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Film awards season may have been and gone, but BAFTA is rolling out the red carpet once again this week.

This time, video games are in the spotlight – with everything from the biggest blockbusters to some of 2022’s most celebrated indie darlings in the running.

PlayStation action epic God Of War Ragnarok leads the way with 14 nominations, but its closest rival is Stray – an inspiring debut from French studio BlueTwelve that casts players as a cute cat.

The BAFTA Game Awards take place in central London on Thursday from around 7pm.

Here’s the full list of nominees and what you need to know about each category.

Animation

Horizon Forbidden West was one of the best looking games of the year
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Horizon Forbidden West was one of the best looking games of the year

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II
God Of War Ragnarok
Horizon Forbidden West
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Sifu
Stray

More on Bafta

Did you know: Stray‘s adorably convincing cat protagonist was animated with the help of three real felines who were invited into the studio’s office. The team closely studied Murtaugh, Oscar, and Jun for inspiration and reference points throughout development.

Artistic achievement

The scope and variety of Elden Ring's world is unmatched. Pic: Bandai Namco
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The scope and variety of Elden Ring’s world is unmatched. Pic: Bandai Namco

A Plague Tale: Requiem
Elden Ring
God Of War Ragnarok
Immortality
Pentiment
Tunic

Did you know: One of Tunic‘s most eye-catching features was an in-game instruction manual that evoked the retro guide books that used to come packed in with just about every video game. The pages – hidden throughout the game’s levels – were rendered in such detail that they even appear to be tainted with the odd smudge or fold.

Audio achievement

Stray features inarguably the cutest main character of the year
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Stray features inarguably the cutest main character of the year

A Plague Tale: Requiem
God Of War Ragnarok
Horizon Forbidden West
Metal: Hellsinger
Stray
Tunic

Did you know: Not one for the squeamish, one of A Plague Tale: Requiem‘s calling cards is a disease-carrying “tsunami of rats” that regularly obstructs the player on their journey. Asobo Studio tasked its sound engineers with coming up with what 300,000 rats scurrying around might sound like – and the results will likely haunt your dreams.

Best game

Kratos meets all manner of great characters on his latest journey, including Ratatoskr the squirrel
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God Of War Ragnarok features all manner of great characters

Cult Of The Lamb
Elden Ring
God Of War Ragnarok
Marvel Snap
Stray
Vampire Survivors

Did you know: Elden Ring may be the favourite here if The Game Awards are anything to go by, where the open world RPG from Japanese developer FromSoftware took home the biggest prize. It received unanimous critical acclaim for its immense scope and challenge, and is widely considered one of the best games of all time.

British game

Two Point Campus tasks players with running a university. Pic: Sega
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Two Point Campus tasks players with running a university. Pic: Sega

Citizen Sleeper
OlliOlli World
Rollerdrome
Total War: Warhammer III
Two Point Campus
Vampire Survivors

Did you know: If you’re ever lacking for inspiration, know that Vampire Survivors – one of the most popular video games of 2022 – was the work of a solo developer. Luca Galante quit his full-time job to work on it, and it’s now up for five awards at the BAFTAs.

Debut game

Tunic is a classic Nintendo-style adventure that casts players as a fox. Pic: Finji
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Tunic is a classic Nintendo-style adventure that casts players as a fox. Pic: Finji

As Dusk Falls
The Case Of The Golden Idol
Stray
Trombone Champ
Tunic
Vampire Survivors

Did you know: The brilliantly named Trombone Champ is essentially a fresh take on Guitar Hero – a rhythm game tasking you with playing along to songs. It went viral upon release, as people took tremendous pleasure in sharing ridiculous videos of them toot-ifying famous anthems.

Evolving game

No Man's Sky first released in 2016 but is still going strong. Pic: Hello Games
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No Man’s Sky first released in 2016 but is still going strong. Pic: Hello Games

Apex Legends
Dreams
The Elder Scrolls Online
Final Fantasy XIV
Forza Horizon 5
No Man’s Sky

Did you know: Six years after its initial release, No Man’s Sky ended up being one of the standout launch titles for PlayStation VR2 last month. Its huge galaxy, stuffed with an endless number of randomly generated planets, is now completely explorable in virtual reality.

