The BAFTA Games Awards has revised its voting criteria and entry fees in preparation for the 2027 event as the submission process is now open
The call for submissions for the 2027 BAFTA Games Awards is officially open, featuring revised application criteria, fee adjustments, and updated guidelines on AI usage.
Each year, the BAFTA Games Committee evaluates and revises the criteria for eligibility, voting procedures, and campaign guidelines. The current update to the rulebook includes a section addressing AI, stating:
The annual Awards aim to celebrate exceptional achievements by individuals in crafting the final artistic result, regardless of the tools utilized. BAFTA manages eligibility for all categories and may request more information about any submission, which could involve:
- Detailed credit documentation
- Evidence illustrating human ingenuity and development
Updates to entry fees have been introduced by BAFTA, such as:
- Elimination of the Early Entry/Month of Release Discount (previously a 50% discount)
- Incorporation of a 25% fee reduction for eligible independent and small creators
- Establishment of a new basic entry fee, allowing entry to up to four categories of the entrant's choice, and includes additional entry for Best Game, British Game, Performer in a Leading Role, and Performer in a Supporting Role, if applicable
- Establishment of a reduced fee for single-category entries for Evolving Game
- Application of an added fee for entries beyond the base entry's covered categories
The Evolving Game category will now undergo a member-wide vote in all rounds, with nominations and the winner determined by BAFTA's network of over 1,700 gaming professionals and industry juries.
This adjustment is intended to "enable a broader range of industry expertise and player perspectives, ensuring the category remains pertinent and reflective of today's gaming environment," according to BAFTA.
Games released between November 15, 2025, and November 19, 2026, are within the eligibility period for the 2027 BAFTA Games Awards.
For games released between November 15, 2025, and July 31, 2026, the entry deadline is September 18. For those launched between August 1 and November 19, 2026, the deadline is November 6.
The longlist announcement will occur on December 8, 2026, while the nomination announcements are set for March 11, 2027.
On April 14, 2027, the BAFTA Games Awards ceremony will be held in London.
In the previous edition, Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 received three BAFTAs, including accolades for Best Game and Debut Game.