The Game Awards 2021 will be held on Thursday, December 9 and, after more than a year of digital-only events, the show will be held in-person.
Despite being an audience event at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, the event will of course still be streamed live, for free – and it promises "awards, first-look world premieres and new game announcements, plus musical performances, including The Game Awards Orchestra live on stage at Microsoft Theater, conducted by Lorne Balfe."
The event will be invite-only, and details on health and safety protocols will be announced in the coming weeks. Nominees will also be anounced closer to the event.
10 weeks from tonight, December 9th, we will be live on stage for @thegameawards at Microsoft Theater in LA.
Excited to be back to our full-scale show — that means The Game Awards Orchestra live on stage once again conducted by @Lornebalfe
Much more to share in weeks ahead! pic.twitter.com/VA64rIaNb4
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 30, 2021
“We are very excited to return to the Microsoft Theater for a special night to celebrate the past, present and future of video games,” said creator and host Geoff Keighley in a press release. “Our goal is to bring the entire community together to celebrate the most powerful form of entertainment in the world, and recognize emerging voices that represent the future of the medium.”
Last year's Game Awards saw The Last of Us Part 2 dominate proceedings, taking home wins in 7 different categories, alongside the likes of Hades, Ghost of Tsushima, and No Man's Sky.
Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].