
Geoff Keighley has confirmed that a new location will be shown.
It's true: Get your first look at the new @AmongUsGame map live during #TheGameAwards next Thursday, streaming live and free at https://t.co/JhGKOCSGzapic.twitter.com/6jdPLq1bVJ
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley)
December 2, 2020
Tom Holland presenting at Game Awards - December 2
The webhead himself will be appearing at next week's show, prompting speculation that we'll be seeing a debut trailer for the Uncharted movie.
Find out more here.
What Is Bandai Namco teasing? - December 1
With the Game Awards arriving on the same day as Cyberpunk 2077, you'd probably expect Bandai Namco to have a pretty quiet show.
However, the publisher's UK Marketing Director noted that December 10 will be a "Big Day", prompting speculation that we could see something else – Elden Ring, perhaps?
What To Expect At The Game Awards 2020
While the awards are undoubtedly well-presented and prestigious for developers and publishers involved, it would be fair to say that many viewers will be watching for new trailers and announcements.
Last year we got our first look at the Xbox Series X console design, Godfall as the first PS5 game, and multiple League of Legends titles.
We also got to see Fast and Furious Crossroads, but the less said about that the better.
The year before we learned that Joker was coming to Super Smash Bros: Ultimate, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 would be a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and that Hades would be joining early access – with the full game now up for a huge number of awards this year.
All of this is to say that there's really no limit as to what could appear this year. Fall Guys Season 3 is a guarantee following a tweet from producer and host Geoff Keighley, and there's always the chance we'll hear from Keighley's best buddy Hideo Kojima.
Here's hoping for more news on the rumoured Metal Gear Solid remake.
The Game Awards 2020 Winners
Check out the winners in bold!
Game of the Year
- Animal Crossing New Horizons
- Ghosts of Tsushima
- Hades
- The Last Of Us 2
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Doom Eternal
Best Game Direction:
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- The Last of Us Part II
Best Narrative
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- The Last of Us Part II
Best Art Direction
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Hades
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- The Last of Us Part II
Best Score and Music
- DOOM Eternal
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Hades
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- The Last of Us Part II
Best Audio Design
- DOOM Eternal
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Ghost of Tsushima
- Resident Evil 3
- The Last of Us Part 2
Best Performance
- Ashley Johnson as Ellie, The Last of Us Part II
- Laura Bailey as Abby, The Last of Us Part II
- Daisuke Tsuji as Jin Sakai, Ghost of Tsushima
- Logan Cunningham as Hades, Hades
- Nadji Jeter as Miles Morales, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Games for Impact
- If Found …
- Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
- Spiritfarer
- Tell Me Why
- Through the Darkest of Times
Best Ongoing
- Apex Legends
- Destiny 2
- Call of Duty Warzone
- Fortnite
- No Man’s Sky
Best Indie
- Carrion
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Hades
- Spelunky 2
- Spiritfarer
Best Mobile, Presented by LG WING, Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon
- Among Us
- Call of Duty Mobile
- Genshin Impact
- Legends of Runeterra
- Pokémon Café Mix
Best Community Support
- Apex Legends
- Destiny 2
- Fall Guys
- Fortnite
- No Man’s Sky
- Valorant
Innovation in Accessibility
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Grounded
- HyperDot
- The Last of Us Part II
- Watch Dogs Legion
Best VR/AR
- Dreams
- Half-Life: Alyx
- MARVEL’s Iron Man VR
- STAR WARS: Squadrons
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Best Action
- DOOM Eternal
- Hades
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Nioh 2
- Streets of Rage 4
Best Action/Adventure
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Ghost of Tsushima
- MARVEL’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- The Last of Us Part II
Best Role Playing
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Genshin Impact
- Persona 5 Royal
- Wasteland 3
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Best Fighting
- Granblue Fantasy: Versus
- Mortal Kombat 11/Ultimate
- Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
- One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows
- UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe: Late[cl-r]
Best Family
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
- Minecraft Dungeons
- Paper Mario: The Origami King
Best Sim/Strategy
- Crusader Kings III
- Desperados III
- Gears Tactics
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- XCOM: Chimera Squad
Best Sports/Racing
- Dirt 5
- F1 2020
- FIFA 21
- NBA 2K21
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
Best Multiplayer
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Among Us
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
- Valorant
Best Debut Game
- Carrion
- Mortal Shell
- Raji: An Ancient Epic
- Röki
- Phasmophobia
Content Creator of the Year, Presented by Adobe
- Alanah Pearce
- NickMercs
- TimtheTatman
- Jay Ann Lopez
- Valkyrae
Best Esports Game
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Fortnite
- League of Legends
- Valorant
Best Esports Athlete
- Ian “Crimsix” Porter / Call of Duty
- Heo “Showmaker” Su / League of Legends
- Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu / League of Legends
- Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro / Call of Duty
- Matthieu “ZywOo” Herbaut / CS:GO
Best Esports Team
- DAMWON Gaming / League of Legends
- Dallas Empire / Call of Duty
- San Francisco Shock / Overwatch League
- G2 Esports / League of Legends
- Team Secret / DOTA2
Best Esports Event
- BLAST Premier: Spring E2020 European Finals
- Call of Duty League Championship 2020
- IEM Katowice 2020
- League of Legends World Championship 2020
- Overwatch League Grand Finals 2020
Best Esports Host
- Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere
- Alex “Machine” Richardson
- Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez
- James “Dash” Patterson
- Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden
Most Anticipated
- Elden Ring
- God of War Sequel
- Halo Infinite
- Horizon: Forbidden West
- Resident Evil: Village
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel