The Game Awards 2016 adds virtual reality, Twitter, Facebook, China, and more to its live streams

The Game Awards 2016 will be held on December 1 at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are now on sale.

The awards and exclusive game world premieres show will be live streamed across various platforms, including web, mobile, and console platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, PlayStation Network, Steam, Xbox Live, and for the first time, on Twitter and Facebook Live, live-translated in Chinese via QQ.com in partnership with Tencent, and in virtual reality via the NextVR app.

Here’s an overview of some of the services:

NextVR

Through a partnership with NextVR, the leading virtual reality broadcast platform for live-action content, The Game Awards will be the first award show to livestream in virtual reality. Accessible via the NextVR app, the live VR broadcast of The Game Awards will feature VR camera rigs placed throughout the Microsoft Theater. The collaboration between NextVR and The Game Awards gives viewers multiple vantage points of the show including a front row seat next to some of the biggest names in the industry. An on-stage robotic camera, built especially for the show, will move around during the broadcast to continually give VR viewers a new perspective on the awards and musical performances.

QQ.com

Further expanding its global reach and distribution, The Game Awards will air a live localized version of the show on Tencent’s integrated Internet platforms in China, including QQ.com. In addition to watching a live translated version of the show, Chinese viewers can use WeChat, QQ.com, and Tencent News App to vote on a special “Fans Choice Award,” based on nominees selected by Tencent’s gaming editors. The winner of the award will be announced during the live global broadcast.

Twitter

On Twitter, The Game Awards will be the first live awards show broadcast on the platform, creating a unified experience for viewers to watch and comment on gaming’s biggest night. Live Twitter comments on breaking news and the results of Twitter user polls will be integrated into the broadcast.

Facebook Live

For the first time The Game Awards will air on Facebook Live, bringing video game’s biggest night live to Facebook users around the world. In addition, Facebook is partnering with The Game Awards to create a special Backstage Facebook Live Room for nominees and digital influencers to go live on their pages and interact with fans in real time.

Snapchat Live Story

Snapchat will once again cover The Game Awards, partnering to produce a “Live Story” that curates highlights from the awards for the platform.

Xbox Live

Viewers on Xbox Live won’t just watch The Game Awards – they will also compete against their friends with an interactive overlay experience to guess the winners in top categories. A real-time leaderboard will track the top Xbox Live players.

Twitch

On Twitch, The Game Awards 2016 will once again be open for co-streaming, allowing broadcasters to add their own live commentary over the show from their channels at home. In addition, for the first time Twitch and The Game Awards will partner to offer live on-site co-streaming, allowing select Twitch streamers to broadcast from inside the Microsoft Theater.

A “The Game Awards Sale” is also planned across PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam to purchase select nominated games at a discount.