Reveal: Star Awards 2025 recipients

The recipients of the Develop:Star Awards 2025 were unveiled during this year's Develop:Brighton event. A total of 17 awards were handed out, with Remedy Entertainment's Sam Lake being honored for his outstanding contributions to the gaming industry.

The game "Thank Goodness You’re Here!" secured three major accolades, achieving Best Original IP, Best Narrative, and Best Game. Team Asobi received two awards for Astro Bot, including Best Game Design and Best Technical Innovation. Here is the complete list of the winners:

Best Game Design: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI | Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Original IP: Thank Goodness You’re Here! (Coal Supper | Panic Inc.)
Best Visual Art: Still Wakes the Deep (The Chinese Room | Secret Mode)
Best Audio: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (MachineGames | Bethesda Softworks)
Best Technical Innovation: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI | Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Narrative: Thank Goodness You’re Here! (Coal Supper | Panic Inc.)
Supporting Star: Unreal Engine
Best EDI Initiative: Limit Break Mentorship
Best Marketing Campaign: PowerWash Simulator (FuturLab)
Talent & Recruitment Star: Playground Games
Best In-Game Accessibility: Atomfall (Rebellion | Rebellion)
Tomorrow’s Star: Valeriya Lakhtikova | Dovetail Games
Publishing Star: Playstack
Best Mobile Game: Monument Valley 3 | ustwo games | Netflix Games, ustwo games
Best Game: Thank Goodness You’re Here! | Coal Supper | Panic Inc.
Best Small Studio: Spilt Milk Studios
Best Studio: Rebellion
The Develop Star Award: Sam Lake | Remedy Entertainment

According to Andy Lane, managing director at Tandem Events, "The Develop:Star Awards acknowledge the incredible talent behind the year’s most exceptional games." He added, "This ceremony is not only a celebration of our nominees, but also a tribute to the entire games industry. We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated, including our sponsors, guests, nominees, winners, and all who made this event a reality."