E3 2017 is just around the corner and Epic Games and VentureBeat are excited to announce that the Unreal E3 Awards by GamesBeat will be returning this year! The awards will honor the most innovative, creative and visually-stunning Unreal Engine-powered games on display at this year’s show.
This year’s categories include Eye Candy, Best Hook, Most Addictive, Best Sequel, Best Original Game, Biggest Buzz, Best VR Game, Outstanding Gameplay and Unreal Underdog.
Each winning team will receive an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card provided by NVIDIA. Interested developers can submit their game for consideration by emailing [email protected]. Of course, we appreciate that many of you have E3 surprises in store, so don’t worry - any confidential details provided in your note to Epic will remain confidential!
Check out the full listing of categories below and we'll look forward to seeing you at E3!
Eye Candy
This award is given to the most visually impressive Unreal Engine game at E3 2017 and rewards the use of leading-edge graphics that push the medium of interactive entertainment forward.
Best Hook
This award is given to the game that features the most compelling mechanics or intuitive design. Nominees will make us consider the possibilities of interactive entertainment and inspire others to think about the medium from a new perspective.
Most Addictive
This award is given to the experience that our judges simply can’t put down. Nominees will make players forget about their surroundings and compel them to focus on the intended experience. The winner is simply awesome and will lead to fun-induced sleep deprivation.
Best Sequel
This award is given to the most impressive project that is a part of an established IP with an energetic fanbase. Nominees will push their franchises forward while exciting both existing and new players about their worlds’ potential.
Best Original Game
This award is given to the project with huge potential as an all-new IP. Nominees will spark interest in not just gameplay, but through original characters, worlds and the potential that is put on full display during E3 2017.
Biggest Buzz
This award is given to the project that creates the most talked about moment of E3 2017. From a major game reveal to an undeniably impressive demo or a major twist that flips the industry on its ear, this award goes to the Unreal Engine team or project that produces the most buzz.
Best VR Game
This award is given to the VR experience that delivers the best overall experience. With the newfound capabilities of VR on full display, this project places people in truly believable worlds that excite the senses and inspire imaginations. Nominees will reinforce best practices of VR design and demonstrate how the medium is delivering all-new experiences.
Outstanding Gameplay
This award is given to the game that offers the most fun experience overall. Nominees will be equally as intuitive as they are innovative while providing players with a sense of wonder and enjoyment. This is a game that will move hardware units — be it VR headsets or consoles — right off the shelf.
Unreal Underdog
This award is given to the team that pushes the limits to achieve an amazing showing for their game or experience at E3. Focusing on not just the product, but the people and process behind it, this award acknowledges a team’s perseverance to make a big splash at the show.