There are 23 award categories in total, including Outstanding Achievement in an Independent Game, Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay, and the Academy's Hall Of Fame Award.
Last night's DICE Awards, hosted by Greg Miller and Jessica Chobot, were all but cleaned out by God of War. It was a deep contrast with December's Video Game Awards, which saw Red Dead Redemption 2 walk away with the most awards. Spider-Man and Red Dead Redemption 2 (two powerhouse 2018 titles) won an award a piece, for Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Technical Achievement, respectively.
In addition to the game awards themselves, Microsoft Corporate Vice President and head of 343 Industries, Bonnie Ross, received the Academy's Hall of Fame Award, which will be the first time a woman has achieved this honor in the 22 years that the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences has been producing the DICE awards.
"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," AIAS said in a statement. "In addition, Ross is a key voice in promoting STEM and diversity efforts across the gaming industry amongst women, under-represented minorities and children."
2019 is certainly shaping up to be a year for women in games to get the recognition that they've been lacking for a number of years. Ross joins Jen McLean, Amy Hennig, and Rieko Kodama for a powerhouse team of visionary women in game development. Based on the history of the DICE and Game Developers Choice Awards, women have never been chosen for the coveted "lifetime achievement" awards until this year.
“Tonight, at the 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the interactive entertainment industry gathered together from all over the world to celebrate their trailblazers – the very best in video games and the teams who - with their amazing talent and vision - have created boundary defying experiences that have captivated global audiences,” Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, said in a statement. “On behalf of the Academy, I congratulate not only this year’s incredible nominees, but the esteemed winners chosen by their peers.”
DICE Awards 2019 Winners
Game of the Year
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Portable Game of the Year
Florence
- Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
- Developer: Mountains
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Celeste
- Publisher: Matt Makes Games
- Developer: Matt Makes Games
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Beat Saber
- Publisher: Beat Games
- Developer: Beat Games
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Tónandi
- Publisher: Magic Leap
- Developer: Magic Leap and Sigur Rós
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Fortnite
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Developer: Epic Games
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Into the Breach
- Publisher: Subset Games
- Developer: Subset Games
Sports Game of the Year
Mario Tennis Aces
- Publisher: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Camelot Co. Ltd.
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Monster Hunter: World
- Publisher: CAPCOM
- Developer: CAPCOM
Racing Game of the Year
Forza Horizon 4
- Publisher: Microsoft Studios
- Developer: Playground Games
Fighting Game of the Year
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Publisher: Nintendo of America
- Developer: Nintendo, Sora Ltd., and BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc.
Family Game of the Year
Unravel Two
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Developer: ColdWood Interactive
Adventure Game of the Year
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Action Game of the Year
Celeste
- Publisher: Matt Makes Games
- Developer: Matt Makes Games
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Publisher: Rockstar Games
- Developer: Rockstar Games
Outstanding Achievement in Story
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Character
God of War - Kratos
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
God of War
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Developer: Insomniac Games
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