Family

Pic: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
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LEGO Star Wars was one of 2022’s best sellers. Pic: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Disney Dreamlight Valley
Kirby And The Forgotten Land
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope
Nintendo Switch Sports
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Did you know: The latest from British developer TT Games, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was such a mammoth undertaking that it came six years after the previous entry in the series. It encompassed all nine core films in the iconic film franchise, and some of its most famous actors reprised their roles.

Game beyond entertainment

Gibbon: Beyond The Trees casts players as a gibbon dealing with the impact of climate change. Pic: Broken Rules
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Gibbon: Beyond The Trees casts players as a gibbon dealing with the impact of climate change. Pic: Broken Rules

Citizen Sleeper
Endling: Extinction Is Forever
Gibbon: Beyond The Trees
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist
Not For Broadcast
We’ll Always Have Paris

Did you know: While many still come to games for film-like action and virtual warfare, the people behind them are increasingly considering how the medium could help us go greener. Gibbon: Beyond The Trees puts players into a family of endangered apes during a journey that tackles deforestation, poaching, and climate change.

Game design

Cult Of The Lamb has you starting your own cult - as a lamb. Pic: Massive Monster
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Cult Of The Lamb has you starting your own cult – as a lamb. Pic: Massive Monster

Cult Of The Lamb
Elden Ring
God Of War Ragnarok
Horizon Forbidden West
Tunic
Vampire Survivors

Did you know: Understandably keen to recognise a home-grown success story, Cult Of The Lamb cleaned up at the Australian Game Developer Awards – winning best game, music, art, and gameplay. This unusual indie game casts players as a lamb saved from death, who must then create a loyal cult in the name of the deity that spared them.

Multiplayer

Splatoon 3 offered more of the same - but it was all good. Pic: Nintendo
Image:
Splatoon 3 offered more of the same – but it was all good. Pic: Nintendo

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II
FIFA 23
Elden Ring
Overwatch 2
Splatoon 3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Did you know: EA Sports will be hoping its long-running football series will be recognised, given FIFA 23 is the final instalment before the company launches a replacement franchise. EA Sports FC will debut later this year after a licensing agreement with football’s governing body came to an end.

Music

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course boasted more of the original game's stunning retro visuals. Pic: Studio MDHR
Image:
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course boasted more of the original game’s stunning retro visuals. Pic: Studio MDHR

A Plague Tale: Requiem
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Elden Ring
God Of War Ragnarok
Stray
Tunic

Did you know: Last year was a big one for God Of War Ragnarok composer Bear McCreary, who also penned the music for Amazon’s Lord Of The Ring series. He had help on the game, though, as popular Irish artist Hozier wrote and performed an original song called Blood Upon The Snow.

Narrative

Immortality uses film footage to tell its interactive story. Pic: Sam Barlow
Image:
Immortality uses film footage to tell its interactive story. Pic: Sam Barlow

A Plague Tale: Requiem
Citizen Sleeper
God Of War Ragnarok
Immortality
Pentiment
Stray

Did you know: Immortality bills itself as more of an interactive film than a traditional game, and actually premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last summer. Perhaps fittingly, one of the platforms it’s available on is Netflix.

Original property

Sifu is a tribute to classic kung-fu action films. Pic: Sloclap
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Sifu is a tribute to classic kung-fu action films. Pic: Sloclap

Citizen Sleeper
Cult Of The Lamb
Elden Ring
Sifu
Stray
Vampire Survivors

Did you know: The kung-fu action game Sifu may have been a totally new release, but it seems to already have franchise potential. A film adaptation was announced in December, to be written by the creator of John Wick.

