Excitement Builds for the 42nd Golden Joystick Awards: Stars, Voting, and Unforgettable Moments Await

As the much-anticipated event approaches, excitement is building for the 42nd Golden Joystick Awards. This year's celebration of gaming excellence will feature actor Ben Starr, known for his role as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16, as the host. The awards ceremony will take place in London on November 21 and promises a thrilling lineup.

Joining Starr as presenters will be a talented cohort from some of the most celebrated titles in gaming. The event will feature guest stars, including Neil Newbon from Baldur's Gate 3, Alex McKenna from Red Dead Redemption 2, game developer Abubakar Salim from Assassin's Creed Origins, and Patricia Summerset, who brings Princess Zelda to life. This rich tapestry of voices from the industry will add to the prestige of the occasion.

Currently, the voting period for the Golden Joystick Awards is ongoing and is proving to be more competitive than ever before. With a little over a week remaining until the voting wraps up for the majority of categories on November 1, an impressive total of over 8.4 million votes have already been recorded, significantly surpassing last year's participation.

At this point, Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth are at the forefront with five nominations each, while Helldivers 2 follows closely behind with four nominations. Balatro also stands out with three nominations. In total, the awards cover 120 games, studios, and hardware releases across 19 diverse categories.

While the voting for the preliminary categories is nearing its end, there will be additional opportunities to vote. The shortlist for the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award will be announced on November 4. To ensure that your preferred game receives recognition, be sure to participate in the voting process. The ceremony will be available for viewing live on various platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, Steam, Facebook, and X, along with coverage from Future Games Show, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, and TechRadar Gaming.