Sony, Nintendo, Valve, and Microsoft are working together

To present The Game Awards, a new video game awards show and platform that they are propping up as a replacement to the VGA and VGX, and one that they hope will be an industry wide standard. They are working alongside the biggest third party publishers, including EA, Activision, Ubisoft, Warner Bros., and more.

The three major console makers, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, and the largest publishers that produce games for the systems, have paired up to back “The Game Awards,” with the first event set to take place Dec. 5, from the Axis Theater in Las Vegas.

The show, which will be streamed live across all gaming systems and devices, is a direct challenge to Spike’s “VGX,” formerly “The Video Game Awards,” which was essentially a television promotional platform for upcoming releases during the peak holiday shopping season.

On December 5, videogame creators, press, and fans around the world will come together to celebrate all things videogames with The Game Awards 2014. Built to honor every aspect of the world’s most dynamic form of entertainment, The Game Awards 2014 will highlight the cultural significance of the $100B a year gaming industry with awards, world premieres, musical performances, and appearances by game developers, eSports players and online content creators. The Game Awards 2014 is a new show created specifically to acknowledge the place of videogames at the center of modern entertainment and culture.

“The Game Awards 2014 will celebrate our collective love of games and the passion we all hold in our hearts for this incredible entertainment medium,” said Geoff Keighley, Producer, The Game Awards 2014. “Gaming has never been stronger, and this year we will recognize the fastest-selling launch year in history for new game consoles, the rise of eSports and mobile gaming around the globe, and preview the games that will make 2015 the biggest year yet.”

Airing live from the state-of-the-art AXIS Theater in front the industry and the public, The Game Awards 2014 will be viewable around the world across a record number of gaming devices, platforms, media partners and services. More details on ways to watch the show will be released in the coming weeks at www.thegameawards.com Public tickets for the awards will be available for sale via TicketMaster on Tuesday, November 11.

The Game Awards 2014 is produced by Geoff Keighley, with the guidance of an advisory board that includes Reggie Fils-Aime (President and COO, Nintendo of America), Yves Guillemot (Co-Founder and CEO, Ubisoft), Hideo Kojima (Executive Contents Director, Kojima Productions), Shawn Layden (CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment America), Peter Moore (COO, Electronic Arts), Rockstar Games, Phil Spencer (Head of Xbox, Microsoft), Martin Tremblay (President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) and Valve.

“The Game Awards is a special event to honor the achievements in gaming, our talented developers and devoted fans. We look forward to celebrating the power of games this December,” said Yves Guillemot, Co-founder and CEO, Ubisoft.

“PlayStation looks forward to seeing our fans and celebrating with them both at The Game Awards and The PlayStation Experience in Las Vegas this December,” said Shawn Layden, CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment America. “For those who can’t join us in person, we will be livestreaming the weekend on PlayStation Network.”

“Electronic Arts has long championed the way gaming brings together players with the talented teams behind the world’s greatest video games, and this event will be an exciting new opportunity to do just that,” said Peter Moore, COO, Electronic Arts. “We look forward to supporting The Game Awards alongside our friends in the industry.”

“We have long been believers in the potential for videogames to inspire, challenge and entertain, and we look forward to standing with the industry to celebrate the medium at The Game Awards this year," said Jennifer Kolbe, VP of Publishing, Rockstar Games.

“Xbox is proud to be a part of The Game Awards and to celebrate the creative and innovative work that happens across the gaming industry all year long,” said Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, Microsoft. “I am pleased Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners around the world will be able to watch the entire program through Xbox Live.”

“It’s been an amazing year in games and we’re excited to celebrate the industry’s achievements at The Game Awards alongside friends, colleagues and fans around the world,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

“Valve is excited to share The Game Awards with over 100 million users on Steam around the world,” said Gabe Newell, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Valve. Alongside the free livestream, Steam will offer a special limited time Steam Sale as part of The Game Awards 2014 broadcast. More details will be announced closer to the event.

That's pretty big- it sounds like they are trying to have an actual, legitimate and meaningful games awards unlike the VGA and VGX, which were largely a joke. And it seems like they will also be trying to have all the fun reveals and announcements that VGA and VGX were known for.

This could be big. The awards are going to be streamed to all Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo devices on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT. Stay tuned.

SOURCE

So they just want to create a huge Advertisement without having to pay Spike TV?

