20th Game Developers Choice Awards

20th Game Developers Choice Awards
DateMarch 18, 2020
VenueOnline
Hosted byKim Swift
Highlights
Most awardsControl (3)
Most nominationsDeath Stranding (7)
Ambassador AwardKate Edwards
Pioneer AwardRoberta Williams
Game of the YearUntitled Goose Game
← 2018 · Game Developers Choice Awards · 2020 →

The 20th Game Developers Choice Awards was an annual awards ceremony by Game Developers Choice Awards for outstanding game developers and video games held on March 18, 2020, hosted by Kim Swift. Though normally held at the Game Developers Conference, due to the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, the conference was postponed to later in 2020, and the awards were presented via online streaming media, alongside the Independent Games Festival awards.[1][2]

Kate Edwards, former head of the International Game Developers Association and current head of the Global Game Jam, will receive the Ambassador Award for her past and current work in the industry.[3]

Following from a similar event with The Game Awards 2019, Geoff Keighley worked with several of the games featured in the Awards as well as other indie developers to present forty game demos to be available from March 18 to March 23 through Steam as part of the Steam Game Festival - Spring Edition. Keighley planned to offer further events throughout the year to tie to other award shows and game conferences.[4] In addition to games that were featured as part of the GDC and IGF, the Steam Game Festival also featured demos from other GDC-sponsored events that had been affected by the pandemic such as the Indie Megabooth and the Day of the Devs.[5]

Winners and Nominees

Nominees were announced on January 8, 2020,[3] and winners (in bold below) named on March 18, 2020.[6]

Game of the Year

Best Audio

Best Debut Developer

Best Design

Best Mobile Game

Innovation Award

Best Narrative

Best Technology

Best Visual Art

Best VR/AR Game

Audience Award

Pioneer Award

Ambassador Award

In Memorandum

The ceremony honored the following individuals that died over the prior year:

References

  1. ^ Grubb, Jeff (February 28, 2020). "GDC 'postponed' as multiple participants pull out over coronavirus fears". Venture Beat. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Game Developers Conference 2020 announces virtual awards and talk schedule". Gamasutra. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Death Stranding leads the pack of 2020 Game Developers Choice Awards nominees". Gamasutra. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Bailey, Dustin (March 17, 2020). "Geoff Keighley brings 40 free game demos to Steam amid cancelled trade shows". PCGamesN. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Statt, Nick (March 18, 2020). "Steam's new indie festival lets you try 40 upcoming games for free". The Verge. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Untitled Goose Game nabs Game of the Year at the 2020 Game Developers Choice Awards!". Gamasutra. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "Adventure game trailblazer Roberta Williams to receive Pioneer Award at GDC 2020". Gamasutra. February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.