Bafta deputy chairman says Debut Game nominees are ‘all exciting studios to watch out for’published at 20:47 BST
20:47 BST
Laura Cress
Technology reporter, reporting from the award venue
Image source, PanicImage caption,
Despelote is a football game “about people”, according to its website
What do games about Ecuador’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the creator’s childhood struggle with an eating disorder, and uncovering the secrets of your deceased uncle’s mysteriously evolving house have in common?
They (Despelote, Consume Me and Blue Prince) are all nominated for best Debut Game – and all come from solo developers or a very small team.
While there are plenty of big studios up for awards overall tonight, Bafta has a tendency to highlight more independent efforts too.
Perhaps one of the most recent shocks came in 2023, when indie studio Poncle beat the blockbuster hit God of War Ragnarok with its retro-style 2D venture Vampire Survivors, for the coveted Best Game award.
Des Gayle, deputy chairman of the Bafta Games Committee, said each Debut Game nominee brought something unique to the table.
“Irrelevant of who is eventually crowned winner they are all exciting studios to watch out for,” he said.
The nominees this year are:
Blue Prince
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Consume Me
Despelote
Dispatch
The Midnight Walk