During his acceptance speech at the BAFTA Games Awards 2023, Christopher Judge, the actor behind Kratos in God of War Ragnarök, urged gamers to stop engaging in console wars and promote a peaceful gaming community.

Introduction

At the prestigious BAFTA Games Awards 2023, God of War Ragnarök actor Christopher Judge delivered a powerful message to the gaming community. As he accepted the award for Performer in a Leading Role, Judge seized the opportunity to address the ongoing issue of console wars and called for unity among gamers.

A Plea for Peace and Unity

In his heartfelt speech, Judge expressed his gratitude to the fans and encouraged them to be more understanding and supportive of one another. He emphasized the common ground shared by gamers, regardless of their preferred platform or game.

“Thank you to the fans,” Judge said. “Be easier on each other. You all have more in common than what separates you. No matter what platform you love, no matter what game you love, you’re still part of the gaming community, and give each other a break.”

God of War Ragnarök actor Christopher Judge

Sony Santa Monica’s Struggles and a Call for Respect

The development team at Sony Santa Monica, responsible for God of War Ragnarök, had faced considerable abuse from players throughout the game’s development. This prompted the studio to issue a statement calling for respect and understanding within the gaming community.

Creative Director’s Response to Social Media Abuse

After a rumored release date announcement failed to appear in late June 2022, some developers reportedly received abuse on social media. This backlash led Cory Barlog, the studio’s creative director, to urge the community to treat game developers with decency and respect.

A Historic Night for God of War Ragnarök

Despite the challenges faced during development, God of War Ragnarök achieved a historic milestone at the BAFTA Games Awards. The game received a record-breaking 14 nominations and walked away with six awards, including the coveted EE Game of the Year and both performance awards.

Introducing God of War Ragnarök (About the Game)

God of War Ragnarök is an action-adventure game that transports players to the world of ancient Scandinavia, where they follow the journey of Kratos and his teenage son, Atreus. Developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, this ninth installment in the series was released worldwide on November 9, 2022.

It is the first cross-gen release in the God of War series and a sequel to 2018’s God of War. Drawing inspiration from Norse mythology, the game centers on Ragnarök, the eschatological event foreshadowed in the previous game after Kratos killed the Aesir god Baldur.

How to Play God of War Ragnarök

God of War Ragnarök is available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles. Players who purchase the PS4 version can upgrade to the PS5 version for US$10. The game offers several purchasing options, including the standard base game (physical and digital), as well as three special editions: the Jötnar Edition, the Collector’s Edition, and the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Conclusion

Christopher Judge’s powerful message at the BAFTA Games Awards serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and respect within the gaming community. As gamers, we should all strive to support one another, regardless of our preferences, and appreciate the hard work and dedication of game developers who bring our favorite titles to life. Dive into the world of God of War Ragnarök and experience the gripping conclusion of the Norse era in this critically acclaimed series.

2023 BAFTA Games Awards: Full List of Categories, Nominees, and Winners

In the 2023 BAFTA Edition for Games Awards, several games and studios were recognized for their outstanding work in the gaming industry. “God of War Ragnarök” emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, taking home awards in categories such as Animation, Audio Achievement, Music, and EE Game of the Year, while Christopher Judge and Laya DeLeon Hayes won Performer in a Leading Role and Performer in a Supporting Role for their roles in the game, respectively.

“Vampire Survivors” was another standout title, winning both Best Game and Game Design. The debut game “Tunic” also left a strong impression, securing victories in Artistic Achievement and Debut Game.

FromSoftware’s highly anticipated “Elden Ring” claimed awards for Original Property and Multiplayer. Meanwhile, “Horizon Forbidden West” was recognized for its Technical Achievement.

Finally, “Endling – Extinction is Forever” won the award for Game Beyond Entertainment, emphasizing the importance of games that engage with crucial issues and make a broader societal impact.

The BAFTA Edition for Games Awards showcased the incredible talent and creativity within the gaming industry, with developers, designers, and performers receiving well-deserved recognition for their work in creating immersive and engaging experiences for players.

Nominees and Winners (Full List)

Here’s a comprehensive list of categories, nominees, and winners from the 2023 BAFTA Games Awards:

ANIMATION

• CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II – Infinity Ward/Activision Publishing, Inc
• Winner: GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – Guerrilla/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• LEGO STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SAGA – TT Games/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• SIFU – Sloclap/Sloclap & Kepler Interactive
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive

ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT

• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI Namco Europe
• GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• IMMORTALITY – Half Mermaid Productions/Half Mermaid Productions
• PENTIMENT – Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios
• A PLAGUE TALE: REQUIEM – Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment
• Winner: TUNIC – TUNIC Team/FINJI

AUDIO ACHIEVEMENT

• Winner: GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – Guerrilla/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• METAL: HELLSINGER – The Outsiders/Funcom Oslo AS
• A PLAGUE TALE: REQUIEM – Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive
• TUNIC – TUNIC Team/FINJI

BEST GAME

• CULT OF THE LAMB – Massive Monster/Devolver Digital
• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI Namco Europe
• GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• MARVEL SNAP – Second Dinner Studios/Nuverse
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive
• Winner: VAMPIRE SURVIVORS – poncle/poncle

