GACONF AWARDS 2022

Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 22

The 2022 edition of the GAconf awards was a continuation of the industry-wide movement to recognise the stellar efforts of people across and around game development to raise the bar for accessibility.

There were 18 categories, shortlisted by an expert panel, with winners decided on by a combination of public and jury vote.

The winners of the GAconf Awards were revealed by the inimitable Steve Saylor together with a host of special guests on Wednesday Jan 25th. You can watch the full ceremony on the IGDA-GASIG YouTube Channel, with audio description, BSL, ASL, and captioning in 5 languages.

This year’s winners and finalists (with links to info about why they’re finalists) were:


AAA excellence

Accessibility in a game made on a big budget / by a big team

Winner: God of War Ragnarök


Indie excellence

Accessibility in a game made on a small budget / by a small team

Winner: Return to Monkey Island


Best Deaf/HoH accessibility

Accessibility for gamers who are Deaf or hard of hearing

Winner: God of War Ragnarök


Best physical/mobility accessibility

Accessibility for gamers with motor impairment

Winner: Rocksmith+


Best blind / low vision accessibility

Accessibility for gamers with low/no vision

Winner: The Last Of Us Part 1


Best cognitive accessibility

Accessibility for neurodiversity, mental health and intellectual/learning disability

Winner: The Quarry


Best representation

Representation of disabled characters

Winner: Just Dance 2023 


Best journalism

Article about game accessibility

Winner: Grant Stoner – How Disabled ‘Elden Ring’ Players Conquered The Lands Between


Best academic research

Published academic paper on game accessibility

Winner: Understanding the perceptions and experiences of the deafblind community


Best resource

Resource for players or resource for developers

Winner: Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Fundamentals training


Most accessible gaming event

Gaming event inclusive of the widest audience

Winner: Ubisoft Forward


Hardware innovation

New or improved accessibility tech

Winner: Microsoft Adaptive Accessories


Most improved

Greatest progress within a single game through remakes/remasters, patches, or mods

Winner: The Last Of Us Part 1


Biggest accessibility surprise

Something impactful that you didn’t see coming

Winner: Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Fundamentals training


Most dedicated publisher

The publisher making the most significant or most consistent efforts

  • Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Xbox Games Studios
  • Ubisoft

Winner: Sony Interactive Entertainment


Most dedicated studio

The studio making the most significant or most consistent efforts

  • Naughty Dog
  • Rare
  • Ubisoft Kyiv

Winner: Naughty Dog


MVP award for most dedicated developer

The individual developer making the most significant or most consistent efforts internally (this can include people working in accessibility roles)

Winner: Mila Pavlin, Santa Monica Studio


The advocacy award

This award can be someone either in a development role or not – anyone who is an advocate using their voice to make a difference across the wider industry.

Winner: Grant Stoner