Not necessarily. People like Valve are involved in this too, for instance. This could be legitimate.

Nice Kotaku headline.

Perhaps we can get to see some legitimate awards.

I'll get the doritos and mountain dew ready.

The viewer ratings for the VGA's has died off in recent years, why bother paying Spike TV to do a piss poor job when you can do it all in house for a fraction of the cost. Hell, Sony makes nearly all the broadcast gear anyway.

I really hope they take it seriously.

Basically, do things this video suggests.

I think I just heard Geoff Keighly drowning his sorrows with Mountain Dew.

@Lionheart08: He's the producer of these lol.

I think it's a great idea.

"The Game Awards 2014 is produced by Geoff Keighley"

Well shit, there goes my joke <_<

Well then. My wallet is ready.

Well there goes my hope.

Hah! Great thread title!

why would sony an microsoft work together tehy are directly competing with each other

ppl don't buy both xbox one and ps4 they pick one for all the multiplats

this is a bad idea for them to team they should hate each other and nintendo is the only one who should team up with the other to try to appear relevant

You need to bang those two brain cells of yours together a bit more mate.

Boo, I say, BOO!

They are trying to kill System Wars!!!!!

Wait, what am I booing for...

The VGAs or VGX (can't remember which one, the one from spike) were the biggest joke I've ever seen in this industry. Like 0 integrity and they want their awards to have any meaning ? laughing out loud !

I just think award ceremonies for media related works are a joke in general. They are a waste of time and mean essentially nothing.

old news most gamers know the heads of MS and SONY are buddies.

Numerous documents on how they share drinks with each other or tweets.

If it gets me out of seeing Jeff Kieghly speak, I'm in.

@Pikminmaniac: except for the fact that shows like the oscars have a demonstratable impact on film studios and their work, sure. Media awards are pointless.

More importantly, Kojima's gonna announce new stuff about The Phantom Pain at this thing, so I'd say release date confirmation is imminent.

Huh. It'll be interesting. I'm wondering who is behind the awards? Can they be bought? Can we send Zoe Quinn to their hotel room to discuss the 'finer' points of bribery? What about all the tradition of buying judges and of the infamous swag bags? Are those still a deal? I'll have to wait to see how corrupt it is before I take it as a legit deal. All I know for sure is that as long as the corrupt mainstream gaming media isn't involved... it has a chance.

I hope this will be better than last year's Awards. That was awful.

Seems okay... But I'm not going to drop my panties just yet... We'l see how it plays it 1st.

That's a fair enough point. I just don't see the point in watching them as a spectator. Why should I care what a random faction of people think is the best at any given category? What does that even mean?

@Pikminmaniac

That doesn't bother me... The one thing that does bother is the GOTY Category.... This specific award is broken.

They are all working together to help Sony win this gen. Nintendo you go first and make a weak console with a lame controller. Then you MS announce you're going to have used game fees, DRM, & mandatory Kinect. Then we'll go and do everything squeaky clean (Sony). Looks like it's working out really well, as planned. LoL!

@clr84651

Thatt was the Idea....

The current realitity is slightly different.

I'll watch it through Nintendo TV. They give out awards and gifts on there

Nice, this sounds much more interesting than the awful VGA joke that Spike TV produces every year.

Was excited until I read "Geoff Keighly" .

Seeing as Spikes VGA were mediocre at best maybe they can all work together to make this like the Award Show version of E3. Would be nice to have E3 during the summer and then a nice wrap-up/award show at the end of the year.

Cool, so if Bayonetta 2 wins GOTY then I get to see Sony and MS shake Nintendo's hand on live tv?

Sounds ight.

Sony? Squeaky clean? You tripping brah.

I'm not going to hold my breath on the quality, but honestly...ANYTHING...would be better than the VGA's.

Lol. I watched the first VGA's way back when and almost threw up in my mouth. Then I gave year 2 a try, cursed them all to hell, and moved on with my life. I'm glad I haven't wasted my time with any of them since then, but I do have a glimmer of hope that this new one will be something.

That being said, I probably won't watch. I'm not so hopeful that I will give them my time.

I'd take a huge advert over the god awful cheese fest of the VGX awards.

You missed the abomination that was last years one.

Videogames are bigger than Hollywood. There really should be an Academy Awards type of venue for awarding merit. Hopefully, it can be ethically run and help promote quality games. Just imagine a world where Psychonauts got the recognition it really deserved.