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

For more stories like this one delivered straight to your inbox, please subscribe to the GameDailyBiz Digest!

Amanda Farough

• Development
• Culture
• News
• Trending
• Event