PlayStation opens PS Blog GOTY 2025 polls – eligibility, dates, categories

Table of Content

PlayStation has begun its annual community vote, opening the PS Blog Game of the Year Awards 2025 across 19 categories. The program spotlights work from teams worldwide – from standout characters and narrative to art direction, audio, and ongoing updates. Each ballot includes a write-in option so players can add a title they feel best represents the category. Only player ballots are counted, with winners set to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Results will award PS Blog trophies at four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, recognizing the games that collect the largest share of votes by the close of polls.

Key dates and how the vote works

The public polls are live now. Voting closes on Monday, December 8 at 23:59 PT, after which PlayStation Blog will tally the results and announce winners. As confirmed by the organizers, only votes submitted by players are counted for these awards.

Quick reference for the timeline and recognition is below.

Eligibility rules clarified

The organizers outlined several category-specific rules to keep the ballot focused and consistent. Key points are summarized below.

• Best PS5 Game – eligible titles are new releases from this calendar year, not previously released games with new updates. This category may include games launched after the November 30 cutoff for 2024 nominees.
• Best Multiplayer Experience – emphasizes games released in 2025.
• Best Ongoing Game – spotlights titles that delivered new, large-scale content or game-changing updates over the past year.
• Best Rerelease (Remaster) – covers upgrades, ports, or remasters that are otherwise similar to the original release; full remakes are excluded here and can appear in other categories.
• Nominee cutoff – for this year’s list, the cutoff date was November 30. Games releasing after that date aren’t eligible this year but can be nominated next year.
• Most Anticipated category rule – if a game previously won a Platinum Trophy in Most Anticipated, it cannot appear again in that category this year. As a result, Grand Theft Auto VI is excluded from “Most Anticipated Game of 2026 and Beyond,” having earned Platinum in 2023’s awards.

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All 19 categories on the ballot

The 2025 vote spans the breadth of PlayStation platforms and genres, including new releases, live service updates, VR, indies, and studio achievements. Each category features an extensive list of selections plus a write-in field.

• Best New Character
• Best Story
• Best Graphical Showcase
• Best Art Direction
• Best Audio Design
• Best Soundtrack
• Best Accessibility Features
• Best Use of DualSense
• Best Rerelease (Remaster)
• Best Multiplayer Experience
• Best Ongoing Game
• Best Expansion
• Best Sports Game
• Best Independent Game
• Best PS VR2 Game
• Best PS4 Game
• Best PS5 Game
• Studio of the Year
• Most Anticipated Game of 2026 and Beyond

Final Takeaway – why it matters

These awards are a snapshot of how players experienced PlayStation in 2025 – across new releases, ongoing updates, and technical artistry. If a game launched after the November 30 cutoff, it will be eligible for next year’s ballot, keeping recognition aligned with release timing. For now, the timeline is short and the scope is broad – a clear, player-led read on what defined PlayStation gaming this year.