The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is enlisting the help of specialists for the preliminary voting stages of the Game Design and Technical awards

Starting with the 2025 edition, BAFTA has revised several of its Games Awards criteria and regulations.

The categories of Game Design and Technical Achievement will now be judged in the first round by specific voting chapters comprising experts in each field, rather than by all BAFTA members.

New Intellectual Property will now consider both the "originality and innovation" of the IP, and the Evolving Game category will only include titles with "substantial future updates" outlined on their roadmap.

Eligible games entered in other categories will now automatically be considered for the Best Game and British Game awards, eliminating the need for teams to opt-in as was previously required.

Applicants for the British Game category must also address additional criteria related to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), as well as bullying and harassment within the gaming sector.

"This initiative aims to support the BFI Diversity Standards for Games and extends BAFTA's ongoing efforts to counteract bullying and harassment across the screen sectors," BAFTA stated.

Further details on eligibility and criteria can be accessed on BAFTA's website.

The 2025 BAFTA Games Awards are set for spring 2025, with entries now open for games released from November 25, 2023, to November 15, 2024.

Developers have until November 7 to submit their entries. The longlist will be announced in December, followed by the shortlist in March 2025.

This year, Baldur's Gate 3 emerged as the major victor at the BAFTA Games Awards, taking home five awards, including Best Game.