The Game Awards 2021 has partnered with music streaming service Spotify. The deal solidifies Spotify’s role as the exclusive audio streaming partner for the event. Additionally, a four-part behind-the-scenes “Inside the Game Awards” podcast has appeared on the platform. The podcast will feature organizer Geoff Keighley giving insight into the event’s nominees as well as musical performances.
During the actual event, Spotify will provide the latest updates for musical artists and performances featured at The Game Awards 2021. The Game Awards 2021 will also feature the return of the in-person Game Awards Orchestra. Notably, the new four-part podcast will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the event is organized.
The first episode of the podcast is already available on the platform. In it, several journalists from prominent outlets like IGN and Giantbomb join Keighley to talk about the jury selection and nomination process. Specifically, Keighley talks about how games are selected for Game of the Year, as well as how games such as Forza Horizon were snubbed for a nomination. Keighley also admits that the Game Awards panel may have a bias towards narrative-driven games.
Geoff Keighley also talks about how Deathloop became one of the most nominated games of the year. Deathloop appeared alongside other 2021 heavy-hitters such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, It Takes Two, and Psychonauts 2. Keighley praises the fact that Deathloop is a new IP from Arkane Studios. IGN’s Tina Amini highlights how Deathloop’s mechanics keep the game fresh, while Giantbomb’s Jeff Gerstmann talked about its unique looping structure.
Earlier this month, Keighley announced that The Game Awards 2021 would feature new game announcements “in the double digits.” Furthermore, this year’s event will focus more on game announcements rather than celebrity appearances, and—importantly—have nothing to do with NFTs. Notably, the show may even feature some non-videogame media announcements as well, which is something we’ve seen creeping into Keighley’s assorted shows throughout the year.
The Game Awards will air on December 9, 2021.
