The winners have been chosen: At the annual gala of the German video game industry, one game in particular shines. Markus Söder gave a laudatory speech at the award ceremony in Munich.
Update from April 19th, 11:15 a.m.:
“Everspace 2” has been named the best German video game at the German Computer Game Prize (DCP). The space epic from development studio Rockfish won the coveted main prize. At the award ceremony on Thursday evening, it beat out the open-world role-playing game “Atlas Fallen” and the adventure “Fall of Porcupine,” which were also nominated.
Horror game about the First World War wins the most trophies: “not just horror, but also a lot of soul”
The horror game “Ad Infinitum” took home the most blue-glowing trophies – with awards for best debut, best audio design and, in the new category, best story. The game deals with the horrors of the First World War. “When you play through the game, you also notice that there is not only horror in it, but also a lot of soul,” said the owner of the Berlin-based development studio Hekate, Lukas Deuschel.
As in the previous year, the gala, which lasted around two and a half hours, was hosted by the moderation duo Uke Bosse and Katrin Bauerfeind. Maurice Weber was honored in the “Player of the Year” category. Weber works at the media company Webedia and is best known as a strategy game expert for “GameStar”. “Of course I deserve this,” the Player of the Year said jokingly after accepting the award on stage.
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Markus Söder gives a laudatory speech and reveals his favorite game
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) gave the laudatory speech for the studio of the year. Söder described the computer games industry as one of the “most important and exciting industries of the future.” He announced that Bavaria wanted to “continue to strongly promote” the industry in the future. He also came out as a fan of the football information series “FIFA”, which has been called “EA Sports FC” since 2023.
The winners of the German Computer Game Award at a glance
Best German game (endowed with 100,000 euros)
:
Everspace 2
(Rockfish Games)
The other nominees will each receive 30,000 euros:
Atlas Fallen
(Deck 13 Interactive / Focus Entertainment)
and
Fall of Porcupine
(Critical Rabbit / Assemble Entertainment)
Young Talent Award Best Debut (60,000 euros)
:
Ad Infinitum
(Hekate / Nacon)
Two nominees will each receive 25,000 euros:
Fall of Porcupine
(Critical Rabbit/Assemble Entertainment) and
Lose CTRL
(Play From Your Heart)
Young Talent Award Best Prototype (50,000 euros)
:
Misgiven
(Symmetry Break Studio)
Four nominees will each receive 25,000 euros:
Bloodletter
(Katharina “Mikey” Müller, David Cafisso, Marvin Braun, Alica Schneider/Berlin University of Applied Sciences),
EcoGnomix
(Lars Hinnerk Grevsmühl, Lars Eble, Bahy Nguyen, Marcel Zurawka, Alec Shae) ,
Footgun: Underground
(Eduard Dobermann, Theo Lohmüller, Georg Nimke, Robert Pistea, Lukas Salewsky) and
Replicore
(Sarah Inés Roeder, Rody Nawezi, Leonhard Glasses, Maximilian Götz/ HAW Hamburg)
Best audio design (40,000 euros)
:
Ad Infinitum
(Hekate / Nacon)
Best Innovation and Technology (40,000 euros)
:
Marble Maze
(Fox Assembly)
Best Serious Game (40,000 euros)
:
Friedrich Ebert – The Road to Democracy
(Playing History / Reich President Friedrich Ebert Memorial Foundation)
Best family game (40,000 euros)
:
Spells & Secrets
(Alchemist Interactive / Rokaplay)
Best audio design (40,000 euros)
:
Ad Infinitum
(Hekate / Nacon)
Best game design (40,000 euros)
:
Lose CTRL
(Play From Your Heart)
Best graphic design (40,000 euros
):
The Bear – A Story from the World of Gra
(Mucks! Games)
Best mobile game (40,000 euros)
:
Cat Rescue Story
(Tivola Games)
Best Story (40,000 euros)
:
Ad Infinitum
(Hekate / Nacon)
Studio of the Year (50,000 euros
):
Pixel Maniacs
Player of the Year (unpaid)
: Maurice Weber
Best International Game (undoped)
:
Baldur's Gate 3
(Larian Studios)
Special Jury Prize (10,000 euros)
: Gaming without borders
This year, 800,000 euros in prize money were distributed at the German Computer Game Prize. However, it is not a sponsorship prize, says Felix Falk, managing director of the Game Association, which co-organizes the prize. “It is not a promotion, but an appreciation; a cultural prize that not only promises a handshake, but also a bonus.”
(mrk/dpa)
Advance notice from April 18th, 5:00 p.m.:
Munich – Germany's gaming scene is looking intently at Munich on Thursday (April 18th). More precisely, to the Eisbach Studios, which Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz once visited. A trophy will be awarded there at 8 p.m. that every gamer would like to hold in their hands: the German Computer Game Prize. The jury awards the prize in 15 categories. Whoever triumphs leaves a big mark on the industry. There are also prizes in the six-figure range.
German computer game award in Munich: The Prime Minister can't miss it either
The German Computer Game Prize has been awarded since 2009. Berlin and Munich alternate as the venue every year. This year the gala in the Eisbach Studios will be moderated by Katrin Bauerfeind and Uke Bosse. The two actors are probably known to a wider audience through their roles in various crime series and other TV productions. From 8 p.m. they will lead the festive evening together. A live stream of the event will be available on Twitch and YouTube, among others.
The Bavarian Prime Minister, however, wants to be there. Markus Söder, an avowed Star Wars fan, gave his commitment to those responsible a few days ago. It would be the second appearance for the CSU politician after 2018. The Minister of State for Digital, Fabian Mehring (Free Voters), has also announced his resignation from his cabinet. His ministry sponsors the prestigious award.
In one category, two nominees from Bavaria can have hope
The jury will select the winners in a total of 15 categories on Thursday evening. The internet community also had a say in choosing the Player of the Year. The social commitment of the nominees also factors into the decision. An expert jury decides in the other categories.
This also includes the award for the best studio of the year. Here the creative minds behind the end products should be rewarded for their work. The award, which is endowed with 50,000 euros, could possibly stay in Bavaria. The chances are good. Of the three nominated development studios, two come from the Free State. Including “AESIR INTERACTIVE” from Munich.
The highest prize money is available in this category
A total prize money of 800,000 euros was awarded for 15 categories. Not all prizes are worth the same amount. For example, the gamer who is named Player of the Year comes away empty-handed. At least in financial terms. The most lucrative triumph is in the category for the best German computer game. The winner will receive 100,000 euros. The choice of the best board game last year showed how big an influence video games now have there.