MCV/DEVELOP Awards Finalists announced

MCV/DEVELOP has announced the category finalists for the MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2026.

The MCV/DEVELOP Awards have been around for over 20 years and aim to recognise the successes of the UK games industry in every area that it excels, from innovations in game creation to accomplishments in recruitment, PR, retail and the media. They’re a key industry event in the games calendar and bring together its exceptionally talented people for a night of celebration and enjoyment.

MCV/DEVELOP CATEGORY FINALISTS:

Major Publisher of the Year
Bethesda
Capcom
EA
Square Enix
Nintendo
Ustwo

Accessibility Innovation of the Year
Dead Reset
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Pine Hearts
Atomfall

Visual Innovation of the Year
Cabernet
Ghost Town
Songs of Silence
Broken Arrow
Neva (Devolver Digital)

Indie Publisher of the Year
Team17
PQube
Slitherine
Rebellion
Secret Mode
Feenix Group
Megabit Publishing
Devolver Digital

NEW! Player’s Choice Award
To be announced and live-streamed on the night!

Media Brand of the Year
The Respawn
The Game Business
Game Informer
GamesIndustry.Biz
Video Games Chronicle
Lost in Cult

Narrative Innovation of the Year
Cabernet
Ghost Town
Duskpunk
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest
Pine Hearts
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Audio Innovation of the Year
Cabernet
Ghost Town
Dead Reset
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest
Jurassic World Evolution 3 – Frontier Developments (Emitter Management System)

Major Studio of the Year
Two Point Studios
Larian Studios
Auroch Digital
IO Interactive
Frontier Developments
Playground Games
Jagex
Double 11

Distributor of the Year
Centresoft
Exertis Ztorm
Genba Digital
Plaion
Rokky
Green Man Gaming

Creative (Content) Partner of the Year
Project N
Portal
Liquid Crimson
Fluid
We Are Reach
Super Spline Studios
Big Farmer
Soundcuts

Co-Development Studio of the Year
Wushu Studios
Huey Games
Third Kind Games
Rocket Science Group
Room 8 Group
Keywords Studios
Flix Interactive Ltd
Pocket Sized Hands
Side
Airship

Indie Studio of the Year
Fireproof Games
Wales Interactive
Screen Burn Interactive Limited
Rebellion
Silent Games
Snap Finger Click
Feenix Group
Pocket Sized Hands

Hardware Innovation of the Year
Turtle Beach – Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick
Turtle Beach – Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded Wireless Controller
PLAION REPLAI – Atari 2600+ PAC-MAN Edition
G’AIM’E Lightgun
Asus ROG Xreal R1 AR glasses
MSI Claw 8 AI+

Gameplay Innovation of the Year
Dead Reset
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Broken Arrow
Empyreal
UNBEATABLE
Jurassic World Evolution 3 – Frontier Developments

Ongoing Innovation of the Year
Fallout 76
Sker Ritual
Antstream Arcade
Snap Finger Click / UNO
Elite Dangerous – Frontier Developments
Code Wizards Group

NEW! Outstanding Association Award
guildford.games ltd
Limit Break
Women in Games
UKIE
GDL
Into Games

Strategic Partner of the Year
Scottish Games Network Ltd.
Urban Ledgers Limited
Ian Hamilton
The Path
Side + Razer
Miai
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Heaven Media x Subnautica 2

PR Agency of the Year
Renaissance PR
Decibel PR
Heaven Media
71 Consulting
Diva Agency
DDA
The Story Mob
Swipe Right
Bastion
Raptor PR

Retailer of the Year
Smyths Toys
Fanatical
Green Man Gaming
G2A.COM
ShopTo
Argos

Campaign of the Year
Dune Awakening
Borderlands 4 – 2K and YRS TRULY
Urban Myth Dissolution Center (Shueisha Games) by PR Agency Plan of Attack
Global Momentum, Real Results: Scaling Windrose to the Top of Steam Next Fest
PLAION REPLAI – Atari 2600+ PAC-MAN Edition Campaign
Feenix Group x Currys Ireland
PR Campaign for RuneScape: Dragonwilds Early Access Launch – 71 Consulting & Jagex
Reach
Planet Play’s Make Green Moves

Service Partner of the Year
Quantic Lab
PlayStation Studios Publishing Management Team
Dead Nice Studio
Experience12
Keywords Studios
Room 8 Group
Sumo Digital
Anybrain
Alan Boswell Group

NEW! Best Financial Services Provider to the Games Industry
Finstock Capital
RSM UK
Plus Accounting Chartered Accountants
Urban Ledgers Limited
Johnston Carmichael
ZBD Earn
Arbuthnot Latham
Coutts

If you or your brand would like to sponsor the MCV/DEVELOP Awards show itself, please reach out to Alex Boucher or Vanessa Joyce. 

Want tickets? They’re available right now!