The Game Awards marked its 10th anniversary in December and delivered record-breaking excitement and surprises. The event celebrated excellence across gaming genres and had an estimated 154 million global live streams which shattered previous viewership records. Evening highlights included EA Sports FC 25 winning the Best Sports/Racing Game and breaking the streak of racing titles dominating the category.
Record-breaking viewership for The Game Awards 2024
This year’s Game Awards showcased the industry’s brightest stars and cutting-edge innovations, cementing its reputation as the definitive year-end celebration of gaming. The awards broke viewership records as views surged by an impressive 31% over the 2023 record. The show featured world premieres of upcoming gaming projects with highly anticipated titles including Borderlands 4, The Witcher 4, and Elden Ring: Nightreign. The event also featured star appearances from Snoop Dogg and Harrison Ford.
The Game Awards highlighted the creativity and diversity within the gaming industry, with Astro Bot winning Game of the Year, beating Black Myth: Wukong and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
The colourful platform game dominated the evening and won four awards, while Metaphor: ReFantazio and Balatro each won three awards. However, in a fiercely contested category, EA Sports FC 25 emerged victorious in the Best Sports/Racing Game category, cementing a significant moment for sports gaming.
EA Sports FC 25 beats tough category competition
The Best Sports/Racing Game category recognises the finest traditional and non-traditional sports and racing titles. Historically, the category has been dominated by racing games in recent years, with winners like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo 7. However, EA Sports FC 25 broke the streak and was the category winner at the 2024 Game Awards.
This year’s nominees reflected a diverse range of sports gaming experiences:
- EA Sports FC 25 (Winner)
- F1 24
- NBA 2K25
- Top Spin 2K25
- WWE 2K24
Pre-award predictions from Gamer Rant favoured WWE 2K24, which received stronger critical reviews (Top Critic Average: 80) compared to EA Sports FC 25’s (Top Critic Average: 76). Despite the odds, EA Sports FC 25 clinched the win, marking the first time an EA Sports football game has taken home this prestigious award after a decade of nominations.
The FIFA legacy continues under another name
The win is a testament to the enduring legacy of the EA Sports FC franchise. After rebranding from the FIFA series, EA Sports FC retained the core elements fans have cherished for years, including Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and unmatched gameplay realism. Despite concerns about the transition, the popular game franchise has continued to thrive as one of the best in the industry, proving that while the name may have changed, the essence of the game remains intact.
EA Sports FC 25 exemplifies the franchise’s commitment to delivering high-quality sports gaming experiences. Preserving fan-favourite features and introducing new innovations have helped the game maintain its status in sports gaming. Its victory at The Game Awards 2024 reflects its popularity and underscores its influence on gaming culture.
This historic win adds to EA Sports’ legacy, strengthening its position as a leader in sports gaming. It also shows the franchise’s ability to compete in an increasingly competitive market, where games like NBA 2K25 and F1 24 continue to push the boundaries of the genre.
