Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, has addressed viewer feedback on the show's format, acknowledging the challenge of balancing celebrations of games with industry hardships. In a recent interview, he explained how announcements draw a wide audience that boosts visibility for award winners and nominees. The 2025 event is set for December 11, starting at 5 PM PT.
Challenges in the Gaming Industry
The gaming industry has faced significant turbulence in 2025, including widespread layoffs, canceled projects from Microsoft, and major consolidations like EA's planned sale to Saudi Arabia. Geoff Keighley, the creator and host of The Game Awards, recognizes these difficulties while aiming to celebrate the developers behind the games. "It's a very difficult needle to thread, because on one level, it is a celebration of the industry. But the games are made by incredible developers, and it’s been a challenging period overall," Keighley told The Game Business newsletter.
To address these issues, The Game Awards introduced the Game Changer award in 2024, honoring Amir Satvat for his support of laid-off workers. Keighley has not confirmed its return for 2025 but emphasized the pressure to represent the industry accurately on such a large platform. "Do we always get it right? No. It's a very complex situation to figure out exactly what to do," he admitted.
Balancing Awards and Announcements
Critics often point out that The Game Awards prioritizes trailers and sponsor ads over the awards themselves, limiting developer speeches. Keighley defends this structure, noting it attracts diverse viewers. "There are many different constituents that tune in. And it is a balancing act," he said. Announcements, he argues, expand the audience, leading to greater exposure for honorees.
This approach has tangible benefits. Games like Balatro saw a huge sales boost following its 2024 wins, while recent nominees such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—the most-nominated game in show history with 12 nods, including Game of the Year—have experienced significant sales lifts. Analysts estimate Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sold an additional 100,000 copies due to its nomination, amplified by holiday promotions.
Event Details
The Game Awards 2025 airs on Thursday, December 11, at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET, with a pre-show 30 minutes earlier. Keighley hopes the event continues to support developers amid ongoing challenges.