Game Dev Heroes is expanding to the Benelux region for the first time. The UK-based awards programme, which recognises the often-overlooked people behind games studios, is launching a dedicated Game Dev Heroes Benelux edition in Rotterdam on 2 June 2026, running alongside INDIGO 2026.
Nominations are now open for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, with submissions closing on 24 April 2026.
What Game Dev Heroes Benelux recognises
The awards cover individual achievement in game development, leadership, business development, and positive industry culture. Categories will span technical disciplines as well as recognition for those making an impact through leadership and community contributions. Winners will be selected by a judging panel of developers and industry professionals from the Benelux region.
The original Game Dev Heroes was founded in the UK by Alex Boucher MBE and Ian Goodall, Managing Director of Games Jobs Direct. The programme was built to spotlight people whose contributions rarely make headlines: producers, community managers, educators, and others whose work supports studios behind the scenes. Since its UK launch, Game Dev Heroes has built a reputation for recognising careers that go otherwise uncelebrated.
Boucher said: “Game Dev Heroes has always been about recognising the people who make an extraordinary difference, often without fanfare. Expanding into Benelux feels like a natural next step. It’s a region packed with talent, innovation and community spirit, and we’re excited to celebrate the individuals helping to shape it every day.”
Control Magazine as regional partner
The Benelux edition is delivered by Analog Events in partnership with Control Magazine, a long-running developer publication covering the games industry across the Netherlands and Belgium. The partnership gives the awards regional editorial credibility and direct access to the Benelux developer community.
Alessandra Van Otterlo, owner of Control Magazine, said: “By partnering with Control Magazine and launching alongside INDIGO 2026, we have a fantastic opportunity to create something meaningful for the Benelux games community, something that feels both celebratory and rooted in the region itself.”
Game Dev Heroes Benelux at INDIGO 2026
Hosting the ceremony at INDIGO 2026 gives the inaugural edition a built-in audience of active professionals. INDIGO is an annual Dutch indie games festival held in Rotterdam that draws developers, publishers, and press from across Europe. It runs each June and sits alongside the broader Dutch Game Garden network, which supports indie developers in the Netherlands.
Belgium’s games sector, which includes Larian Studios, developer of Baldur’s Gate 3, sits alongside a range of Dutch independent developers active across multiple platforms. The awards aim to recognise talent from both countries, as well as Luxembourg.
How to submit a nomination
Nominations for Game Dev Heroes Benelux are open now via the official website. The deadline is 24 April 2026. The awards are open to professionals working in game development, leadership, and business roles across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.