The Game Awards 2021
| The Game Awards 2021 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | December 9, 2021 |
| Venue | Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles |
| Country | United States |
| Hosted by | Geoff Keighley |
| Most nominations | Deathloop (9) |
| Website | thegameawards.com |
The Game Awards 2021 is an upcoming award show that will honor the best video games of 2021. The event will be hosted by Geoff Keighley and held to an invited audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on December 9, 2021. As with previous shows, it will also feature new game announcements and reveals.
Nominees
Nominees were announced on November 16, 2021.[1][2] Any game released for public consumption on or before November 19, 2021 was eligible for consideration.[3] The nominees were compiled by a jury panel composed of members from 103 media outlets globally.[4] Winners are determined between the jury (90%) and public voting (10%); the latter is held via the official website and on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Bilibili until December 8. Specialized juries decide the nominees and winners for categories such as accessibility and esports.[3] Voting for the best esports team category is also held through the show's Discord server and through direct messages on Twitter.[5] Regarding potential winners, show creator and producer Geoff Keighley felt that "it's kind of anyone's game this year", but that, as the show's producer, he often prefers shows like The Game Awards 2018 with the rivalry between God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2.[6] He noted that future shows could see the addition of awards for adaptations and user-generated content, but felt that "there's just not enough yet".[7]
Awards
Video games
Esports and creators
| Best Esports Game | Best Esports Player |
|---|---|
| |
| Best Esports Team | Best Esports Coach |
| |
| Best Esports Event | Content Creator of the Year |
|
|
Games with multiple nominations
Deathloop received the most nominations with nine. Other games with multiple nominations include Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart with six, and It Takes Two and Psychonauts 2 with five. Sony Interactive Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios[b] lead the publishers with 11 nominations each, followed by Bethesda Softworks,[b] Electronic Arts, and Square Enix with ten.[1][5]
| Nominations | Game |
|---|---|
| 9 | Deathloop |
| 6 | Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart |
| 5 | It Takes Two |
| Psychonauts 2 | |
| 4 | Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy |
| Resident Evil Village | |
| 3 | The Artful Escape |
| Far Cry 6 | |
| Forza Horizon 5 | |
| Kena: Bridge of Spirits | |
| Life Is Strange: True Colors | |
| Returnal | |
| 2 | Apex Legends |
| Back 4 Blood | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | |
| Final Fantasy XIV Online | |
| Fortnite | |
| Genshin Impact | |
| Inscryption | |
| Metroid Dread | |
| Monster Hunter Rise | |
| Valheim |
| Nominations | Publisher |
|---|---|
| 11 | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Xbox Game Studios[b] | |
| 10 | Bethesda Softworks[b] |
| Electronic Arts | |
| Square Enix | |
| 7 | Capcom |
| 6 | Nintendo |
| 4 | Annapurna Interactive |
| Devolver Digital | |
| Sega | |
| Ubisoft | |
| 3 | Bandai Namco |
| Ember Lab | |
| Riot Games | |
| 2 | Activision |
| CD Projekt | |
| Coffee Stain Studios | |
| Epic Games | |
| miHoYo | |
| The Pokémon Company | |
| Valve | |
| WB Games |
Presenters and performers
The Game Awards Orchestra will return to perform at the show, conducted by Lorne Balfe.[9] Sting will perform his song "What Could Have Been" from Arcane.[10]
Ceremony information
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Following the success of The Game Awards 2020—which was broadcast virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic—Keighley received suggestions to follow the same format; around mid-2021, he decided that the show would return to an in-person event at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles as he "really missed the energy of people accepting their awards live and the reactions".[6] Several safety protocols will be in place, including halving live attendance, mandating vaccines, and requiring face masks;[6] contingency plans are also established in case of unexpected COVID-19 variants or other issues.[7] Keighley noted an excitement to return to the in-person event, stating that it was the first time in two years that the industry is able to gather.[6] The show is executive produced by Keighley and Kimmie Kim, with LeRoy Bennett serving as creative director and Richard Preuss as director.[9]
The Game Awards partnered with Spotify to produce a four-episode podcast titled Inside the Game Awards, in which Keighley speaks to guests about the show, its nominees, and the musical performances; the first episode was released on November 22, 2021.[11] The show partnered with Nodwin Gaming for distribution in India, where it will be broadcast on platforms such as Disney+, Jio TV, MTV India, MX Player, and Voot.[12]
