The Game Awards 2025 revealed the nominees for its suite of categories, from the most anticipated game of 2026 to the best esports team of the year. But while there will be plenty of attention in each of those categories, the main focus will, as always, be on Game of the Year.
It's a diverse GOTY selection for 2025 and, honestly, every game nominated deserves an award. There is a clear front line Clair Obscur: Expedition 33But all 5 games earned enough praise to justify the win. But even when we talk about positive trends and records in those categories, there is an unfortunate strike that continues again for 2025.
Xbox Game Studios has never been nominated for Game of the Year
Since the Game Awards were established in 2014, Xbox has not had a first-party title nominated for Game of the Year. no Starfieldno Gears 5no Forza Horizon. It's surprising that in the 10+ years of the show's existence, Xbox has yet to be recognized, let alone with a Game of the Year award.
Although there are many Xbox titles that could have earned a nomination, this year felt like it had a good chance to break the streak. That is, the juggernaut of the Indies entered the caravan and caught everyone's attention.
In light years, I can see games like this The outside world 2 or Accepted Snatching a Game of the Year nomination, but 2025 was stacked. Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Death Stranding 2, Expedition 33and Kingdom Come Redemption II It's a strong slate of candidates, and there were plenty of options that felt worthy.
Xbox won some game of the year, but they carry the asterisk
incidentally, Xbox has two nominations and two Game of the Year wins at The Game AwardsBut for games that it added to its library after the fact through acquisitions. Overwatch Won Game of the Year in 2016, but it was seven years before Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King. and Sekiro: Shadows die twiceAnother Activision-published title, won in 2019.
Outer Worlds 1 It was nominated for Game of the Year in 2019, but that first title, released after Microsoft acquired developer Obsidian Entertainment in 2018, was published by a private division. That's logically the closest Microsoft and Xbox One have come in nominations/wins, and in some circles, that might count because they technically owned Obsidian. Other technicalities include Doom, nominated for Game of the Year in 2016, destruction eternal In 2020, and Deathloop In 2021.
Sony and Nintendo both have multiple nominations, and each has won
For comparison, Xbox's two main competitors, Nintendo and Sony have been nominated almost every year since 2014. Nintendo missed out on Game of the Year nominations in 2016, 2018, and last year. Meanwhile, Sony just missed out on a GOTY nod in 2016.
Both studios also have at least one win. Sony has three Game of the Year awards God of War (2018), Our Final Part 2, and Astro Bot last year A GOTY win for Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Xbox has been recognized at the Game Awards
All that said, Microsoft and Xbox aren't completely locked in when it comes to nominations or wins at game awards. This year, Microsoft has the third most nominations with 10 (tied with Electronic Arts), and has been recognized in previous iterations of the Game Awards.
Microsoft's win at the Game Awards
For 2025, Microsoft and Xbox game studios have a few shots to take home the prize. south of midnight Access can win games for impact or innovation, but both categories are fiercely contested. It has two nominated games Accepted and The outside world 2 For the best RPG, but expect Clair Obscur That's going to take the class. Troy Baker could have won for his portrayal Indiana Jones But then again, Clair Obscur Three different candidates stand in the way. With a record 13 nominations, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Competition is going to be tough for everyone, not just Xbox.
What Xbox One Game of the Year nominations could get in 2026
I know there will be discussions about bias and favoritism when it comes to Xbox's current streak, but that sounds more like conspiracy theory nonsense than anything else. It's surprising, though, that Xbox isn't even nominated.
As far as breaking the streak goes, however, Microsoft and Xbox game studios will have to wait for another chance at next year's Game of the Year nod. 2026 has both fable and Gears of War E-Day scheduled for release, and any of them could be strong candidates for nominations, if not TGA hardware. We'll have to wait and see if they can help Microsoft break its streak.
