This week in video games: December 7, 2015

This week, Rainbow Six is back with Siege, Xenoblade Chronicles marks the spot with an “X”, why an upcoming UFC bout is so important to EA Sports, and The Witcher 3 takes top honours at the Game Awards.

Close-quarter combat with Rainbow Six Siege

From Ubisoft, Rainbow Six Siege is a return to the tactical shooter. The last game in the franchise was 2008’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. The series was established by author Tom Clancy in his novel, Rainbow Six.

Developed at Ubisoft Montreal, the game pits two teams against each other in a close-quarter battle, with one team fortifying and the other attacking. The fast-shifting games often have teams switching roles in the course of the episodes.

Rainbow Six Siege is now available for PS4, Windows, and Xbox One.

Result of UFC match will determine cover athlete

We know that Ronda Rousey is on the cover of the new UFC game.

The winner of the world featherweight championship bout between Jose Also and Conor McGregor, being held in Las Vegas on December 12, will join her.

Being developed in Burnaby at EA Canadad, EA Sports UFC 2 will be released in the spring.

Get that Wii U out for Xenoblade Chronicles X

This action role-playing game is the follow up to the amazing Xenoblade Chronicles, which was released for the Wii in 2012 (and for the 3DS in the spring of 2015).

The world of Mira is huge, and players take on the guise of a character they can personalize in a story that has the last surviving humans caught in an intergalactic war between two other races.

It's rated teen, so it’s a good open-world option for kids who shouldn’t be playing Fallout 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5.

Winners of the Game Awards 2015

In Los Angeles last week, the second annual Game Awards were handed out.

Role-playing game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt took honours for game of the year and best RPG. The studio that made the game, CD Projekt Red, was developer of the year.

The raucous Rocket League was the best independent game. It also won for best sports or racing game.

Nintendo’s Splatoon was a surprise winner of best shooter. Other nominees in that category were Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Destiny: The Taken King, Halo 5: Guardians, and Star Wars Battlefront.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain won two awards, but the game’s director and franchise creator Hideo Kojima was reportedly prevented from attending the ceremony because his former employer, Konami, chose to exercise certain contract terms. 

Full list of winners of the 2015 Game Awards

Game of the Year

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 

Developer of the Year

CD Projekt Red 

Best Independent Game

Rocket League 

Best Mobile/Handheld Game

Lara Croft GO 

Best Narrative

Her Story 

Best Art Direction

Ori and the Blind Forest 

Best Score/Soundtrack

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 

Best Performance

Viva Seifert (Her Story) 

Games for Change Award

Life Is Strange (DONTNOD Entertainment/Square Enix) 

Best Shooter

Splatoon 

Best Action/Adventure Game

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain  

Best Role Playing Game

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 

Best Fighting Game

Mortal Kombat X 

Best Family Game

Super Mario Maker 

Best Sports/Racing Game

Rocket League 

Best Multiplayer

Splatoon 

Most Anticipated Game

No Man’s Sky 

eSports Player of the Year

Kenny “KennyS” Schrub 

eSports Team of the Year

Optic Gaming 

eSports Game of the Year

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 

Trending Gamer

Greg Miller 

Best Fan Creation

Portal Stories: Mel (Prism Studios)