The Game Awards 2023: What You Missed and Why You Should Care

A summary of the biggest announcements and winners from the video game industry’s biggest night

If you are a fan of video games, you probably know that The Game Awards 2023 took place last night, and brought with it a lot of excitement and surprises. The Game Awards is an annual event that celebrates the best in video games and honors the creators, developers, publishers, and players who make them. It also features exclusive reveals, trailers, and performances from some of the most anticipated games and projects in the industry.

This year’s show was hosted by Geoff Keighley, the founder and executive producer of The Game Awards, and featured appearances from celebrities like Idris Elba, Cameron Monaghan, Keanu Reeves, and more. The show was streamed live on more than 30 platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.

But if you missed the show, don’t worry. We have you covered with a recap of the most important highlights and takeaways from The Game Awards 2023. Here are some of the things you need to know:

The big winners: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2

The Game Awards 2023 had six nominees for the coveted Game of the Year award: Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Bros. 35, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. All of these games were critically acclaimed and commercially successful, but only one could take home the trophy.

And the winner was… Baldur’s Gate 3!

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a role-playing game developed by Larian Studios and based on the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. It is the third installment in the Baldur’s Gate series, which started in 1998 and is widely regarded as one of the best RPGs of all time. Baldur’s Gate 3 was released in early access in October 2020, and has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. The game features a rich story, deep character customization, turn-based combat, and multiplayer co-op. It also boasts stunning graphics, immersive sound, and a dynamic world that reacts to your choices and actions.

Baldur’s Gate 3 not only won the Game of the Year award, but also swept four other categories: Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best RPG, and Best Performance (for Laura Bailey as Shadowheart). It was the most awarded game of the night, and a well-deserved recognition for Larian Studios and their amazing work.

But Baldur’s Gate 3 was not the only game that shone at The Game Awards 2023. Another game that made a big impression was Alan Wake 2, the sequel to the cult classic psychological thriller from 2010. Alan Wake 2 was developed by Remedy Entertainment, the same studio behind the original game and other hits like Max Payne, Control, and Quantum Break. Alan Wake 2 was announced at The Game Awards 2023 with a stunning cinematic trailer that showed the return of the titular protagonist, a bestselling author who battles dark forces with his flashlight and his gun.

Alan Wake 2 won three awards: Best Action/Adventure Game, Best Art Direction, and Best Audio Design. It also received nominations for Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, and Best Narrative. Alan Wake 2 is expected to release in 2024, and promises to be a darker, more intense, and more ambitious experience than the first game.

The big announcements: GTA 6, Star Wars: Eclipse, and more

The Game Awards 2023 was not only about celebrating the games of the past year, but also about looking forward to the games of the future. The show featured more than 40 world premieres, announcements, and reveals from some of the biggest names and franchises in the industry. Here are some of the most exciting ones:

• GTA 6: The most anticipated game of all time finally got its official confirmation. Rockstar Games revealed the first trailer for GTA 6, the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, which has sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. GTA 6 will take place in Vice City, the fictional version of Miami that was featured in GTA: Vice City and GTA: Vice City Stories. The trailer showed a vibrant and colorful city, full of life, crime, and chaos. The game will feature a new protagonist, a female character named Valeria, who will rise from the streets to the top of the criminal underworld. GTA 6 will also have a massive online mode, where players can explore, interact, and compete with other players in the city. GTA 6 is slated for a 2025 release, and will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
• Star Wars: Eclipse: The Star Wars universe is expanding with a new game from Quantic Dream, the studio behind cinematic games like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human. Star Wars: Eclipse is a narrative-driven adventure game that will take place during the High Republic era, a period of peace and prosperity in the galaxy, before the rise of the Sith and the Empire. The game will feature multiple playable characters, branching paths, and choices that will shape the story and the outcome. The game will also have stunning visuals, realistic animations, and a rich orchestral score. Star Wars: Eclipse is in early development, and will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
• Wonder Woman: The iconic superheroine is getting her own video game for the first time. Wonder Woman is a third-person action game developed by Monolith Productions, the studio behind the acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War games. Wonder Woman will use the Nemesis System, a technology that creates unique enemies and allies that remember your actions and react accordingly. The game will also feature an original story, set in the DC Comics universe, that will explore Wonder Woman’s origins, motivations, and relationships. Wonder Woman is coming soon to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
• Sonic Frontiers: The blue hedgehog is back with a new game that will take him to new heights. Sonic Frontiers is an open-world game developed by Sonic Team, the creators of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Sonic Frontiers will let players explore a vast and beautiful world, full of secrets, challenges, and enemies. The game will also have a dynamic weather system, day and night cycles, and a new gameplay mechanic called Speed Surge, which will allow Sonic to boost his speed and abilities. Sonic Frontiers is scheduled for a 2024 release, and will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The big moments: Keanu Reeves, Imagine Dragons, and more

The Game Awards 2023 was not only a showcase of games, but also a celebration of gaming culture. The show featured many memorable moments, from celebrity appearances, to musical performances, to heartfelt speeches. Here are some of the highlights:

• Keanu Reeves: The Hollywood star and gaming icon made a surprise appearance at The Game Awards 2023 to present the Best Game Direction award. Keanu Reeves, who voiced and modeled Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077, praised the creativity and vision of game developers, and congratulated the winner, Baldur’s Gate 3. He also teased his involvement in another game project, which he said will be revealed soon.
• Imagine Dragons: The Grammy-winning rock band performed live at The Game Awards 2023, playing their hit song “Radioactive”, which was featured in the trailer for Alan Wake 2. The band was joined on stage by the game’s composer, Petri Alanko, who played the piano and added a haunting melody to the song. The performance was a tribute to Alan Wake 2, and a celebration of the collaboration between music and games.
• Laura Bailey: The voice actress and motion capture artist won the Best Performance award for her role as Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3. Laura Bailey, who has voiced many iconic characters in games like The Last of Us Part II, Uncharted 4, Gears of War, and more, gave an emotional speech, thanking the fans, the developers, and her fellow nominees. She also dedicated the award to her late father, who passed away earlier this year, and who inspired her to pursue her passion for acting and gaming.

Conclusion

The Game Awards 2023 was a spectacular event that showcased the best and the brightest of the video game industry. It was a night of celebration, recognition, and anticipation for the games that we love and the games that we can’t wait to play. Whether you watched the show live or missed it, we hope this blog post gave you a glimpse of what happened and why you should care. And if you want to watch the full show, you can find it on YouTube or on The Game Awards website.

Thank you for reading, and happy gaming!