Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei are at the forefront of the Develop:Star Awards 2026

This year's Develop:Star Awards 2026 sees top nominations going to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ghost of Yōtei.

An industry expert panel has determined the nominees across 18 distinct categories, launching the new Best Ongoing Game category.

Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Sucker Punch's Ghost of Yōtei have each secured six nominations, including for Best Visual Art, Best Game Design, and Best Narrative.

These titles compete in the Best Game category with contenders such as Blue Prince, Dispatch, Jurassic World Evolution 3, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and Peak.

Ayo Norman-Williams, Deevya Patel, Dennis Welling, Elise Barry, Jing Wang, and Nicole Gregory are in the running for the Tomorrow's Star accolade.

The recipient of this year’s Develop:Star Award will be revealed soon. Past recipients include renowned individuals like Remedy's Sam Lake, former Sony Interactive Entertainment president Shuhei Yoshida, and Sports Interactive.

According to Andy Lane, managing director of Tandem Events, "The Develop Star Awards has always exemplified excellence in the games industry, and the current list of nominees certainly continues this tradition."

Lane further expressed, "We're pleased to offer a platform where game creators from diverse backgrounds receive recognition from their industry colleagues."

The voting process is ongoing until June 3, with winners being announced at the ceremony on July 15, during Develop:Brighton 2026.