Canadian Game Awards want to remind you some of the best video games of 2024 were made in this country
Video game developers, publishers, and other industry leaders are gearing up for the Canadian Game Awards, set to take place in Toronto this weekend. The event aims to shine a spotlight on the massive contributions Canadians have made to the video game industry, which have often been overlooked in the past.
Carl-Edwin Michel, the creator and executive of the Canadian Game Awards, emphasized the importance of recognizing Canadian talent in the gaming world. He highlighted the lack of dedicated awards shows for the video game industry in Canada, despite the thriving community of developers and studios across the country. Michel believes that it’s essential to celebrate and promote the achievements of Canadian game developers.
The Canadian Game Awards will be livestreamed from the Lightbox in Toronto, with Canadian presenter Naomi Kyle hosting the event. Prior to the awards show, the Eh! Game Expo will provide an opportunity for the public to play nominated titles and other Canadian-made games. The nominees include a mix of big-budget games like Bioware’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard and smaller independent titles like Balatro, a poker-solitaire-like game that gained popularity in 2024.
The history of the awards show has seen its ups and downs, with the previous iteration, the Canadian Video Game Awards, being canceled in 2016. Michel rebooted the event as the Canadian Game Awards in 2020, transitioning to online-only shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 in-person event faced technical issues, prompting Michel and his team to take 2024 off to improve and rebuild trust within the gaming community.
Despite challenges, industry leaders remain optimistic about the future of the Canadian Game Awards. Paul Fogolin, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association Canada, expressed cautious optimism that the show would improve and continue to grow in the future. The awards show serves as a platform to showcase Canadian-made games and highlight the country’s thriving gaming industry.
Canadian game developers are making significant contributions to the international gaming scene, with studios like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts operating large offices in Canada. The interconnected nature of the global gaming industry presents both opportunities and challenges for Canadian developers. Michel and Fogolin emphasized the importance of promoting Canadian games and supporting local talent in a competitive market.
As the gaming industry becomes increasingly globalized, Canadian developers are finding ways to tell unique stories from their perspective. While games set in Canadian locales may not always have broad international appeal, developers like Remy Siu of Sunset Visitor are pushing the boundaries of the medium and creating nuanced and innovative gaming experiences.
The Canadian Game Awards provide a platform to celebrate the creativity and talent of Canadian game developers, showcasing the diversity and innovation present in the country’s gaming industry. As the event continues to evolve and grow, it will play a vital role in promoting and supporting Canadian-made games on a national and international scale.
