Bafta Video games Awards 2026: Clair Obscur wins greatest recreation as Dispatch takes three – BBC

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been topped greatest recreation at this yr's Bafta Video games Awards – however didn't fairly sweep the board as anticipated.
The role-playing journey, made by French studio Sandfall Interactive, took residence three awards in complete, additionally profitable debut recreation and lead performer for actress Jennifer English.
It had gone into the awards with 12 nominations throughout 10 classes, however missed out within the supporting performer class and, maybe most surprisingly, music.
Superhero journey Dispatch took residence three awards, whereas PlayStation motion recreation Ghost of Yōtei gained two.
Expedition 33 is ready in a world the place a supernatural being often called The Paintress prevents the inhabitants from rising previous a sure age.
The sport, which tells the story of a gaggle of adventurers on a quest to destroy her, was praised for its emotional narrative and use of old-school, turn-based battles.
Gamers had been additionally gained over by the story of developer Sandfall Interactive, fashioned by a gaggle of workers who left gaming giant Ubisoft to make their dream project.
Accepting the very best recreation award, studio chief Guillaume Broche thanked everybody who had labored on Expedition 33, describing it as a "large crew effort."
"Now we have thanked our gamers sufficient, however we are going to thank them once more – we love you," he stated.
He went on to say the studio had acquired messages from "so many individuals who’ve been helped by the sport", which offers with emotional subjects akin to grief and loss.
Addressing fellow video games trade employees assembled at London's Southbank Centre, he informed them: "Your work modifications lives."
Many had predicted that Expedition 33 would win within the majority of classes during which it was nominated however, true to type, the Bafta Video games Awards didn't fairly comply with the lead of different ceremonies.
Maybe the largest shock of the evening was Ghost of Yōtei's win for music.
Its cinematic rating, combining extra trendy, western orchestral kinds with conventional Japanese devices, was extensively praised.
Composer Lorien Testard's work on Expedition 33's soundtrack was thought of one of many recreation's standout options by many, and has gained a number of awards each inside and out of doors the video games trade.
The sport additionally missed out on the narrative award, which went to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – a role-playing recreation with a posh story that modifications in response to participant actions.
Nevertheless, actress Jennifer English continued her Clair Obscur profitable streak by taking residence the lead performer award.
Accepting the prize, she informed the viewers all of her needs had come true apart from a Bafta award win.
She closed with: "Thanks all, I really like video video games."
It was evening for episodic superhero journey Dispatch, which was a shock smash hit when it launched final yr.
In complete it took residence three awards, together with animation and audio achievement.
Actor Jeffrey Wright, greatest identified for his TV work in exhibits akin to Westworld, gained the very best supporting performer award, though he was not on the ceremony to simply accept it.
The sport design award went to Tonda Ros, the solo developer behind puzzle journey Blue Prince.
He informed BBC Information earlier than the ceremony he had spent "80 hours every week for eight years engaged on the sport" – his debut title.
Accepting the award Ros, who beforehand labored within the movie trade, stated making Blue Prince had been an "journey in itself" for him.
He stated he had realized it was "of utmost significance to discover untrodden locations… and doorways to rooms we’ve got by no means seen earlier than".
Bafta offered its fellowship award to Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Conflict of Clans maker Supercell, in recognition of his 26 years within the video games trade.
He praised the academy for recognising cell video games – which are sometimes missed at main awards – "for the primary time".
The ceremony was additionally handled to a premiere of the title sequence for the upcoming James Bond recreation 007: First Gentle, sung by Lana Del Rey.
It was launched by composer David Arnold, who co-produced the observe with the singer.
The Bafta Video games Awards are thought of to be one of many extra prestigious occasions in an trade hit laborious by layoffs lately.
CEO Jane Millichip informed BBC Information earlier than the ceremony that 255 video games had been entered for consideration this yr, and many had been from unbiased UK builders.
She stated these smaller video games can typically carry out properly on the ceremony.
"Bafta Video games members are unimaginable and they’re actually considerate about who they’re voting for," she stated.
"They don’t take it flippantly."
Multiplayer – Arc Raiders
Inventive achievement – Dying Stranding 2
Evolving recreation – No Man's Sky
Performer in a supporting position – Jeffrey Wright, Dispatch
British recreation – Atomfall
Recreation design – Blue Prince
Animation – Dispatch
Technical achievement – Ghost of Yōtei
Household – Lego Occasion!
Audio achievement – Dispatch
Music – Ghost of Yōtei
Narrative – Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
New mental property – South of Midnight
Debut recreation – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Recreation past leisure – Despelote
Fellowship – Ilkka Paananen, Supercell
Lead efficiency – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Greatest recreation – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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