The 2020 edition of The Game Awards was dominated by The Last of Us Part II, which saw eleven nominations and seven wins at the event, including Game of the Year. Surprise announcements included Ark II, Perfect Dark, and a new Mass Effect title that will put the spotlight back on the series' original cast. Perhaps the biggest announcement of the night was its very first, as Sephiroth ed Smash Bros in an internet-breaking trailer which saw the infamous Final Fantasy villain battling the roster of Nintendo's beloved fighting game.

Related: Will BOTW 2 Really Be Shown At The Game Awards 2021?

Now, the first winner has been announced for The Game Awards 2021, as Halo Infinite has won the award for Players' Voice, as seen on the nominated for Game of the Year, as they were both released too far into 2021 to be considered on the ballot. Halo Infinite won handily with 35% of the vote, with Metroid Dread sitting as runner-up with 22%.

Players' Voice is the only award at The Game Awards entirely decided by fan vote. While voting in every nomination category is a major part of The Game Awards, 90% of the weight of votes towards the eventual winners goes to critics, while the popular vote only s for 10%. Nevertheless, an entirely fan-voted win is sure to be a morale boost for 343 Industries, as the multiplayer component of Halo Infinite has seen such harsh backlash from some players that the Halo subreddit was locked down for a full day due to toxic attacks on the developer.

Player's Voice is the first of 31 awards that will be featured at the event. While there have been a few leaks so far as to some of the game announcements that might appear at the event, there will likely still be plenty of surprises in store for excited fans. Viewers will have to wait and see if their favorite games walk away with a new trophy from The Game Awards 2021.

Next: The Game Awards 2021 Predictions For Big Game Announcements

Source: The Game Awards, The Game Awards/Twitter