Baldur's Gate 3 has won five awards at the 20th edition of the Bafta Games Awards in central London
The game by Larian Studios picked up the awards for the best game, music, players' choice, best narrative and best supporting performer
Alan Wake 2 and Viewfinder have picked up two awards each
The ceremony celebrated developers, artists, actors and composers: there were 40 games in the running across 17 categories
Gaming is big business in the UK: sales topped £4.7bn last year, more than double that of the music industry
But despite 2023 being widely considered to be one of the best years ever, the industry saw thousands of job losses and studio closures
This one goes to the game with the most breathtaking musical soundtrack. The nominees are:
The winner of the award for best animation is Hi-Fi-Rush.
Animation is a huge element of video games, and the team behind it will be thrilled to have nabbed this one over some major names.
Image source, BaftasThe Hi-Fi Rush team as they accept the award for animation
We’re about to see who has won the Bafta award for animation. The nominees are:
Baldur's Gate 3 has taken out the one category tonight voted on entirely by the everyday gamers around the world.
It's not a huge surprise the Larian team have won this one - Baldur's Gate 3 was an absolute smash hit with players.
Image source, BaftasThe Larian team behind Baldur's Gate 3
We’ve come now to the EE player’s choice award, the prize voted on by the public. The nominees are:
Super Mario Bros: Wonder picks up its second award of the night, winning in the best family game category.
Once again, it's Nelson Calvinho accepting the award on behalf of the Nintendo team.
It’s time to award the Bafta for the game with the best experience for a family audience. The nominees are:
Tom Richardson
BBC News Online
The Game Awards, held in Los Angeles in December, was criticised for cutting short winners' speeches.
Based on Andrew Wincott's sprawling, theatrical acceptance address for his supporting performer win, anyone lucky enough to win tonight won't have anything to worry about there...
Image source, BaftasWincott's castmate and competitor for the supporting performance, Tracy Wiles, ran to hug him before he accepted the award.
The Walking Dead's Eleanor Matsuura presents the supporting performer award to Andrew Wincott for Baldur's Gate 3.
An incredibly tough category to predict.
We’re about to find out who has won the Bafta for the actor who gave the best performance in a supporting role. The nominees are:
Laura Cress
BBC World Service
Image source, BaftasAccessibility in gaming - including features in games which mean disabled players can play them too - has seen great strides in recent years, though there’s still work to be done.
There's currently no award celebrating accessibility at the Baftas. However, Dr Mick Donegan MBE, the founder of SpecialEffect, a UK charity which helps people with a wide range of disabilities play games, is accepting the special award, which recognises outstanding contributions to games.
With the recent launch of Sony's first PS5 controller for disabled gamers and games like Just Dance looking at news ways to be inclusive, more parts of the industry are waking up to the importance of making gaming open to all.
Read more: “When we all play, we all win”
Image source, SpecialEffect
Image source, BaftasGamespot's managing editor is used to writing stories, but Tamoor Hussain's task tonight is to reward Bafta's best storyteller as he hands out the narrative award.
And it's the first of the night for Baldur's Gate 3!
The Alan Wake 2 team will have wanted that one.
The narrative award, which goes to the game with the best storyline, is being awarded now. The nominees are:
Image source, Getty ImagesThe original voice of Lara Croft enthusiastically announces the second award for the Viewfinder team tonight
Shelley Blond, the original voice of Tomb Raider Lara Croft - recently named Bafta's "most iconic game character" - presents the award for new intellectual property.
It's not the most exciting category title, but the team behind Viewfinder look pretty thrilled to be collecting their second award of the night.
This one goes to the best game that is a new story and not part of an existing franchise. The nominees are:
Image source, BaftasActor Danny Sapani - who you might recognise from Black Panther or the Halo TV series - reveals that Alan Wake 2 has won the artistic achievement award.
That's two in the bag for the fictional writer. Could it be Remedy's night?
The next award being presented is for artistic achievement. The nominees are:
Image source, BaftasIt was an emotional acceptance speech from the Sad Owl
A massive win for Viewfinder from Scottish studio Sad Owl!
Some of the team members take to the stage in kilts, looking quite surprised to be there.
We’ve reached the Bafta for best British Game. The nominees are:
Image source, BaftaDave the Diver's Jaeho Hwang accepts the award
Some heavy hitters in this category, Jane Douglas, from YouTube channel Outside Xbox, presents the game design award to... Dave the Diver.
Huge win for this one in a category that also featured Zelda and Spider-Man.
Best game just got more interesting.