Performer in a leading role

Charlotte McBurney plays Amicia in A Plague Tale: Requiem. Pic: Focus Entertainment
Image:
Charlotte McBurney plays Amicia in A Plague Tale: Requiem. Pic: Focus Entertainment

Alain Mesa in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Charlotte McBurney in A Plague Tale: Requiem
Christopher Judge in God Of War Ragnarok
Manon Gage in Immortality
Siobhan Williams in The Quarry
Sunny Suljic in God Of War Ragnarok

Did you know: Prepare for a long list of thank-yous if God Of War Ragnarok‘s Christopher Judge replicates his success at December’s The Game Awards, given he set a new record for the longest acceptance speech in the ceremony’s history. The actor, who plays lead character Kratos, went on for seven minutes and 59 seconds.

Performer in a supporting role

Danielle Bisutti plays Freya in God Of War Ragnarok. Pic: Sony
Image:
Danielle Bisutti plays Freya in God Of War Ragnarok. Pic: Sony

Adam J Harrington in God Of War Ragnarok
Alison Jaye in Horizon Forbidden West
Charlotta Mohlin in Immortality
Danielle Bisutti in God Of War Ragnarok
Laya Deleon Hayes in God Of War Ragnarok
Ryan Hurst in God Of War Ragnarok

Did you know: God Of War Ragnarok‘s Danielle Bisutti was also BAFTA nominated for her role as Freya in the franchise’s previous instalment, which released in 2018. She lost out to one of her co-stars on that occasion, so will be hoping to rise above them this time round.

Technical achievement

The Last Of Us: Part I released for PlayStation 5
Image:
The Last Of Us: Part I released for PlayStation 5

Elden Ring
God Of War Ragnarok
Horizon Forbidden West
Immortality
The Last Of Us: Part I
Stray

Did you know: Developer Naughty Dog may be hoping recency bias gives The Last Of Us: Part I a boost, given the success of the recent TV adaptation. This version of the game is a big-budget remake of the 2013 original, which released just in time for the show’s premiere.

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Entertainment

Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’

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Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it's 'an underdog just like me'

Snoop Dogg has become a co-owner and investor of Swansea, with the US rapper hailing the Welsh football club as “an underdog that bites back, just like me”.

The former Premier League club, which plays in the English second tier, confirmed the US rapper and producer plans to use his own money to invest in it, Sky Sports reports, although it didn’t disclose financial details.

“My love of football is well known, but it feels special to me that I make my move into club ownership with Swansea City,” the music icon said in the announcement.

“The story of the club and the area really struck a chord with me,” he added. “This is a proud, working class city and club.

“An underdog that bites back, just like me.

“I’m proud to be part of Swansea City. I am going to do all I can to help the club.”

Swansea’s American owners, led by Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, are trying to grow the Championship club’s global brand and increase commercial revenue.

Snoop Dogg, 53, who has 89m followers on Instagram and more than 20m on X, helped launch the team’s 2025-26 home shirt last weekend.

More on Snoop Dogg

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The club ownership group said: “To borrow a phrase from Snoop’s back catalogue, this announcement is the next episode for Swansea City as we seek to create new opportunities to boost the club’s reach and profile.”

Luka Modric, who recently signed with AC Milan from Real Madrid, joined Swansea’s ownership group in April.

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Police taking no further action after investigating Kneecap’s Glastonbury show

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Police taking no further action after investigating Kneecap's Glastonbury show

Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.

Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.

However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.

The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.

It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.

Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.

The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).

Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London
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Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA

Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.

They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.

Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.

The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”

“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.

The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.

Read more from Sky News:
Snoop Dogg becomes a co-owner of Swansea FC
American Idol TV executive and husband shot dead

One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.

He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.

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Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin

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Tomorrowland: 'Devastating' blaze destroys main stage at major festival - two days before it was due to begin

A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.

Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.

Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.

fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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The fire gutted the main stage


 fire which destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control

The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.

It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.

Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.

A fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
Image:
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky


The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.

More on Belgium

The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.

Read more from Sky News:
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American Idol executive shot dead

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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.

“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”

Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen who said fire destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival site in Belgium
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Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’

Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.

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