Editing Game Developers Choice Awards (section)

==Special Awards Recipients==

===Audience Award===
These awards are voted by the audience for best game of that year.

* 2012: ''[[Dishonored]]''
* 2013: ''[[Kerbal Space Program]]''
* 2014: ''[[Elite Dangerous]]''
* 2015: ''[[Life Is Strange (video game)|Life Is Strange]]''
* 2016: ''[[Battlefield 1]]''<ref name="GDC2017"/>
* 2017: ''[[Nier: Automata]]''<ref name="GDC2018"/>
* [[19th Game Developers Choice Awards|2018]]: ''[[Beat Saber]]''<ref name="GDC2019"/>
* [[20th Game Developers Choice Awards|2019]]: ''[[Sky: Children of the Light]]''<ref name="GDC2020"/>
* [[21st Game Developers Choice Awards|2020]]: ''[[Ghost of Tsushima]]''
* [[22nd Game Developers Choice Awards|2021]]: ''[[Valheim]]''
* [[23rd Game Developers Choice Awards|2022]]: ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]''
* [[24th Game Developers Choice Awards|2023]]: ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/game-developers-choice-awards-2024-winners-the-full-list |title=Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List |website=[[IGN]] |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=20 March 2024 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>
* 2024: ''[[Final Fantasy VII Rebirth]]''

===The Pioneer Award===
Known as the First Penguin award until 2007, the Pioneer Award celebrates individuals who developed a breakthrough technology, game concept or gameplay design.

* 2001: [[Chip Morningstar]] and [[Randy Farmer]], creators of [[LucasArts]]'s ''[[Habitat (video game)|Habitat]]''
* 2002: Hubert Chardot, "for his risk-taking work on ''[[Alone in the Dark]]''"
* 2003: [[David Crane (programmer)|David Crane]], [[Larry Kaplan]], [[Jim Levy]], [[Alan Miller (game designer)|Alan Miller]], [[Bob Whitehead]], founders of [[Activision]]
* 2004: [[Masaya Matsuura]], founder of [[NanaOn-Sha]], pioneer of music/game integration
* 2005: [[Richard Bartle]], co-creator of [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]], ancestor to [[Massively multiplayer online game|MMOs]]
* 2006: [[Don Woods (programmer)|Don Woods]], [[Will Crowther]], creators of the early text game ''[[Colossal Cave Adventure]]''
* 2007: [[Alexey Pajitnov]], creator of ''[[Tetris]]''
* 2008: [[Ralph Baer]], inventor of the [[Magnavox Odyssey]]
* 2009: [[Alex Rigopulos]] and [[Eran Egozy]], founders of [[Harmonix]]
* 2010: [[Gabe Newell]], co-founder of [[Valve Corporation|Valve]]
* 2011: [[Yu Suzuki]], lead of [[Sega AM2]] development team responsible for several arcade games and the ''[[Shenmue]]'' series
* 2012: [[Dave Theurer]], developer of ''[[Missile Command]]'' and ''[[Tempest (video game)|Tempest]]''
* 2013: [[Steve Russell (computer scientist)|Steve Russell]], creator of ''[[Spacewar!]]''
* 2014: Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, creators of [[Riot Games]]<ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web |url= https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/anita-sarkeesian-riot-co-founders-win-gdca-2014-special-awards |title= Anita Sarkeesian, Riot co-founders win GDCA 2014 Special Awards  |date= February 11, 2014 |website= www.gamasutra.com |publisher= Gamasutra |access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref>
* 2015: [[David Braben]], founder of [[Frontier Developments]], co-creator of the [[Elite (video game)|''Elite'' series]]
* 2016: [[Markus "Notch" Persson]], creator of ''[[Minecraft]]''
* 2017: [[Jordan Mechner]], creator of ''[[Prince of Persia]]''<ref name="GDC2017"/>
* 2018: None (see below)
* [[19th Game Developers Choice Awards|2019]]: [[Rieko Kodama]], graphic artist/director/producer for several Sega titles<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/trailblazing-sega-dev-rieko-kodama-to-be-honored-with-pioneer-award-at-gdc-2019- | title = Trailblazing Sega dev Rieko Kodama to be honored with Pioneer Award at GDC 2019! | date = January 17, 2019 | access-date = January 17, 2019 | work = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref>
* [[20th Game Developers Choice Awards|2020]]: [[Roberta Williams]], co-founder of [[Sierra On-line]] and early developer of the [[adventure game]] genre<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/adventure-game-trailblazer-roberta-williams-to-receive-pioneer-award-at-gdc-2020 | title = Adventure game trailblazer Roberta Williams to receive Pioneer Award at GDC 2020 | date=  February 26, 2020 | access-date= February 26, 2020 |work = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref>
* [[21st Game Developers Choice Awards|2021]]: [[Tom Fulp]], creator of [[Newgrounds]] and co-founder of [[The Behemoth]]<ref name="gdc2021 special">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-to-honor-newgrounds-founder-tom-fulp-and-industry-veteran-laralyn-mcwilliams-at-21st-annual-awards/1100-6493519/ | title = GDC To Honor Newgrounds Founder Tom Fulp And Industry Veteran Laralyn McWilliams At 21st Annual Awards | first = Cameron | last=  Koch | date = July 1, 2021 | accessdate = July 1, 2021 | work = [[GameSpot]] }}</ref>
* [[22nd Game Developers Choice Awards|2022]]: None given
* [[23rd Game Developers Choice Awards|2023]]: [[Mabel Addis]], first female video game designer<ref name="GDC2023"/>
* 2025: [[Lucas Pope]], developer of ''[[Papers, Please]]'' and ''[[The Return of the Obra Dinn]]''<ref name="2025 special"/>

