The Game Awards 2017 adds orchestra, Google Search voting, and more

The Game Awards 2017 will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on December 7 at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET in 4K across more than 16 gaming and digital streaming platforms, including localized versions for Chinese, South Korean and Japanese audiences.

The annual awards event—described as a “night of awards, exclusive game world premieres, new game announcements, and musical performances”—will be available to watch for free across almost every major mobile, desktop, and console device, including AfreecaTV (South Korea), Facebook, GameSpot, KakaoTV (South Korea), IGN, NicoNico (Japan), Mixer, PlayStation Store, Steam, Tencent (China), Twitch, Twitter, UOL Jogos (Brazil), Xbox Live, YouTube (in 4K Ultra HD), and more to be announced. Highlights will also be featured in a Snapchat Live Story.

New to the show in 2017 is The Game Awards Orchestra, a group of “some of the world’s most talented orchestral and rock musicians,” who will be joined by special guests for a performance of the music featured in the video games of the past, present, and future.

Fans will also be able to vote on select categories using Facebook Messenger, Google Search, Twitter DM, and at TheGameAwards.com. The Game Awards is partnering with Google for a voting experience directly accessible on Google Search (type “The Game Awards voting” into the search bar for easy access to a voting ballot). Voting will begin on November 14 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET when the nominees for more 25 categories are announced.

In China, The Game Awards will partner with Tencent to air the show, including on QQ.com. In addition to a live translated version of The Game Awards 2017 and an exclusive pre-show, Chinese viewers will be able to vote on a special “Fans Choice Award,” based on nominees selected by Tencent’s editors, through WeCat, QQ.com, and the Tencent News App.

On Twitter, The Game Awards will air live and receive a custom “TheGameAwards emoji. Live Twitter comments on breaking news and the results of Twitter user polls will be integrated into the broadcast.

On Facebook, in addition to airing the award show live, Facebook Watch will host the exclusive, five-week behind the scenes series, “The Road to The Game Awards.” Premiering November 13, the documentary series will take viewers behind the scenes during the final month of production on The Game Awards 2017. Facebook will also have a special backstage room at the show, where “nominees and digital influencers” can go live to interact with fans.

Finally, The Game Awards Sale will return in 2017 across the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live, Steam, and other platforms to purchase nominated games at a discount. More details will be announced in early December.

Watch a promotional video below.