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WHY CELEBRATING WOMEN IN GAMES MATTERS
As we head towards the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards in London on September 25th, Amiqus’ Business Manager Liz Prince discusses why it is still important for us all to celebrate diverse talent in the industry…
O
ne of the questions that still occasionally surfaces when events like the MCV/DEVELOP Women in
Games Awards are announced is: ‘Do we still need awards just for women?’. I understand where that reasoning comes from – after all, shouldn’t excellence be recognised regardless of gender?
But the reality is that we’re just not
there yet. That is clearly evident at the likes of the industry-wide MCV/ DEVELOP Awards and, more recently, the Develop:Star Awards where the majority of trophies are picked up by men. That’s not the fault of the organisers; it’s simply the state of play in an industry where some 75% of the workforce are men. While we are seeing progress in some
areas, women in the games industry still face barriers that their male counterparts often don’t – whether it’s visibility, unconscious bias, or lack of access to leadership pipelines. Dedicated awards don’t exist to exclude others; they exist to correct imbalance, to highlight talent that too often goes unnoticed, and to build the kind of inclusive culture that ultimately benefits everyone.
At Amiqus, EDI is ingrained in everything we do, and – through our G Into Gaming initiative – supporting, welcoming and celebrating women is super important to us. We are a longtime sponsor of the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards, because we know how
crucial representation and recognition are in our collective goal of making the industry a better place for women. These Awards shine a spotlight on the women shaping our industry – whether in development, business leadership, esports, education, or media. Recognition like this does more than reward – it legitimises and makes visible the vital work of women, and those identifying as women, across every facet of games. Visibility matters. When women are seen winning awards, they become role models for new and emerging talent, and demonstrate that women belong in every area, and at every level, of the industry. Beyond trophies, events like these serve as powerful networking hubs, providing the opportunity to make new connections and relationships, and often facilitating career growth. The warmth and support in the room at events like this is unlike any other awards event: there is a genuine ‘sisterhood’ in the industry, underscored here and at other events like
At Amiqus, we have many resources available to help, so please do get in touch via
liz.prince@
amiqus.com
the Women in Games networking event at Develop:Brighton.
At the time of writing the shortlists had not yet been announced for each category, but I urge everyone to amplify the achievements of all the trailblazing finalists; cheer them loudly, and highlight them as aspirational role models for others – because that is what they are!
When it comes to these awards opening for nominations next year, please encourage more women to enter. Too often I hear women saying that they don’t feel they deserve to enter, questioning their own accomplishments, and giving in to imposter syndrome. There are so many brilliant women working in the industry – we need to see them, and to see them get recognised and celebrated. Because that paves the way for more women to dream bigger. For now, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Women in Games Awards this autumn – and to enjoy seeing those awards being collected by women in the spotlight!
“There are so many brilliant women working in the industry – we need to see them, and to see them get recognised and celebrated.”
34 | MCV/DEVELOP August/September 2025
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