GDC had announced their intention to award [[Nolan Bushnell]] (co-founder of [[Atari]]) the 2018 Pioneer Award.<ref name="GDC2018noms">{{cite web| url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/313891/Nolan_Bushnell_Tim_Schafer_and_Rami_Ismail_to_be_honored_at_the_2018_GDC_Awards.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180130230101/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/313891/Nolan_Bushnell_Tim_Schafer_and_Rami_Ismail_to_be_honored_at_the_2018_GDC_Awards.php | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 30, 2018 | title = Nolan Bushnell, Tim Schafer, and Rami Ismail to be honored at the 2018 GDC Awards! | date = January 30, 2018 | access-date = January 30, 2018 | work = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref> However, after several people asked the GDC to reconsider this in light of documented sexist activities in Bushnell's past in light of the current [[Me Too movement|#MeToo movement]], GDC opted to not award the Pioneer Award and instead "will dedicate this year's award to honor the pioneering and unheard voices of the past".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/nolan-bushnell-metoo-gdc-award-w516148 | title = GDC Re-Examines Award for Atari Founder After Outcry Over Past Conduct | first = Stefanie | last = Fogel | date = January 30, 2018 | access-date = January 31, 2018 | work = [[Glixel]] | archive-date = June 20, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153436/https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/nolan-bushnell-metoo-gdc-award-w516148 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-pioneer-award-not-nolan-bushnell-atari-founder | title = GDC Announces It Will Not Award Atari Founder Nolan Bushnell After Controversy | first = Matt | last = Kim | date = January 31, 2018 | access-date = January 31, 2018 | work = [[US Gamer]] | archive-date = 2019-03-28  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328214906/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gdc-pioneer-award-not-nolan-bushnell-atari-founder | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Ambassador Award===
The Ambassador Award is given to individuals within or outside the industry who helped video games "advance to a better place."<ref name=Ambassador>{{cite web |url= http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/ambassador.html |title= Ambassador Award Archive |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year= 2014 |website=gamechoiceawards.com |publisher= Game Developers Choice Awards |access-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> It replaced the IGDA Award for Community Contribution after 2007.<ref name=ACC>{{cite web |url= http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/contribution.html |title= Community Contribution Archive |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year= 2014 |website= gamechoiceawards.com |publisher= Game Developers Choice Awards |access-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref>

* 2008: [[Jason Della Rocca]] (former head of [[International Game Developers Association]])
* 2009: [[Tommy Tallarico]] (video game musician and composer)
* 2010: [[Jerry Holkins]], [[Mike Krahulik]] and [[Robert Khoo]] (creators and founders of ''[[Penny Arcade]]'')
* 2011: Tim Brengle and Ian Mackenzie (Organizers of the [[Game Developers Conference]] volunteer program for 20+ years<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/ambassador.html |title=Ambassador Award Archive |author=www.gamechoiceawards.com |date=March 2011 |access-date=January 16, 2012}}</ref>)
* 2012: Kenneth Doroshow and Paul M. Smith (the lawyers which argued ''[[Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association]]'' to the [[US Supreme Court]] supporting the video game industry)
* 2013: [[Chris Melissinos]] (developer at [[Sun Microsystems]] leading gaming-related [[Java (programming language)|Java]] initiatives)
* 2014: [[Anita Sarkeesian]] (creator of ''[[Feminist Frequency]]'')<ref name="Gamasutra"/>
* 2015: [[Brenda Romero]] (game developer, one of the leads of [[Romero Games]])
* 2016: [[Tracy Fullerton]] (game developer and professor at [[USC Interactive Media & Games Division]])
* 2017: [[Mark DeLoura]] (former editor of ''[[Game Developer (magazine)|Game Developer]]'' and served as Senior Advisor for Digital Media for the U.S. [[Office of Science and Technology Policy]])<ref name="GDC2017"/>
* 2018: [[Rami Ismail]] (co-founder of [[Vlambeer]], assistance to indie game development)<ref name="GDC2018noms"/>
* 2019: None given
* 2020: [[Kate Edwards]] (former head of the [[International Game Developers Association]])<ref name="gamasutra 2020noms">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/356378/Death_Stranding_leads_the_pack_of_2020_Game_Developers_Choice_Awards_nominees.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200108192505/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/356378/Death_Stranding_leads_the_pack_of_2020_Game_Developers_Choice_Awards_nominees.php | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 8, 2020 | title= Death Stranding leads the pack of 2020 Game Developers Choice Awards nominees | date =January 8, 2020 | access-date = January 8, 2020 | work = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref>
* 2021: None given
* 2022: [[Steven Spohn]] (founder of [[AbleGamers]])
* 2023: None given
* 2024: [[Fawzi Mesmar]] (creative director, game designer, leader, and author, known for his work in the video game industry)

