{
  "id": 13832381,
  "title": "The shortlist for 2026's Golden Joystick Awards is out, including PC Game of the Year, and you can vote now",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/the-shortlist-for-2026s-golden-joystick-awards-is-out-including-pc",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-12T00:00:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/events-conferences/the-shortlist-for-2026s-golden-joystick-awards-is-out-including-pc-game-of-the-year-and-you-can-vote-now/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Golden Joystick Awards, established for over three decades, have traditionally recognized separate winners for 8-bit and 16-bit games in each category. In 1988, Operation Wolf and futuresport Speedball were crowned PC Game of the Year in their respective bit counts. The 2026 shortlist of nominees for the 44th annual Golden Joystick Awards has now been unveiled. Voting for categories like Best Storytelling, Best Multiplayer Game, and Best Visual Design will commence on October 26.\n\nSpecifically, ten PC games have been nominated for the PC Game of the Year category. Crimson Desert, Escape from Tarkov, Ebb, Meccha Chameleon, Mewgenics, Order of the Sinking Star, Star War Zero Company, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Valheim, and another title round out the roster. These games must have been released between November 1, 2025, and September 25, 2026, with pre-release versions considered if they reached the judges beforehand.\n\nThe voting for all categories, including Best Storytelling, Best Multiplayer Game, and others, will conclude on October 23 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET / midnight BST. The Golden Joystick Awards ceremony will take place on November 11. The 2026 nominees span across various genres, from the best FPS games to RPGs and co-op experiences.",
  "summary": "You've got until October 23.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ten PC games nominated for 2026 Golden Joystick PC Game of the Year",
    "Voting for all categories opens October 26, ends October 23",
    "Ceremony held November 11"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}