D.I.C.E. Awards Submissions Now Open
Deadline to Enter: December 8
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), the video game industry’s professional trade organization representing over 30,000 development and creative members, is pleased to announce the opening of submissions for the 30th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (#DICEAwards), serving to recognize excellence among peers currently working in games.
This year, the D.I.C.E. Awards are introducing a new ranked choice voting system to help determine the winners. The ranked voting system ensures the winning game has broad support among members. In each awards category, rank their favorite nominated games in order of preference. More details can be found in the official rules and procedures.
Shinji Mikami, AIAS Hall of Fame
Presentation to take place at D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 18 in Las Vegas
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced today that Shinji Mikami, globally acclaimed game creator, will be honored with the Hall of Fame Award at the 30th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony on Thursday, February 18th. Goichi Suda (SUDA51), the CEO and lead game designer of Grasshopper Manufacture, Inc., will be presenting this prestigious award to his close friend and creative collaborator.
Audrey Leprince & Emeric Thoa
The Game Bakers
#gamemakersnotebook
Chris Charla chats with The Game Bakers' Audrey Leprince and Emeric Thoa about their latest release, the climbing adventure Cairn. Together they discuss the history of their studio with titles like Furi and Haven; how they approach narrative by making players make big choices with no clear right or wrong answers; how Cairn recreates real world climbing; balancing difficulty and expanding player freedom; and the noticeable surge of great games originating from France.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Michael Francisco, Marvel Games & Reed Baird, SIE PlayStation Studios XDEV
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Jun Shen Chia chats with Michael Francisco, Senior Product Development Manager, Marvel Games and Reed Baird, Senior Producer, SIE PlayStation Studios XDEV. Together they discuss the development of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls including how the project was first envisioned and when they began working with Arc System Works; the process of designing a character and importance of representing their story within their move set; and pioneering a 4 vs 4 tag team fighter that's balanced with both casual and competitive players in mind.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Jonathan Smith
TT Games
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Trent Kusters chats with Jonathan Smith, Vice President, Product at TT Games. Together they discuss his path from the LEGO Company to TT Games and helping define the pillars of a LEGO game; the importance of teamwork and consistency towards their continued success; working with DC to bring the entire Batman universe into a definitive experience with LEGO® Batman™: Legacy of The Dark Knight; and how they balanced the grittiness of the Batman IP with the joy and whimsy of the LEGO brand.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
2026 Game Maker's Sketchbook Collection Revealed
Game Maker’s Sketchbook, the annual celebration of artistry in interactive entertainment, powered by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), iam8bit, and fortyseven communications, has revealed the official selections for its fifth annual showcase. Honoring the imagination, craftsmanship, visual storytelling and creativity in the beautiful interactive surfaces and game worlds that players love, this year’s collection invites fans and collectors alike to celebrate the enduring power of art in and around games. The works are now available to view through the Game Maker’s Sketchbook online gallery and will also be exhibited during Summer Game Fest: Play Days from Saturday, June 6 through Monday, June 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.