The winners of the Develop:Star Awards 2020 have been announced, celebrating the best and brightest of the game development community.
The awards were broadcast online, with 16 winners announced before Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard accepted the Develop Star Award in recognition of his legendary career. The awards drew Develop:Brighton Digital to a close after three days of online sessions and panels.
The night’s big winners were Media Molecule and Sony Interactive Entertainment, who picked up three awards for Dreams including Game of the Year and Best Game Design. Remedy Entertainment and 505 Games also won three awards for Control, including Best Visual Art and Best Original IP.
Elsewhere Best Studio was awarded to Mediatonic, the Publishing Star prize went to Team17 and Heaven’s Vault developer inkle won Best Micro Studio.
What the Golf? from Triband won Best Mobile Game, two years after the game won the Develop:Brighton Indie Showcase in 2018.
The full list of winners is below:
- Best Visual Art
Control - Remedy Entertainment | 505 Games
- Best Game Design
Dreams - Media Molecule | Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Best Audio sponsored by Dolby
Sayonara Wild Hearts - Simogo | Annapurna Interactive
- Best Narrative
Control - Remedy Entertainment | 505 Games
- Best QA & Localisation Provider
Testronic
- Best Creative Provider
SIDE UK
- Best Innovation
Dreams - Media Molecule | Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Recruitment Star
Amiqus Recruitment
- Diversity Star
Shay Thompson - Level Up Link Up
- Best Technology Provider
Unreal Engine
- Best Original IP
Control - Remedy Entertainment | 505 Games
- Publishing Star
Team17
- Best Mobile Game
What The Golf? – Triband
- Game of the Year
Dreams - Media Molecule | Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Best Micro Studio
Inkle
- Best Studio
Mediatonic
- The Develop Star Award
Todd Howard
“While this wasn’t the in-person celebration we had hoped for, we’re proud to once again allow the game development community to celebrate its best and brightest,” said Andy Lane, managing director at Tandem Events.
“I’d like to congratulate all our winners and nominees – you’re all amazing. I’d also like to thank our award sponsors PTW, and the voice of the balls himself Alan Dedicoat for being our fantastic host. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone for watching. We look forward to a return to the coast next summer for Develop:Brighton 2021 all being well, and we hope to see everyone there!”
The finalists in each competitive category were selected by a panel of judges. The winners were then decided by a closed industry vote, with delegates from the past four years of Develop:Brighton invited to take part.
Todd Howard’s Develop Star Award was the exception. Upon accepting the prize, Howard said: "Thanks to the UK and European gaming community for this honour and celebrating all the creators here tonight. Congrats to all of you, you make us proud.
“To our fans, you have been the dreamers along with us as well. It's all of you who have brought lift to our worlds, and that's where the magic of games is. Thank you for believing in us time and time again."
The Develop:Star Awards 2021 will take place at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Wednesday 14 July during Develop:Brighton 2021.
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About the Develop:Star Awards
Taking place alongside the conference, the Develop:Star Awards recognise the very best of the game development community. The achievements of developers and success of great games and creativity will be celebrated across 15 categories, including one ultimate ‘Develop Star’. This award honours an extraordinary game developer for outstanding achievement and contribution to the industry.
About Develop:Brighton conference & expo
The Develop:Brighton conference is where the European developer community comes together to learn from each other and share experiences, be inspired by world renowned experts and gurus, get up-to-date with the latest development tools and techniques, make new contacts and catch up with old ones.
With a programme that is shaped by some of the industry's key figures, the conference touches all levels of the development community from the largest studios to the smallest indies; from development directors to programmers.
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