adminAI game discovery is becoming an important way for players to learn about new titles, announcements and industry events. A Fancensus gamer survey found that 55% of respondents had used AI to find video game information. An analysis of The Game Awards 2025 also suggests that AI platforms do more than repeat headlines: they select, rank and frame the information players encounter.
Image credit: The Gaming Awards
Martine Saunders is business development and client relations director at video game data and research firm Fancensus.
This article is part of AI Week.
AI game discovery as a new bridge to players
Fancensus examined how ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity answered questions about The Game Awards 2025 before, during and after the broadcast. The study found that these tools can shape which titles attract attention and how an event is remembered. For players, AI can offer a quick overview; for publishers and developers, it creates another place where accurate information and clear messaging matter.
Fancensus reported that 55% of its gamer panel had used AI to find video game information. The figure comes from its TGA ’25 Consumer Survey Report, published December 22, 2025. When using AI-generated details, players should check important announcements against official sources, especially when information is still developing.
How the study tracked AI responses
The research treated AI platforms as media channels and submitted more than 2,000 structured questions across three periods: the days before the show, the livestream itself and the 48 hours after it ended. A rumour-focused question was asked regularly in the run-up. During the broadcast, nine additional questions about announcements, winners, platform line-ups and audience sentiment were repeated every five minutes. Questions continued after the show, but at a lower frequency.
This approach offers a useful reminder for anyone assessing AI visibility: responses can change depending on timing, the wording of a question and the sources available to a platform. A single answer is not necessarily a complete account of an event.
Before the show: rumours and uncertainty
In the days before The Game Awards 2025, all three platforms surfaced a range of rumoured games. Resident Evil Requiem and other well-known franchises appeared in the discussion. However, the platforms did not consistently distinguish between games that were announced, nominated or simply hoped for by fans.
That uncertainty creates both an opportunity and a risk for publishers. Teasers and confirmed details may spread quickly, but rumours can also become confused with facts in AI-generated summaries. Readers should treat pre-event speculation as unverified, while publishers can help reduce confusion by making confirmed information easy to find.
The study ranked the five most frequently mentioned games across the three platforms in response to a question about titles rumoured for the event. The question was asked at regular intervals during the four days before the show. Image credit: Fancensus
During the show: which games stood out
During the livestream, the platforms repeatedly highlighted a cluster of titles, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerging as the most prominent across questions and services. Questions about the biggest surprise, the most exciting moments and audience reactions often brought up similar games. In effect, AI responses created another version of the event line-up alongside the official running order.
Timing mattered too. Games shown earlier had more time to appear in responses as the broadcast continued. This means visibility during a live event can reflect not only audience interest but also how long a title has been available for platforms to reference and repeat.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was mentioned more than any other title by a substantial margin, following its repeated award wins. Image credit: Fancensus
After the show: how AI summaries shape the story
In the 48 hours after the broadcast, responses moved away from live updates and towards summaries of the event’s significance. Surprise announcements and the divisive Highguard finale received attention, while some award winners were mentioned less often than their number of trophies might suggest. The findings indicate that distinctiveness and the intensity of online discussion can influence AI visibility alongside formal recognition.
People associated with the show, including hosts, performers and prominent winners, also served as shorthand for its broader cultural impact. For players catching up later, these summaries may influence which moments they remember. Comparing an AI recap with the official results is a practical way to separate a platform’s emphasis from the full event record.
The study also listed the titles most frequently mentioned after The Game Awards 2025. Image credit: Fancensus
Different AI platforms use different sources
ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity showed distinct citation patterns, despite drawing on overlapping press, social and video sources. One platform relied heavily on a relatively small group of reference sites, including Wikipedia. Another cited a broader mix of specialist publications, general news and technology media, as well as user-generated sources such as Reddit and YouTube.
Gemini cited nearly 100 more sources than ChatGPT during the show. The platforms also produced different rankings of games and publishers, so a title’s prominence may vary depending on which AI a player uses. Official websites are part of this information landscape: keeping game details, platform availability and announcements accurate and up to date can make it easier for readers and AI systems to find reliable information.
Image credit: Fancensus
Strengths, gaps and incorrect answers
Overall, the platforms were able to identify major winners, key announcements and broad patterns in community sentiment. They were less reliable with pre-show rumours and sometimes gave limited attention to surprise reveals. At least one platform also repeated outdated or incorrect information about the event’s format, apparently mixing the 2025 show with coverage from earlier years.
AI summaries can be helpful starting points, but they are not a substitute for verified reporting or official event information. Players should confirm details such as release plans, winners and platform availability before relying on them.
What publishers and platform holders can learn
The findings suggest that AI visibility should be considered alongside press and social media planning. Clear metadata, consistent information across sources and sustained coverage can all affect how a game appears in AI responses. Awards alone do not guarantee prominence. The strength and direction of post-show conversation can also influence the summaries players see.
For platform holders, questions about what was announced for PS5 or Xbox Series are practical examples of how AI may act as an information gateway. Across the three platforms, the study found 43% more PS5 titles mentioned than were actually shown. The figure was 68% higher for Xbox Series. These differences make it especially important to verify platform-specific claims with official announcements.
Building an AI-aware approach to game visibility
AI tools are becoming a kind of informal curator: they are not official arbiters of quality, but they can influence which games players hear about and how they remember an event. Tracking AI responses over the course of a campaign can help publishers understand what information is being amplified, where inaccurate narratives may be emerging and which sources appear to shape the discussion.
As more players use conversational tools to ask about games, AI game discovery is becoming a meaningful part of how titles reach audiences. Treating these platforms as measurable touchpoints can complement established launch activities such as trailers, previews and influencer campaigns. Players, in turn, can use AI for a quick overview while checking important details against reliable sources.
