The Sport Awards 2025 revealed its nominees for its suite of categories, from probably the most anticipated sport of 2026 to the perfect esports staff of the yr. However whereas loads of consideration will probably be paid to every of these classes, the primary focus, because it all the time is, will probably be on Sport of the Yr.
It’s a various GOTY choice for 2025 and, to be trustworthy, each sport nominated feels definitely worth the award. There may be an apparent frontrunner in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, however all 5 video games garnered sufficient reward to justify a win. However at the same time as we speak about optimistic developments and information inside these classes, there’s an unlucky streak that has as soon as once more continued for 2025.
Xbox Sport Studios Has By no means Been Nominated for Sport of the Yr
Since The Sport Awards inception in 2014, Xbox has but to have a first-party title nominated for Sport of the Yr. Not Starfield, not Gears 5, not Forza Horizon. It’s stunning that within the 10+ years of the present’s existence that Xbox has but to be acknowledged, not to mention with a Sport of the Yr award.
Though there have been loads of Xbox titles that would have earned a nomination, this yr it felt like there was a reasonably good likelihood that the streak is likely to be damaged. That’s, earlier than the juggernaut caravan of indies rolled in and garnered all the eye.
In a lighter yr, I might see video games like The Outer Worlds 2 or Avowed snagging a Sport of the Yr nomination, however 2025 was stacked. Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Death Stranding 2, Expedition 33, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II are a powerful slate of nominees, and there have been loads of alternates that might have felt deserving as nicely.
Xbox Has Some Sport of the Yr Wins, However They Carry an Asterisk
Coincidentally, Xbox has two nominations and two Sport of the Yr wins at The Sport Awards, however for video games that it added to its library after the actual fact by way of acquisition. Overwatch received Sport of the Yr in 2016, however that was seven years earlier than Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King. And Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, one other Activision-published title, received in 2019.
The Outer Worlds 1 was nominated for Sport of the Yr in 2019, however that first title, regardless of being launched after Microsoft acquired developer Obsidian Entertainment in 2018, was revealed by Personal Division. That’s arguably the closest Microsoft and Xbox have come to a nomination/win, and in some circles, it would depend as a result of they did technically personal Obsidian on the time it received. Different technicalities embrace Doom being nominated for Sport of the Yr in 2016, Doom Eternal in 2020, and Deathloop in 2021.
Each Sony and Nintendo Have Tons of Nominations, and Every Has Received
For comparability’s sake, Xbox’s two foremost rivals, Nintendo and Sony, have been nominated in almost yearly since 2014. Nintendo missed out on a Sport of the Yr nomination in 2016, 2018, and final yr. In the meantime, Sony has solely missed out on a GOTY nod in 2016.
Each studios have at the very least one win as nicely. Sony has three Sport of the Yr Awards, for God of War (2018), The Last of Us Part 2, and Astro Bot final yr. Nintendo has one GOTY win for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Xbox Has Been Acknowledged at The Sport Awards
All that being mentioned, Microsoft and Xbox haven’t been utterly shut out with regards to nominations or wins at The Sport Awards. This yr, Microsoft has the third most nominations with 10 (tied with Digital Arts), and it has been acknowledged at earlier iterations of The Sport Awards.
Microsoft’s Wins at The Sport Awards
For 2025, Microsoft and Xbox Sport Studios have just a few pictures at taking residence an award. South of Midnight might win Video games for Impression or Innovation in Accessibility, however there’s sturdy competitors in each classes. It has two nominated video games in Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 for Best RPG, however the expectation is Clair Obscur goes to take that class. Troy Baker might win for his portrayal of Indiana Jones however, once more, Clair Obscur stands in the best way with three separate nominees. With a report 13 nominations, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 goes to be stiff competitors for everyone, not simply Xbox.
What Might Get Xbox a Sport of the Yr Nomination in 2026
I do know that there will probably be discussions about biases and favoritism with regards to Xbox’s present streak, however that appears like conspiracy principle nonsense greater than the rest. It’s stunning, although, that Xbox does not also have a nomination.
So far as breaking the streak, nevertheless, Microsoft and Xbox Sport Studios should wait till subsequent yr for its subsequent likelihood at a Sport of the Yr nod. 2026 has each Fable and Gears of War E-Day slated for launch, and both of these may very well be sturdy candidates for nominations, if not TGA {hardware}. We should wait and see in the event that they may also help Microsoft break its streak.
