A few insights to think about as we get ready for #TheGameAwards

Tonight is probably the shortest show we’ve done. It will still run 2.5 hours but we’ve streamlined the runtime with more focused content, fewer, bigger sponsors, and some big theatrical moments. A shorter runtime means less potential to pick up viewers. We aren’t expecting massive livestream growth, but feel this is the right move for the industry and franchise leading into our 10th show next year.

Spent this weekend hands-on with @Xbox Series X.

Impressions are limited to backwards compatible content and system-level features. We have not played next-gen games.

Thoughts:

- Quick Resume is a game changer! Love being able to instantly jump in exactly where I left off. Load times VASTLY improved across the board. I tested Fortnite, Warzone, Ori, Batman: Arkham Knight, even older titles like Modern Warfare 2 and Gears of War (the original 360 disc versions!)

Load Times + Quick Resume makes moving between games almost like Alt-TABing.

My Xbox luck so far:

- Microsoft store: Not working
- Walmart: Added to cart, entered info, then told sold out
- Target: Claims I have max quantity in cart but I have Zero
- Best Buy: Says Coming Soon
- GameStop: ??? Also cannot find listing on Amazon at all? Anyone?

Per Sony, #PlayStation5 pre-orders will be available starting TOMORROW at select retailers. Note: I am hearing some retailers may make inventory available today as well. Stay tuned.

There it is. Xbox Series X for $499 on November 10, pre orders on September 22

https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1303680112156524544

To me on the most compelling aspect: Xbox’s 24 month financing option: $24.99 a month for a Series S with Gamepass included and just $34.99 for an X with Gamepass.

Those offers are hugely exciting and make it easier than even to deliver on an old Xbox tag line: Jump In.

Thursday, This is Only the Beginning.

Here's the trailer I personally edited to get us ready for Thursday's @gamescom #OpeningNightLive!

Watch at 8 pm CEST / 2 pm ET / 11 am ET at openingnightlive.com

https://twitter.com/geoffkeighley/status/1297910607908200449/video/1

Note: Games in this trailer are not meant to confirm titles in the show lineup -- these are games from across the summer. Stay tuned for announcements in coming days of specific titles debuting new content.

A few things on #OpeningNightLive for Thursday:

- Show is LIVE from a studio in Los Angeles. We're being very careful, no live audience.

- Currently 38 games in the show from 18 different publishers.

- Expected run time: 2 hours.

More to share in coming days! There will be some new game announcements, but like #OpeningNightLive last year, the show is primarily focused on updates from announced titles. So no, we aren't "announcing" 38 new games.

So what are you wondering about #SummerGameFest? Answering video questions now about what’s coming up thanks to @hbomax #askgeoff Q: #askgeoff Any news on when we can expect big game announcements?
- @Himangs67834092

A:

So many images of games today. So here's a thread of screenshots from #PlayStation5 you can check out. Starting with Horizon: Forbidden West from @Guerrilla Next up: Demon's Souls remake from @bluepointgames

This Summer is different for a lot of us, but one thing I keep hearing is that fans want to see something like our annual live YouTube E3 show around the big #SummerGameFest press moments like tomorrow's #playstation5 event. So.... I’m teaming up with @YouTube for the sixth year in a row to create @summergamefest Live on @YouTubeGaming — Starting with live pre and post-shows for the @PlayStation event tomorrow. Reactions, guests, and hype from the comfort of home.

So it’s show day for #TheGameAwards. A few thoughts before things get too busy! First, it’s crazy we are now in year six of this thing. It’s hard to describe what an honor it is to produce this show and have everyone fly in from around the world to attend. When I started this crazy experiment in 2014, I just wanted to find a way to celebrate the industry on my own terms. It means the world to me that so many people, including all you guys, have embraced what we’ve built and pushed us to make the best show possible.

We're doing something new -- Player's Voice, a category where YOU guys can select the winner 100%. 3 rounds of 24 hour voting with 24 games (including some new ones) starts right now: thegameawards.com/brackets/playe… @thegameawards Nominees are based on some of the top fan voted games so far, as well as other ones we've heard you guys want to see represented like Jedi Fallen Order. It's all in your hands! 3 rounds of voting in our bracket, starting with 24 games today. Winner on Thursday!

21 years ago, as a sophomore in university, I visited @valvesoftware to meet with Gabe Newell and write The @finalhours of Half-Life, the story of that game’s development. @valvesoftware @finalhours Today, I’m excited to announce my next project: The @finalhours of Half-Life: Alyx, arriving in March 2020. For the past few years I’ve secretly been traveling to Seattle to chronicle Valve’s return to the Half-Life series with Alyx, a full-blown VR game.

Had a chance to preview @AppleArcade last week and meet many developers. Quick Tweetstorm. Game lineup feels curated and premium, especially on Indie side. Played titles like Where Cards Fall and Skate City (two games @builtbysnowman) and Sayonara Wild Hearts (@simogo) @AppleArcade @builtbysnowman @simogo @A_i Interesting development challenge: Games need to work across iOS, Mac, Apple TV (some via controller support). Many devs discussed experimentation required to build a game that supports multiple input methods out of the box (Touch, controller, mouse).

Heading into final day of rehearsals today for #OpeningNightLive - 13 hours until the show and lots to do! Really fun to bring a show like this to
Germany and share it with everyone! Hopefully we can bring this kind of celebration to more places around the world. As I travel, it’s clear games are a universal language!