Winners of 2024 Game Developer Awards

The 2024 edition of the Game Developer Awards ceremony concluded the highly successful CasinoBeats Summit, held at the prestigious Hilton Malta. This illustrious event was a night dedicated to celebrating the remarkable achievements within the iGaming industry. Featuring a constellation of industry giants such as Play’n GO, Playtech, Elk Studios, Pragmatic Play, and the popular streamer CasinoDaddy, the ceremony highlighted the innovations and talents driving the sector forward.

Hosted by Industry Icons

Veteran host Trudy Kerr and award-winning game developer John Romero returned to lead the evening, presenting 28 awards to accomplished operators, game studios, and individuals. Categories ranged from Game Performance to Streamers, Game Creation, Game People, SlotCatalog, Casino Platform, and Best Game Release, showcasing the diverse facets of the industry.

A Message from SBC's Founder

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, remarked on the importance of the event: “The Game Developer Awards offers a pivotal opportunity to honour the remarkable accomplishments of the industry, celebrating both regional and global brands as well as individual talent. This year’s shortlist was by far the most competitive we have seen, and I would like to congratulate all our esteemed winners.”

Major Winners: Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and More

Play’n GO emerged as a significant winner, securing SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Large) award for the second consecutive year and the Game Music/Soundtrack accolade for their title “Hugo Legacy.” This recognition underscores their continuous innovation and excellence in game development.

Pragmatic Play also had a notable night, winning both the Game Mechanic of the Year award for their MultiHold mechanic and the Slot Legacy Title for “Gates of Olympus,” further establishing their reputation for groundbreaking game mechanics and enduring game popularity.

Game Creation Awards: Recognizing Innovation

The game creation categories celebrated the creative and technical achievements of various studios:

• Playtech received the Game Licensed Content award for “Breaking Bad: Cash Collect & Link.”
• Hacksaw Gaming was honored with the Game Feature of the Year award for “Chaos Crew 2.”
• Relax Gaming won the Game Design & Art Direction award for “Money Train 4.”
• GAMOMAT was recognized with the Game Retro-Style award for “Fancy Fruits Deluxe.”

These awards highlight the diversity and creativity in game design, from innovative features to artistic excellence.

SlotCatalog Awards: Excellence in Game Development

The SlotCatalog categories saw multiple studios being honored for their contributions:

• GAMOMAT also won Best Game Development Company Central Europe.
• Playson was awarded Best Game Studio in Development Countries.
• Reel Kingdom secured the Game Studio of the Year (Medium) award.
• Fortune Factory Studios was named Game Studio of the Year (Small).
• IGT Play Digital claimed Best Game Development Company North America.
• Area Vegas was named Rookie of the Year, marking their impressive entry into the industry.

These accolades underscore the global nature of the iGaming industry, with excellence recognized across different regions and studio sizes.

Game People Awards: Celebrating Individual Talent

The Game People categories honored the individual talents driving the industry forward:

• Andrei Filipovich of Aviatrix was awarded Game Designer of the Year.
• Julia Aliakseyeva from BGaming was named Product Manager of the Year.
• Jean-Pierre Larouche of PearFiction Studios received the Game Composer of the Year award.

These awards celebrate the personal achievements and creative minds behind some of the most innovative games in the industry.

Aggregator and Platform Awards

• EveryMatrix won the Aggregator of the Year award.
• The Mill Adventure received the Platform Innovation of the Year award.
• Lambda Gaming was recognized with the Best Game Release award for “8Bit Football Twinko.”

These awards emphasize the importance of robust platforms and aggregators in enhancing the gaming experience and supporting game developers.

New Awards: Recognizing Emerging Trends

This year saw the introduction of two new awards:

• FTN Game of the Year, sponsored by BetConstruct, was awarded to Rubyplay for “Mad Hit Olympic First.”
• CasinoBeats Annual Community Recognition Award went to SoftConstruct for its work on BFTH Arena.

These new categories highlight the evolving landscape of the iGaming industry and the recognition of emerging trends and community contributions.

Streamers' Achievements

Streamers play a crucial role in the iGaming ecosystem by engaging audiences and promoting new games:

• CasinoDaddy took home the Streamer of the Year award.
• The Slot Beasts were recognized as Responsible Streamer of the Year.
• Haddzy was named Next-Gen Streamer of the Year.

These awards highlight the significant impact of streamers on the industry and their role in shaping gaming trends.

Game Performance Awards

The Game Performance categories recognized standout games and collaborations:

• PowderKeg Studios won the Slot Debut award for “Munition Mines.”
• Stormcraft Studios received the Slot to Watch award for “Immortal Romance 2.”
• Light & Wonder and Netflix took home the Slot Collaboration of the Year award for “Squid Game.”
• Elk Studios was awarded the illustrious Slot of the Year for “Pirots 2.”

These awards celebrate the most impactful and innovative games of the year.

Conclusion: A Night of Celebration

“Last night’s ceremony was a tremendous success and proved to be a truly memorable night. I would like to thank our official partner Gaming Malta, alongside all our supporting sponsors for their help in honouring the incredible achievements of the industry,” Sojmark added. The awards ceremony concluded the final day of the CasinoBeats Summit, which saw 4,500 industry professionals convene at the InterContinental Hotel in Malta, the hub of iGaming.

FAQ:

What are the Game Developer Awards?
The Game Developer Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the iGaming industry, honoring game studios, operators, and individuals for their contributions.

Who hosted the 2024 Game Developer Awards?
The ceremony was hosted by veteran host Trudy Kerr and award-winning game developer John Romero.

Which company won the Game Studio of the Year (Large) award?
Play’n GO won the SlotCatalog’s Game Studio of the Year (Large) award for the second consecutive year.

What game won the Slot of the Year award?
Elk Studios' “Pirots 2” won the Slot of the Year award.

Which new awards were introduced in 2024?
The FTN Game of the Year award and the CasinoBeats Annual Community Recognition Award were introduced.

Who won the Streamer of the Year award?
CasinoDaddy won the Streamer of the Year award.

Which game won the Game Licensed Content award?
Playtech's “Breaking Bad: Cash Collect & Link” won the Game Licensed Content award.

Who was named Game Designer of the Year?
Andrei Filipovich of Aviatrix was named Game Designer of the Year.

What did EveryMatrix win at the awards?
EveryMatrix won the Aggregator of the Year award.

How many professionals attended the CasinoBeats Summit?
The CasinoBeats Summit was attended by 4,500 industry professionals.