BRITISH GAME

• CITIZEN SLEEPER – Jump Over the Age/Fellow Traveller
• OLLIOLLI WORLD – Roll7/Private Division
• Winner: ROLLERDROME – Roll7/Private Division
• TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER III – Creative Assembly/SEGA
• TWO POINT CAMPUS – Two Point Studios/SEGA
• VAMPIRE SURVIVORS – poncle/poncle

DEBUT GAME

• AS DUSK FALLS – INTERIOR/NIGHT/Xbox Game Studios
• THE CASE OF THE GOLDEN IDOL – Color Gray Games/Playstack
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive
• TROMBONE CHAMP – Holy Wow Studios/ Holy Wow Studios
• Winner: TUNIC – TUNIC Team/FINJI
• VAMPIRE SURVIVORS – poncle/poncle

EVOLVING GAME

• APEX LEGENDS – Respawn/Electronic Arts
• DREAMS – Media Molecule/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE – ZeniMax Online Studios/Bethesda Softworks
• Winner: FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE – Creative Business Unit III/Square Enix
• FORZA HORIZON 5 – Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios
• NO MAN’S SKY – Hello Games/Hello Games

FAMILY

• DISNEY DREAMLIGHT VALLEY – Gameloft/ Gameloft
• Winner: KIRBY AND THE FORGOTTEN LAND – HAL Laboratory/Nintendo
• LEGO STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SAGA – TT Games/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE – Ubisoft Milan; Ubisoft Paris/Ubisoft
• NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS – Nintendo EPD/Nintendo
• TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SHREDDER’S REVENGE – Tribute Games/Dotemu

GAME BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT

• CITIZEN SLEEPER – Jump Over the Age/Fellow Traveller
• Winner: ENDLING – EXTINCTION IS FOREVER – Herobeat Studios/HandyGames
• GIBBON: BEYOND THE TREES – Broken Rules/Broken Rules
• I WAS A TEENAGE EXOCOLONIST – Northway Games/FINJI
• NOT FOR BROADCAST – NotGames/tinyBuild
• WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS – Cowleyfornia Studios/Cowleyfornia Studios

GAME DESIGN

• CULT OF THE LAMB – Massive Monster/Devolver Digital
• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI NAMCO Europe
• GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – Guerrilla/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• TUNIC – TUNIC Team/FINJI
• Winner: VAMPIRE SURVIVORS – poncle/poncle

MULTIPLAYER

• CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II – Infinity Ward/Activision Publishing, Inc.
• EA SPORTS FIFA 23 – EA Vancouver, EA Romania/EA SPORTS
• Winner: ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI Namco Europe
• OVERWATCH 2 – Blizzard Entertainment/Blizzard Entertainment
• SPLATOON 3 – Nintendo/Nintendo
• TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SHREDDER’S REVENGE – Tribute Games/Dotemu

MUSIC

• CUPHEAD – THE DELICIOUS LAST COURSE – Studio MDHR/Studio MDHR
• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI Namco Europe
• Winner: GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• A PLAGUE TALE: REQUIEM – Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive
• TUNIC – TUNIC Team/FINJI

NARRATIVE

• CITIZEN SLEEPER – Jump Over the Age/Fellow Traveller
• GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Winner: IMMORTALITY – Half Mermaid Productions/Half Mermaid Productions
• PENTIMENT – Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studio
• A PLAGUE TALE: REQUIEM – Asobo Studio/Focus Entertainment
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive

ORIGINAL PROPERTY

• CITIZEN SLEEPER – Jump Over the Age/Fellow Traveller
• CULT OF THE LAMB – Massive Monster/Devolver Digital
• Winner: ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI Namco Europe
• SIFU – Sloclap/Sloclap & Kepler Interactive
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive
• VAMPIRE SURVIVORS – poncle/poncle

PERFORMER IN A LEADING ROLE

• ALAIN MESA as Alejandro Vargas in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
• CHARLOTTE MCBURNEY as Amicia de Rune in A Plague Tale: Requiem
• Winner: CHRISTOPHER JUDGE as Kratos in God of War Ragnarök
• MANON GAGE as Marissa Marcel in Immortality
• SIOBHAN WILLIAMS as Laura in The Quarry
• SUNNY SULJIC as Atreus in God of War Ragnarök

PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• ADAM J. HARRINGTON as Sindri in God of War Ragnarök
• ALISON JAYE as Alva in Horizon Forbidden West
• CHARLOTTA MOHLIN as The One in Immortality
• DANIELLE BISUTTI as Freya in God of War Ragnarök
• Winner: LAYA DELEON HAYES as Angrboða in God of War Ragnarök
• RYAN HURST as Thor in God of War Ragnarök

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI NAMCO Europe
• GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Winner: HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – Guerrilla/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• IMMORTALITY – Half Mermaid Productions/Half Mermaid Productions
• THE LAST OF US PART I – Naughty Dog/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive

EE GAME OF THE YEAR (voted for by the public)

• ELDEN RING – FromSoftware/BANDAI NAMCO Europe
• Winner: GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK – Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST – Guerrilla/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• IMMORTALITY – Half Mermaid Productions/Half Mermaid Productions
• MARVEL SNAP – Second Dinner Studios/Nuverse
• STRAY – BlueTwelve Studio/Annapurna Interactive