You’re excited. You click a link to The Game Awards website. And then… boom. 404 Error. Not exactly the award-winning moment you were hoping for.
Don’t worry. You’re not cursed by the gaming gods. A 404 error is common. It happens to the best of us. And most of the time, it’s easy to understand—and fix.
TLDR: A 404 error on The Game Awards site means the page you’re trying to open can’t be found. It might have been moved, deleted, or typed incorrectly. Sometimes it’s a server issue or a broken link. Refreshing, checking the URL, or visiting the homepage usually solves it.
Now let’s break it all down in a simple way.
What Is a 404 Error?
A 404 error is basically the internet saying, “I can’t find that page.”
It doesn’t mean the whole website is broken. It just means that specific page isn’t where it’s supposed to be. Think of it like walking into a store and asking for an item. The store exists. But the item? Not on the shelf anymore.
Technically speaking, a 404 error is an HTTP status code. It tells your browser that the server is working, but the requested page does not exist.
In short:
- The website is up ✅
- Your internet is working ✅
- The page you want is missing ❌
Why You’re Seeing It on The Game Awards Site
There are several reasons why The Game Awards website might show a 404 error. Most are harmless. Some are seasonal. Let’s go through them one by one.
1. The Page Was Removed
The Game Awards updates its site often. Every year brings new nominees, winners, trailers, and announcements.
Older pages sometimes get removed.
For example:
- Past nomination pages
- Temporary promo pages
- Old voting pages
- Expired livestream links
If you’re clicking an old bookmark or link from social media, it may no longer exist.
2. The URL Was Typed Incorrectly
This one happens a lot.
Maybe you typed:
thegameawards.com/2023winnerss
But the real link was:
thegameawards.com/2023-winners
Even one tiny typo can lead to a 404 error.
Look for:
- Missing letters
- Extra letters
- Wrong year
- Wrong category name
Small mistake. Big error page.
3. The Page Was Moved
Sometimes the page still exists. It just lives somewhere new.
Websites reorganize their content. Developers change URL structures. Sections get renamed.
Instead of:
/vote
It might now be:
/fan-voting
If the redirect wasn’t set up properly, that old link leads straight to 404 land.
4. You Clicked an Old Social Media Link
During awards season, The Game Awards team posts a lot on:
- X (Twitter)
- YouTube
Some links are time-sensitive.
Voting pages. Live polls. Sweepstakes. Exclusive reveals.
After the event ends, those links may stop working.
So if you’re scrolling through a two-year-old tweet, that link might not survive the test of time.
5. The Site Is Being Updated
Big gaming events mean big web traffic.
When nominations drop or the live show airs, millions of fans visit the site at once.
Sometimes developers push updates during this period. Pages may temporarily disappear.
This can cause short-term 404 errors.
Good news: these usually fix themselves quickly.
6. Server Glitches
Even major sites experience hiccups.
High traffic can overload servers. That includes:
- Voting nights
- Major game announcements
- Surprise reveals
If servers struggle, some pages might not load correctly.
A quick refresh might solve it.
How to Fix a 404 Error on The Game Awards Site
Now for the fun part. Let’s fix it.
1. Double-Check the URL
Look carefully at the address bar.
Ask yourself:
- Did I spell everything correctly?
- Is the year correct?
- Did I add extra characters?
Correct it. Hit enter again.
You’d be surprised how often this works.
2. Go Back to the Homepage
If the page is missing, start fresh.
Visit:
https://thegameawards.com
Then use:
- The main menu
- The search function
- The archive section
This helps you find the updated version of the page.
3. Use Google Search
Instead of guessing the link, search:
The Game Awards 2024 nominees site:thegameawards.com
This limits results to the official site.
If the page still exists, Google will find it.
4. Clear Your Browser Cache
Sometimes your browser holds onto old data.
Clearing cache can:
- Remove outdated links
- Refresh page settings
- Fix loading errors
After clearing, reload the page.
5. Try Another Device
If your phone shows a 404, try your laptop.
If Chrome fails, try Firefox or Safari.
This helps rule out local browser issues.
Is a 404 Error Dangerous?
Short answer: No.
A 404 error does not mean:
- You’ve been hacked
- The site is unsafe
- Your data is stolen
It simply means the page cannot be found.
That’s it.
However, be careful if:
- The URL looks strange
- It’s not the official domain
- You were redirected multiple times
Always make sure you’re on the real website.
Why It Happens More Around Award Season
The Game Awards is not a small event.
It’s massive.
Millions of viewers. Huge announcements. Surprise trailers. Celebrity appearances. World premieres.
Every year, the site changes:
- New categories
- Different nominees
- Updated voting systems
- Live show integration
With so many updates happening quickly, some links break.
Especially if you bookmarked a page from a previous year.
For example:
- 2022 Voting Page
- 2023 Nominee List
- Old Stream Countdown Page
These are often replaced instead of permanently hosted.
What If the Whole Site Shows 404?
This is rare. But it can happen.
If the homepage itself shows 404:
- Wait a few minutes
- Check social media accounts
- Try again later
It may be temporary maintenance.
Major events sometimes cause short outages.
Final Thoughts
Seeing a 404 error on The Game Awards site can feel frustrating. Especially if you’re trying to vote or watch something exciting.
But most of the time, it’s nothing dramatic.
Usually, it means:
- The page moved
- The page expired
- The link was typed wrong
A few clicks can often solve it.
So next time you see that 404 screen, don’t panic. Don’t blame your internet. And don’t assume the gaming universe is against you.
Just refresh. Recheck. Restart from the homepage.
And get back to what really matters.
Celebrating great games.