The Hugo Awards, the most prestigious awards in science fiction, will add the video game category to the 2021 ceremony.
According to the statement made by the organizers on Twitter, the game category was added to the list only for 2021.
In 2021, there's going to be a Hugo Award For Best Video Game.
The DisCon III committee has chosen to create this special category for 2021 only, as provided for by the rules of the World Science Fiction Society.#HugoAwards
1/3 pic.twitter.com/9auCZXo3DW
— DisCon III – The 79th Worldcon (@worldcon2021) November 23, 2020
The event’s co-chair Colette Fozard said: “Since early 2020, many of us have spent more time gaming than we ever expected. This award will offer fans an opportunity to celebrate the games that have been meaningful, joyful and exceptional over this past year.”
The Hugo Awards, first presented in 1953 and presented annually since 1955, are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), which is also responsible for administering them.
While there is no permanent Hugo Award category to recognize this interactive form of storytelling with which so many fans of the genre create and engage; the organizers have stated that the Hugo Study Committee is also considering Best Game or Interactive Experience as a potential permanent category.