The stars of America's video game industry gathered on Thursday night for a long-awaited reunion at the Game Awards.
The video game community had a victory lap at the event. The video game industry has enjoyed tremendous growth during the PAIN, despite the movie industry fretting over ticket sales and cannibalization by streaming services. More than one out of three people on the planet have played a video game this year, according to the video game analytics firm Newzoo.
The industry was able to gather under the same roof last year because of the Pandemic, so Thursday's awards were a good chance to do that. The Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles was the location for the red carpet arrivals of gaming and other entertainment industry people.
Sting opened the show with a performance of the song "What Could Have Been" from the series "Arcane", which is based on the video game hit "League of Legends." The band performed a song called "Enemy" that was in Arcane.
The rapper and comedian gave a video spot. Paul George, a basketball star who plays for the local Clippers, towered above the crowd. Will Arnett, Jim Carrey, and other stars of television and film made appearances in person and via video.
You would have been correct if you were picking up on a theme. If you had the feeling that the Game Awards were similar to other Los Angeles entertainment award events, you would have been very upset.
The answer to the Oscars was created and hosted by a video game personality who tried to keep the audience entertained for more than three hours.
The show has attracted millions of viewers each year since it began. According to the organizers, last year's fully remote version had 83 million live streams.
The industry was back in the same room after nearly two years, and Mr. Keighley was happy to see it. He said in an interview that he missed it.
The image is.
The actress was on the red carpet at the Game Awards.
The invitation-only crowd said they couldn't believe the event was real.
Hannah Kennedy, a streamer who goes by bnans, said after the show that it was a little overwhelming. It was nice to get to hang out with everyone again after two years, but we have been inQuarantine for so long.
There were more than two dozen awards handed out. Hazelight Studios' game, "It Takes Two," is a two-player puzzle adventure game about a married couple navigating a divorce and journeying through a fantasy world.
The gaming division of Microsoft won three awards, including best strategy game, best car-racing game, and best fan award called players' voice. Arkane Studios' first-person shooting game, "Deathloop," won multiple awards.
The winners were determined by a vote of industry people.
The awards were just a sideshow for many. Debut trailers for upcoming titles are also introduced by the Game Awards. The audience reaction to the fantasy game "Elden Ring" indicates that it will be one of the most anticipated titles next year.
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Sting performed "What Could Have Been" from the series "Arcane", which is based on the video game hit "League of Legends," to open the show.
Since the last time the video game world gathered, sales have exploded. The new game consoles from Microsoft and Sony are in high demand. Electronic Arts and Riot Games have reported record revenues. On its first day of trading, the online game world Roblox was valued at a whopping $45 billion, making it the most valuable company on the stock exchange.
The increased mainstream interest in online worlds has been a validation for industry insiders who used to use the term "metaverse" before Mark Zuckerberg decided that Facebook was going to change its name to Meta. Mr. Carrey joked about it at the awards show.
He said that he was sorry he couldn't be there with you, but that he was looking forward to meeting all of your characters in the metaverse.
The industry has faced increasing challenges, none more pressing than the treatment of its employees. The scandal surrounding the game publisher that has been accused of fostering a workplace environment in which mistreatment and harassment of women was commonplace cast a shadow over the event.
A group of protesters stood with signs in support of employees of the company outside the theater.
He opened the event by saying that game creators need to be supported by the companies that employ them.
Mr. Keighley said that they would not tolerate any abuse, harassment or predatory practices. The board of advisers for the Game Awards has the president of the company on it.
Mr. Keighley said in an interview that he wanted to strike a balance between using his platform for good and maintaining the upbeat vibe of an awards show.
Are we going to use our platform to take companies to task? He said that it was not a referendum on the industry.
