These are the categories for the MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2025 (and nominations are now open!)

The MCV/DEVELOP Awards will be back on Thursday, June 19, 2025, and are returning to the Royal Lancaster Hotel, which overlooks London’s Hyde Park. 

The awards have been around for over 20 years, and aim to recognise the successes of the UK games industry in every area that it excels, from innovations in game creation, to accomplishments in recruitment, PR, retail and the media. They’re a key industry event in the games calendar, and bring together its exceptionally talented people for a night of celebration and enjoyment.

Last year’s MCV/DEVELOP Awards were the largest ever, both in terms of nominations and attendance, and this year we intend to go even bigger, with two international categories aimed at celebrating not just the efforts of those in the UK, but around the whole world.

You can nominate for the awards right now.

Below is a list of all of the MCV/DEVELOP Awards that are up for grabs in 2025, along with more information on what the two newest ones are all about:

DEVELOPMENT ESSENTIALS

• Recruitment Agency of the Year
• Creative Content Partner of the Year 
• Service Partner of the Year
• Strategic Partner of the Year

INNOVATION IN GAMES

• Hardware Innovation of the Year
• Visual Innovation of the Year
• Audio Innovation of the Year
• Accessibility Innovation of the Year
• Narrative Innovation of the Year
• Ongoing Innovation of the Year
• Gameplay Innovation of the Year

STUDIOS & PUBLISHING

• Co-development Studio of the Year
• Indie Studio of the Year
• Major Studio of the Year
• Indie Publisher of the Year
• Major Publisher of the Year

REACHING AUDIENCES

• Media Brand of the Year
• PR Agency of the Year
• Campaign of the Year
• Event of the Year

DIGITAL & PHYSICAL

• Distributor of the Year
• Retailer of the Year

INTERNATIONAL

• NEW! Global Business Excellence Award

The Global Business Excellence Award celebrates those companies that operate internationally at the highest levels, both from the United Kingdom and further afield. Companies nominated for this award must do a significant amount of business internationally, and the UK must be one of their markets.

• NEW! Outstanding Association Award

The Outstanding Association Award recognises the associations that support and represent the interests, communities and trade of the video game industry at regional, national or global levels. There are no size restrictions on nominations for this award, although the association nominated must be active in the United Kingdom.

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Please nominate through the form on our official awards website.

There’s no limit on the number of nominations you can send, or in how many categories you can be nominated. We look forward to all nominations in all of our categories, but as usual, please nominate responsibly.

Your nominations must reach us by 9AM on Monday, March 24, 2025 to be considered.

If you (or your brand) would like to sponsor the MCV/DEVELOP Awards show itself, please reach out to Alex Boucher or Vanessa Joyce. 

Want to get tickets? They are also available right now!