The Global Gaming Awards have become one of the most coveted honors in the gaming industry, recognizing excellence, innovation, and leadership across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions. Each year, companies that have made significant strides in the gaming space are celebrated for their achievements, with a select few making it onto the exclusive Shortlist—an accomplishment in itself.
This year, your company has the opportunity to take center stage by self-nominating. Whether you’ve developed a game that took the market by storm, launched an innovative service, or made impactful contributions to the industry, this is your chance to showcase your success. A simple nomination could open doors to industry-wide recognition, positioning your brand as a leader in its category.
The Awards have been hosted in London for the past seven years, but this year, we are excited to announce a new location—Barcelona. This city will serve as the perfect backdrop for the celebration of industry excellence, held on January 20, 2025, during the globally renowned ICE 2025 event.
Why Self-Nomination Matters: Unlocking New Opportunities
In a highly competitive industry like gaming, standing out can be a challenge. This is where the Global Gaming Awards provide an exceptional platform. Self-nomination is not only a chance to receive an award, but also a way to present your company’s achievements to a panel of experts and peers who can appreciate the value of your innovations.
The process is designed to be as simple as possible. Companies are required to submit a concise paragraph (maximum of 480 characters) that clearly outlines the key milestones and breakthroughs they’ve achieved in the past 12 months. The focus should be strictly on factual, relevant accomplishments within the EMEA region, and submissions should avoid overly broad or generic company descriptions.
Once your nomination is submitted, your achievements will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges, and if your submission stands out, you’ll make it onto the Shortlist of 10 companies per category. Making it onto the Shortlist is an honor in itself, showcasing your company as one of the industry’s top players.
Being recognized on such a prestigious platform can help you build a stronger brand reputation, enhance your visibility, and create new opportunities for partnerships and collaborations. It’s not just about the trophy—it’s about solidifying your position in the market.
Crafting a Winning Nomination: Focusing on What Matters
The key to a successful nomination is clarity and focus. With only 480 characters to work with, it’s essential to be as concise and precise as possible. Your goal is to communicate what sets your company apart in a crowded marketplace.
One of the most important tips for a strong nomination is to focus on factual achievements. Whether you’ve launched a groundbreaking game, introduced a product or service that revolutionized a segment, or achieved notable growth in market share, be sure to quantify your success. Highlight specific data points, such as player growth, revenue increases, or user engagement statistics. For example, if your game saw a 20% increase in active users within its first month, or if your platform has reached a new milestone of daily transactions, make sure to include this information.
It’s also essential to keep the focus strictly on achievements within the EMEA region. This regional emphasis is crucial, as the Awards are intended to celebrate excellence specifically in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Submissions related to other regions or global achievements are less likely to receive attention from the judges, so ensure that your submission stays within these geographical boundaries.
While it may be tempting to include a lot of background information about your company, avoid the use of generic company bios. The judges are looking for concrete examples of recent success, not an overview of your organization’s history. Stick to specific accomplishments that align with the criteria of the Awards.
Selecting the right category is also an important factor. There are multiple categories available, from Game of the Year to Innovator of the Year, and choosing the one that best fits your strengths will increase your chances of standing out. The Awards cover a range of different achievements, so consider where your company has made the most impact in the last year.
The Venue Shift: Barcelona—A New Chapter for the Global Gaming Awards
One of the most exciting changes for the 2025 Global Gaming Awards is the move to a new location: Barcelona. After seven years of hosting the Awards at the Hippodrome Casino in London, the event is making a major transition to the vibrant city of Barcelona, one of Europe’s top hubs for international events and innovation.
The decision to move the Awards to Barcelona is a reflection of the growing scope of the event. The Global Gaming Awards have always been held during ICE week, which is one of the industry’s most important annual gatherings, and this move allows us to continue that tradition while expanding our reach. The event will now take place at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, a premier venue that offers state-of-the-art facilities and the capacity to host an even larger audience.
Mariya Savova, Event Manager for the Global Gaming Awards, expressed her excitement about the shift, highlighting the new possibilities that Barcelona brings:
“It has been an honor and a privilege to host the Awards at London’s iconic Hippodrome Casino for the past seven years, but as we continue to grow, we are excited to bring the event to Barcelona. Not only is Barcelona a beautiful city, but it also aligns perfectly with our vision of expanding the reach and impact of the Awards during ICE week.”
The move to Barcelona signals a new chapter for the Awards, offering participants an exciting new setting while maintaining the traditions that have made this event so significant in the gaming world. For companies that have participated in previous years, this fresh location offers a renewed sense of excitement and opportunity. For newcomers, it’s the perfect moment to step into the spotlight.
A Strong Network of Industry Leaders and Partners
The Global Gaming Awards are powered by some of the most respected organizations in the industry, lending further credibility and prestige to the event. BetConstruct, a leading provider of technology and services for the gaming industry, is the event’s Lead Partner, ensuring that the Awards continue to reflect the highest standards of excellence.
The involvement of these partners not only highlights the industry-wide support for the Awards but also ensures that each category reflects the diverse areas of expertise and innovation within gaming.
Furthermore, to maintain the highest level of integrity, KPMG in the Crown Dependencies acts as the official voting adjudicator, overseeing the judging process to guarantee fairness and transparency. This involvement reassures participants that the selection process is thorough, impartial, and trustworthy.
Key Dates and How to Nominate: A Simple Process with Huge Rewards
If your company has accomplished something significant in the gaming industry over the past year, now is the time to make your mark by submitting a nomination. The deadline for self-nominations is 11 October 2024, so there’s still time to craft a strong submission and enter the competition.
The nomination process is simple. Just visit the Global Gaming Awards website at globalgamingawards.com/emea/2025 and complete the form. All it takes is a brief, factual paragraph outlining your recent achievements in the EMEA region. Keep it concise, clear, and data-driven to maximize your chances of making the Shortlist.
Once the deadline passes, all submissions will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges, with the top 10 companies in each category earning a coveted spot on the Shortlist. From there, the winners will be selected based on their impact, innovation, and overall contribution to the industry.
See You in Barcelona!
The 2025 Global Gaming Awards promise to be an unforgettable event, with a stunning new venue, an exciting lineup of categories, and the opportunity for your company to be recognized as a leader in the gaming industry. Whether you’re a returning nominee or submitting for the first time, this year’s event in Barcelona offers a chance to elevate your brand and connect with the top minds in gaming.