So you’ve just released – or are gearing up to launch – a VR experience for learning or impact. Congratulations! 🎉
Now is no time to celebrate, though. With thousands of VR titles available across Steam, Oculus Store, Viveport, and more, how exactly do you plan on ensuring your game stands out?
Perhaps you’ve already cooked up a killer social media ad campaign, or begun establishing connections with popular game influencers on Twitch or Youtube (all solid ideas!). But today we’re honing in on another great way to create recognition and credibility around your VR experience: winning awards!
Even if you’ve released the best VR experience ever, awards aren’t simply going to appear out of nowhere. You’ve got to be proactive: make an effort to seek these programs out, craft a killer application, and wait patiently to hear back. It’s a lot of work, but we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most renowned VR awards programs around. Good luck – and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a vote!
Entries due: May 20, 2021
Submission fee: £195 + VAT
Details: Celebrating outstanding achievements in VR hardware and software, AIXR’s VR Awards offers 12 distinct submission categories – including “VR Education and Training of the Year” and “VR Healthcare of the Year”. Culminating in a virtual ceremony accessible from browsers, phones, and VR headsets, nominees join the ranks of previous winners including Valve, Walt Disney Animation, and more.
Entries due: May 5, 2021
Submission fee: €50.00 (per category)
Details: Based in Europe but inclusive of entrants from around the globe, the VR NOW Awards was Europe’s first awards program dedicated entirely to XR – and years later, they’re still going strong! Accepting submissions across several categories including “Best Industry VR,” “Best Immersive Cinema,” and more, this year’s winners are set to be announced at a live virtual awards show on June 22, 2021.
Entries due: September 8, 2021
Submission fee: Free!
Details: Dubbed “XR’s Most Essential Conference” by Forbes, the Augmented World Expo’s Auggie Awards program has existed for more than a decade – an eternity in the world of XR! Boasting 15+ awards categories across XR hardware, software, and development tools, winning an Auggie is a huge achievement for developers large and small – and to ensure the program remains accessible to all, there is no fee to submit a project to the program.
Entries due: TBD Early 2022
Submission fee: TBD
Details: The awards component of the annual Serious Play Conference, the Serious Play Awards highlight outstanding EdTech experiences created by both professionals and students alike. VR creators are encouraged to submit projects across all entry categories – from “Corporate/Vocational” experiences, to “K12-Education” games, “Healthcare/Medical” simulations, and more.
Entries due: TBD Early 2022
Submission fee: Free!
Details: Accompanying the annual Games for Change Festival, the G4C Awards honors the year’s best games for social impact and learning – including VR experiences! Featuring a dedicated “Best XR for Change Experience” showcase, other relevant categories include “Best Learning Game,” “Most Significant Impact,” and more. And best of all? Submissions to the G4C Awards are 100% free!
More VR resources from your friends at Filament Games:
Research Roundup: VR for Learning and Training
Designing for the Spectrum of VR Devices
Game-Based Learning and Virtual Reality