Announcements
According to Keighley, the show will "feature 40 to 50 games", with new announcements "probably in the double digits".[6] He said that it was "a very busy year" for announcement pitches, noting that the show's popularity and accessibility meant more developers and publishers sought involvement.[6] Keighley claimed that some studios have specific requests for the placement of their announcements within the show, but that he typically decides about a month prior, to allow for all submissions. He felt that some of the game announcements are "truly next-gen", taking advantage of the new generation of consoles for the first time.[7] Keighley also noted that the show will attempt to include related media, including television shows such as The Cuphead Show! and The Witcher and films like Uncharted (2022).[7]
Reception
Some journalists felt that Forza Horizon 5 and Returnal were snubbed in the nominations for Game of the Year.[13][14][15] Den of Geek's Matthew Byrd criticised the absence of nominations for The Forgotten City in Best Narrative, Hitman 3 in Best Action/Adventure Game, and Unpacking in Best Independent Game, and felt that Cyberpunk 2077's nomination for Best Role-Playing Game and Far Cry 6's for Best Action Game were undeserved.[14] Josh Coulson of TheGamer felt that The Forgotten City, Lost Judgment, and MLB The Show 21 were unrecognized, and that Keanu Reeves deserved a nomination for his role as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077.[16] Rachel Kaser of VentureBeat praised the diversity of the Best Performance nominees.[17]
Notes
- ^ Awarded for the best debut game by an indie studio in 2021
- ^ a b c d Deathloop was published by Bethesda Softworks independently of Xbox Game Studios, its indirect parent company.[8]
References
- ^ a b Ankers, Adele (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards: 'It Takes Two,' 'Deathloop' Among 2021 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ a b "FAQ". The Game Awards. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ Nelson, Will (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards category nominees have been announced". NME. BandLab Technologies. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ a b Nunneley, Stephany (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021: Deathloop, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, It Takes Two and Psychonauts 2 lead nominations". VG247. videogaming247 Ltd. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; November 16, 2021 suggested (help) - ^ a b c d e f Crecente, Brian (November 11, 2021). "Geoff Keighley details The Game Awards 2021 and Beyond". Epic Games. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Reiner, Andrew (November 19, 2021). "An Interview With Geoff Keighley About The Game Awards 2021 And The Game He'd Love To See Announced". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Zwiezen, Zack (July 9, 2021). "Sony Will Lose Another Big PS5 Exclusive In September 2022". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Del Rosario, Alexandra (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards Nominees: 'Deathloop,' 'Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart' Lead 2021 List". Deadline. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Warner, Noelle (November 30, 2021). "Rock legend Sting will be performing at The Game Awards". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (November 22, 2021). "Geoff Keighley Hosting 'Inside The Game Awards' Podcast In New Partnership With Spotify". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "The Game Awards 2021 to air on Indian networks". The Indian Express. Indian Express Limited. November 26, 2021. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ O'Gorman, Shane Michael (November 21, 2021). "Forza Horizon 5 Game Awards Snub Doesn't Make Any Sense". Game Rant. Valnet. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Byrd, Matthew (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021 Nominations: Biggest Snubs and Surprises". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Croft, Liam (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021 Nominations Revealed, Deathloop Gets Eight Nominations But Returnal Snubbed". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Coulson, Josh (November 20, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021: This Year's Biggest Snubs". TheGamer. Valnet. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ Kaser, Rachel (November 16, 2021). "The Game Awards 2021 nominees revealed, Deathloop leads nominations". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
External links
| Years | |
|---|---|
| Game of the Year |
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| Related | |
