Spotlighting the leading games, studios and creatives from 2020-2021 that propelled the games industry forward, this year’s impressive list of nominees includes 107 different games, individuals, teams and events spanning across a multitude of gaming genres and platforms.

After taking a fully virtual format last year, The Game Awards will return as a live, in-person ceremony at the Microsoft Theater on Thursday, December 9, 2021, including the return of The Game Awards Orchestra, conducted by Lorne Valfe. The Game Awards will once again be distributed as a free global 4K UHD livestream to fans around the world across more than 40 global video, social and gaming platforms.

This year’s Game of the Year nominees are Deathloop (Arkane Studios/Bethesda), It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios/EA), Metroid Dread (Mercury Steam/Nintendo), Psychonauts 2 (Double FIne/Xbox Game Studios), Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games/SIE), and Resident Evil Village (Capcom).

Grammy Award winning rock band Imagine Dragons  will be performing at The Game Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 9.

The multi-platinum band, known for reinventing the genre and from their musical collaborations with major video game companies including Nintendo, Epic Games and Riot Games, will be joined by special guests for a must-see performance at the video game industry’s biggest annual year-end celebration.

The Game Awards is one of the widest distributed digital events on the planet, with a record setting 83 million livestreams in 2020. The Game Awards brings together game industry creators, esports champions, digital influencers and Hollywood names for a night of awards, exclusive game world premieres, announcements and musical performances, including the return of The Game Awards Orchestra, conducted by acclaimed composer Lorne Balfe.

Viewers can tune in at home at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and more.

More exciting musical performances will be announced in the coming weeks.