This year’s Game of the Year was awarded to God of War by developer SIE Santa Monica Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment, which takes players on a journey as the Spartan warrior Kratos, a man living outside the shadow of the gods, who with his son Atreus, venture into the brutal Norse wilds and fight to fulfill a deeply personal quest.
The Academy membership honored games in 23 award categories, with God of War receiving the most accolades of the evening with nine awards. Another multi-award winner, Celeste earned two awards. Other top honorees were Florence for Portable Game of the Year, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Fighting Game of the Year, Beat Saber for Immersive Game of the Year, Mario Tennis Aces for Sports Game of the Year, Monster Hunter: World for Role-Playing Game of the Year, and Fortnite for Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay, among others.
In addition to the awards for the industry’s best games and creators from the previous year, the D.I.C.E. Awards also celebrated Bonnie Ross, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and Head of 343 Industries, which oversees the Halo franchise, with the special honor of being the 2019 recipient of the Academy’s Hall of Fame Award. Ross has been integral in the vision and expansion of the Halo franchise that has continued to excite generations of fans, generating nearly $6 billion in worldwide sales to date and has transcended video games to grow into a global entertainment phenomenon. In addition, Ross is a key voice in promoting STEM and diversity efforts across the gaming industry amongst women, under-represented minorities and children.
The 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony, with Greg Miller, co-founder of internet video show and podcast Kinda Funny, and Jessica Chobot of Nerdist News, who returned for their third time as co-hosts, included industry professionals who attended the event live and game fans worldwide who tuned in for the live stream. The show was the culmination of the annual three-day D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE19), which is known for drawing many of the interactive entertainment industry’s most respected and influential leaders, decision makers and visionaries.
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