The Game Awards 2025 have revealed their nominations for a set of categories, from the most anticipated game of 2026 to the best esports team of the year. But while plenty of attention will be given to each of these categories, the main focus will, as always, be on Game of the Year.
It's a diverse 2025 GOTY selection, and frankly, every game nominated deserves an award. There is an obvious frontrunner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33but all 5 games garnered enough praise to justify a win. But even if we talk about positive trends and records in these categories, there is an unfortunate series that continues again in 2025.
Xbox Game Studios has never been nominated for Game of the Year
Since the inception of The Game Awards in 2014, Xbox has yet to have a first-party title nominated for Game of the Year. No Star fieldNo Gears 5No Forza Horizon. It is surprising that in more than 10 years of the existence of the show that Xbox has not yet been recognized, let alone with the Game of the Year award.
While there were plenty of Xbox titles that would have earned a nomination, this year it looked like there was a pretty good chance the streak could be broken. That is, even before the caravan of indies rolled in and grabbed all the attention.
In a lighter year I could see games like Outer worlds 2 or Open it got a Game of the Year nomination, but 2025 was stacked. Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Death Stranding 2, Expedition 33and Kingdom Come Deliverance II they are a strong nomination and there were plenty of alternates who would have deserved it as well.
Xbox has some Game of the Year wins, but they carry an asterisk
coincidentally Xbox has two nominations and two wins for Game of the Year at The Game Awardsbut for games it has added to its library additionally through acquisition. Overwatch won Game of the Year in 2016, but that was seven years before Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King. AND Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceanother title published by Activision, won in 2019.
Outer worlds 1 was nominated for Game of the Year 2019, but this first title, despite being released after Microsoft acquired developer Obsidian Entertainment in 2018, was published by Private Division. This is probably the closest Microsoft and Xbox have come to a nomination/win, and in some circles it may count because they technically owned Obsidian at the time it won. Other technical details include Doom's 2016 Game of the Year nomination, Doom Eternal in 2020 and Deathloop in 2021.
Both Sony and Nintendo have plenty of nominations and each has won
In comparison, Xbox's two main rivals, Nintendo and Sony have been nominated almost every year since 2014. Nintendo missed out on a Game of the Year nomination in 2016, 2018 and last year. Meanwhile, Sony only missed GOTY in 2016.
Both studios also have at least one win. Sony has three Game of the Year Awards God of War (2018), the last of us part 2 and Astro Bot last year. Nintendo has one GOTY win The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Xbox was honored at The Game Awards
That being said, Microsoft and Xbox weren't completely locked in when it came to nominations or wins at The 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 wins at The Game Awards
For 2025, Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios have several attempts at the award. South of midnight could win Games for Impact or Innovation in Accessibility, but there is strong competition in both categories. He has two nominated games Open and Outer worlds 2 for the best RPG, but the expectation is Clair Obscuro will take over this category. Troy Baker could win for his portrayal Indiana Jones but again Clair Obscuro stands in the way with three separate candidates. With a record 13 nominations Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 there will be tough competition for everyone, not just Xbox.
What could get Xbox nominated for Game of the Year 2026
I know there will be arguments about bias and favoritism when it comes to the current Xbox series, but this feels more like conspiracy theory nonsense to me than anything else. However, it's surprising that Xbox doesn't even have a nomination.
As for breaking that streak, Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios will have to wait until next year for their next chance at Game of the Year. 2026 has both Fable and Gears of War E-Day slated for release and any of these could be strong contenders for nominations if not TGA hardware. We'll have to wait and see if they can help Microsoft break its streak.
