Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

The Game Awards 2022: how to watch and what to expect

By

The Game Awards are finally here. Which 2022 title will take home the coveted Game of the Year title? Which deserving studios will be snubbed? And what surprise announcements await gamers who turn up to watch the show live?

Event founder and gaming show host extraordinaire Geoff Keighley has started teasing what we’ll get at the Game Awards this year outside of award announcements and there are some exciting games we expect to learn more about, like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Final Fantasy 16.

Recommended Videos

If you want to check out the show live, there are plenty of ways you can tune in. Here’s how to watch the Game Awards 2022 and what you can expect from the event.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more

Further reading

When is the Game Awards?

The Game Awards 2022 trophy art.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Game Awards 2022 will air live and free on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.

How to watch the Game Awards

The Game Awards 2022 will be streaming live on all major social media platforms through official event pages.

The Game Awards will also be officially broadcast on Steam, IGN, Gamespot, and Trovo. If you’re watching from a different country, visit the Game Awards page on how to watch the event for region-specific streaming options.

You can also watch the Game Awards 2022 at your local participating IMAX theater. Check to see if there’s a participating theater near you.

Of course, everyone in the gaming world will be watching and commenting on the Game Awards as well. It’s possible that your favorite streamer will be co-hosting the show, so check in with your favorite creators if you want their take as the awards are presented. If you want to co-stream the show on your own channel, you just need to fill out a few forms online.

What to expect

Cal Kestis with BD-1 droid on his shoulder.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Along with announcing awards for Game of the Year, top genre picks, esports events, and more, the Game Awards presentation will also feature teasers for a handful of upcoming games and TV shows. Here’s everything we expect we’ll see at the show this year:

What not to expect

NetherRealm chief creative officer Ed Boon has stated ahead of the show that the studio is not ready to announce its next game yet, so we won’t be getting a surprise Mortal Kombat or Injustice announcement.

Sam Hill
Sam Hill
Former Gaming Guides Editor
As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is here to help you find your new favorite game and dive right in. The…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

2024 gaming report card: How did PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo fare?
Living room with Microsoft Xbox Series X (L) and Sony PlayStation 5 home video game consoles alongside a television and soundbar.

After a long and busy 12 months, 2024 is officially in the books. Players have a few weeks to rest before the video game release calendar picks up in February with a barrage of major releases. That's a problem for next month, though. Until then, we've still got some time to reflect on what was a rollercoaster year for the gaming industry, full of surprise hits, total flops, and surprising no shows.

At the center of all that was the three pillars of mainstream gaming: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. While their power may be waning in the age of portable PCs like the Steam Deck, these platform holders are still the watercooler conversation starters whose every move generates buzz. This year, all three companies found themselves in a strange spot. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hit the awkward midpoint of their lifespans, while the Nintendo Switch was left to tread water after its much anticipated successor was pushed out of 2024. All three would have to get creative if they were going to end the year strong.

Read more
We predicted gaming’s 2024 last December. Here’s what we got right (and wrong)
Nintendo Switch.

It's my favorite time of the year at Digital Trends. Every time a year ends, I like play prognosticator and predict what's going to happen in video games the following year. I've run this series for the past few years and I often find that my guesses are spot-on come December. That's always a rewarding moment as I reflect on a long 12 months. On the flip side, sometimes I'm so embarrassingly wrong that I get a good laugh to end the year.

This year, it's the latter.

Read more
These December games already deserve Game Awards 2025 nominations
Indiana Jones rappels into a tomb in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Earlier this month, The Game Awards gave out statues to the best video games of 2024, from Astro Bot to Balatro. There's a catch, though. Since the show airs in early December, no game released after late November in a given year is eligible for awards that year. They can compete in the 2025 show, but that requires voters to remember what's eligible. This year, December 2023 games like Sonic Dream Team, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Arizona Sunshine 2 were all shut out (that last one is especially odd, as Arizona Sunshine Remake got a Best VR nomination instead).

While 2025's show is a a full year away, the jury already has its hands full. This December has been an unexpectedly fantastic one for games. We got one of the best puzzle games of the year in Lok Digital, a successful early access launch for Path of Exile 2, and a much welcome console port of Apple Arcade hit Fantasian. On top of all that, though, we've gotten what already feel like some serious Game Awards contenders in a variety of categories -- including Game of the Year.

Read more