Seamlessly blending interactivity, music, art and of course, entertainment, video games are an exciting component of B.C.’s creative industry. A 2019 statistic from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada stated that the video game industry contributed a total of $4.5 billion to Canada’s economy in that year alone.
As Creative Industry Week recognizes and celebrates the interactive and digital media of British Columbia, now could not be a better time to congratulate and showcase the work of six B.C. studios who received nominations for this year’s Canadian Game Awards. Watch this year’s award show, which took place on April 9th, 2021, here.
Take a look at this year’s nominated studios and games:
Hardspace: Shipbreaker
WINNER: Best Game Design, Fan’s Choice Award
Developer: Blackbird Interactive
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Release date: 2020-06-16
Nominations: Best Audio Design, Best Game Design, Best Score/Soundtrack, Fan’s Choice Award, Game of the Year, Best PC Game
Developed by Blackbird Interactive, Hardspace Shipbreaker is a futuristic sandbox-style game situated in space. The game allows players to explore and dismantle abandoned spacecraft in search of useful materials and have the opportunity to reach far out into the universe.
Gears Tactics
Developer: The Coalition
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release date: 2020-04-28
Nominations: Best Game Design, Studio of the Year
An action-packed and fast-paced turned-based strategy game, Gears Tactics, gets players commanding squads of human soldiers to eliminate enemies. With customizable teams, massive bosses, and frequent new content — this game is sure to satisfy the gamer looking for action.
Dauntless
Developer: Phoenix Labs
Publisher: Epic Games
Release date: 2020-12-03
Nominations: Best Audio Design, Studio of the Year
Dauntless, developed by Pheonix Labs is a massively multiplayer online action RPG (MMORPG). With over 25 million players worldwide, the game brings players to band together to battle ferocious Behemoths that threaten their world. They forge their legends in a vibrant, science-fantasy world that’s ever-evolving through regular content and game updates.
Archer: Danger Phone
Publisher: East Side Games
Developer: Truly Social Games
Release date: 2020-08-17
Nominations: Best Mobile Game
Based on the Emmy Award-winning animated series from FX, Archer, this mobile, narrative-driven idle game puts fans and players in their own dysfunctional espionage agency. Working in collaboration with FX Networks, 20th Century Studios Games, and Truly Social Games, this game will be perfect for fans of the show and anyone with a mobile device.
Marvel Realm of Champions
Developer + Developer: Kabam
Release date: 2020-12-16
Nominations: Mobile Handheld Game
For all the marvel and superhero fans out there, Marvel Realm of Champions is an epic high-action multiplayer mobile game with real-time action-RPG brawling. This game has options to customize your favourite Marvel Champions, weapons and gear, lets you team up with your network of friends in real-time, and offers frequent new content.
Industries of Titans
An innovative sim/strategy game, Industries of Titan invites the player to a world they can control on their own. Create a sprawling industrial city, compete with the other Corporations for resources, territory, and power, do battle with ships, technology, influence, or the sheer productive power of your factories, and stake your claim to the Industries of Titan.
Discover more exciting made-in B.C. video games here!
To celebrate Creative Industries Week, join us for the BC Creates Virtually: Growing Forward in 2021 Showcase on Thursday, April 15th at 12:00pm PST, where we see how #BCCreates! Visit this page for the showcase
Robin Shaw 
