BAFTA Introduces Expert-Led Voting for Game Design and Technical Awards

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has introduced changes to its Games Awards, effective from the 2025 edition. The Game Design and Technical Achievement categories will now be assessed by specialized voting chapters comprising experts in these fields, rather than the entire BAFTA membership. Furthermore, the eligibility criteria for the New Intellectual Property category have been revised to consider the 'originality and innovation' of the IP, while the Evolving Game award will focus on titles with 'substantial future updates' planned. For the Best Game and British Game categories, eligible titles that have entered other categories will be automatically enrolled, eliminating the need for opting-in as per the previous rules. Additionally, entries for the British Game category must provide answers to supplemental questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as bullying and harassment in the gaming industry. According to BAFTA, this initiative supports the BFI Diversity Standards for Games and complements their ongoing efforts to address bullying and harassment across the screen industries. Detailed information on the revised criteria and eligibility can be found on the BAFTA website. The 2025 BAFTA Games Awards are scheduled to take place in spring 2025, with entries now open for games released between November 25, 2023, and November 15, 2024. The deadline for submissions is November 7, followed by the announcement of the longlist in December and the shortlist of nominations in March 2025. Notably, Baldur's Gate 3 emerged as the top winner at this year's BAFTA, securing five awards, including Best Game.