Golden Joystick Awards celebrate gaming excellence
The 42nd annual Golden Joystick Awards celebrated the best in gaming, with Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA VI) taking home the prestigious Most Wanted Game award. The event, which showcased standout titles and achievements, gave fans a glimpse of what’s to come in the gaming world.
Rockstar’s ambitious plans for GTA 6
During the acceptance speech, David Manley of Rockstar Games shared the studio’s excitement and gratitude for the recognition. “Thank you so much for this incredible award,” he said, adding, “And also, a massive thank you to all the fans. They’re the most important thing for us. They mean a lot to us at Rockstar.”
Manley hinted at the sheer scale of the project, describing it as a collaborative effort involving a talented team working on “absolutely mind-blowing things” for GTA 6. “It’s a real honor to accept this award on everyone’s behalf,” he said. “I wish more of us could be here. But thank you very much, everybody, and yeah—more to come. Thank you.”
Although no PC release date was confirmed, Rockstar’s history suggests the game will launch on consoles first, with a PC version likely to follow. Currently, GTA 6 is slated for a fall 2025 console release.
Black Myth: Wukong wins ultimate Game of the Year
The night’s biggest winner was Black Myth: Wukong, which claimed the highly coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award. Game Science CEO Feng Ji expressed gratitude while teasing future updates. “If you haven’t played Black Myth: Wukong yet, you are in luck,” Ji said. “Now you have one more reason to give it a try! Keep following us, and there might just be some surprises waiting for you later this year.”
Other notable winners
Helldivers 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth impressed with four awards each, solidifying their places among the year’s top games. Meanwhile, in a surprise victory, Satisfactory claimed the PC Game of the Year title, edging out strong contenders like Frostpunk 2 and Tactical Breach Wizards.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the Golden Joystick Awards highlighted the diverse and innovative titles captivating players worldwide. With GTA 6 on the horizon, anticipation for the next wave of groundbreaking gaming experiences has never been higher.