===Lifetime Achievement Award===
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the achievements of a developer who has impacted games and game development.

* 2001: [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]] ([[List of Sim games|''Sim'' games]])
* 2002: [[Yuji Naka]] (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series)
* 2003: [[Gunpei Yokoi]] (1941–1997) ([[Game Boy]], ''[[Super Mario Land]]'' series, [[Metroid|''Metroid'' series]])
* 2004: [[Mark Cerny]] (''[[Crash Bandicoot]]'' and ''[[Spyro the Dragon (video game)|Spyro the Dragon]]'')
* 2005: [[Eugene Jarvis]] (''[[Defender (arcade game)|Defender]]'' and ''[[Robotron: 2084]]'')
* 2006: [[Richard Garriott]] (''[[Ultima (series)|Ultima]]'')
* 2007: [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] (creator of ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong (series)|Donkey Kong]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[Star Fox]]'', ''[[F-Zero]]'', and ''[[Pikmin (series)|Pikmin]]'')
* 2008: [[Sid Meier]] (''[[Civilization series]]'' and many different simulators)
* 2009: [[Hideo Kojima]] (''[[Metal Gear series]]'')
* 2010: [[John Carmack]] (''[[Doom series]]'')
* 2011: [[Peter Molyneux]] (''[[God games]]'')
* 2012: [[Warren Spector]] (''[[Deus Ex (video game)|Deus Ex]]'', ''[[System Shock]]'', ''[[Thief: The Dark Project]]'')
* 2013: [[Ray Muzyka]] and [[Greg Zeschuk]] (co-founders of [[BioWare]])
* 2014: [[Ken Kutaragi]] ("father" of the [[PlayStation]] console line)
* 2015: [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] (''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series)
* 2016: [[Todd Howard (video game designer)|Todd Howard]] (''[[Elder Scrolls]]'', ''[[Fallout (franchise)|Fallout]]'')
* 2017: [[Tim Sweeney (game developer)|Tim Sweeney]] (founder of [[Epic Games]])<ref>{{cite web | url  = https://venturebeat.com/2017/01/20/epic-games-guru-tim-sweeney-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-at-gdc/ | title = Epic Games' Tim Sweeney to receive lifetime achievement award at GDC | first = Dean | last = Takahasi | date = January 20, 2017 | access-date = January 20, 2017 | work = [[Venture Beat]] }}</ref>
* 2018: [[Tim Schafer]] (developer for [[LucasArts adventure games]], founder of [[Double Fine]])<ref name="GDC2018noms"/>
* [[19th Game Developers Choice Awards|2019]]: [[Amy Hennig]] (video game writer/director, notably for the ''[[Uncharted]]'' series)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-12-11-amy-hennig-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award | title = Amy Hennig to receive lifetime achievement award | first=  Brendan | last = Sinclair  |date = December 11, 2018 | access-date = December 11, 2018 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref>
* [[21st Game Developers Choice Awards|2021]]: [[Laralyn McWilliams]], creative director of ''[[Free Realms]]'' and lead director of ''[[Full Spectrum Warrior]]''<ref name="gdc2021 special"/>
* [[22nd Game Developers Choice Awards|2022]]: [[Yuji Horii]], creator of the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series
* [[23rd Game Developers Choice Awards|2023]]: [[John Romero]], co-founder of [[id Software]] and [[Ion Storm]], and co-creator of the [[Wolfenstein 3D]], [[Doom series|Doom]], and [[Quake series|Quake]] series<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-awards-to-honor-mabel-addis-john-romero | title=GDC Awards to honor Mabel Addis, John Romero | date=February 23, 2023 }}</ref>
* 2024: [[Yoko Shimomura]], composer of ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' and the ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gdc-awards-to-honor-yoko-shimomura-fawzi-mesmar| title=GDC Awards to honor Yoko Shimomura, Fawzi Mesmar | date=February 9, 2024 }}</ref>
* 2025: [[Sam Lake]], Creative Director at [[Remedy Entertainment]]<ref name="2025 special" >{{cite web | url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sam-lake-and-lucas-pope-to-be-honored-at-this-years-gdc-awards/ | title=Sam Lake and Lucas Pope to be honored at this year's GDC Awards | date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref>