Masahiro Sakurai’s influential Game Designers Award will conclude after 16 years. The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association announced on September 8, 2026, that the final award will be presented during Tokyo Game Show week, closing a dedicated chapter for recognizing creative, unconventional video games in the industry.
The gaming industry is preparing to close a chapter on a 16-year tradition that celebrated titles prioritizing pure creativity over commercial dominance. The Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association announced on September 8, 2026, that the Game Designers Award, created and chaired by renowned game creator Masahiro Sakurai, will end with its sixteenth presentation this year.
Origins and Purpose of the Game Designers Award
Established in 2010 during the fourteenth iteration of the Japan Game Awards, the distinction was built to spotlight titles that might otherwise get overshadowed by sales charts and mainstream trends. Sakurai, known for directing series like Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, envisioned a forum where top industry creators evaluated games strictly from a professional perspective.
The core objective was always to single out high creativity and a fresh approach that should leave its name in the history of games, according to background details released by organizers. Instead of rewarding sheer sales volume or prevailing market trends, the 11-member panel of judges sought out unconventional mechanics, artistic risks, and titles offering play that has never existed before.
Past selections have reflected this experimental mandate. Last year, the narrative exploration title INDIKA took home the prize, demonstrating the award’s preference for unconventional themes and daring artistic execution.
The Final Panel of Judges for 2026
For its final year, the award retains its high-profile roster of judges. Sakurai returns as the selection committee chair, leading a group of 11 prominent creators spanning decades of Japanese and international game development.
- Masahiro Sakurai (Chairperson): Kirby series, Super Smash Bros. series, etc.
- Kazunori Iida: Aquanaut’s Holiday, Anagra no Uta -The Vanished Doctor and the Left-behind Device-, etc.
- Jiro Ishii: 428: Shibuya Scramble, Time Travelers, etc.
- Fumito Ueda: ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian, etc.
- Hideki Kamiya: Devil May Cry, Okami, Bayonetta series, etc.
- Kazutaka Kodaka: Danganronpa series, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, etc.
- Goichi Suda: Silver Case series, killer7, NO MORE HEROES series, etc.
- Toby Fox: UNDERTALE, DELTARUNE, etc.
- Keiichiro Toyama: Silent Hill, SIREN series, GRAVITY DAZE series, etc.
- Shinji Mikami: Resident Evil, God Hand, etc.
- Yoko Taro: Drakengard series, NieR series, etc.
This group brings together the minds behind franchises like Devil May Cry, Silent Hill, NieR, Resident Evil, and Undertale.
Schedule and Final Presentation in Tokyo
The final recipient will be revealed during the Japan Game Awards 2026 Annual Work Division Presentation Ceremony, scheduled for September 15 at 18:00. The event takes place at Hulic Hall Tokyo in Yurakucho, marking the 30th anniversary milestone for the broader Japan Game Awards program.
During the ceremony, Sakurai will personally appear on stage to present the final award and introduce the winning title to the public. The proceedings will also feature appearances by Toshiya Miyata of Kis-My-Ft2, serving as the official supporter and presenter for the grand prize, alongside piano performances by internet personality Harami-chan. Organizers confirmed that the ceremony will be streamed live online free of charge via official channels and YouTube Live, allowing global audiences to watch the final curtain call for the 16-year-old institution.