VR Awards Categories

VR Hardware of the Year celebrates the best-in-class hardware that has redefined the boundaries of virtual reality technology, providing users with an immersive and intuitive experience.

This accolade is given to companies that have made a notable impact with their innovative features, compatibility, accessibility, and user experience. The judges will carefully evaluate a range of factors, including the design, features, and overall aesthetics of the hardware.

The winning hardware must demonstrate an exceptional level of innovation, providing users with unique and exciting features that push the limits of what is possible in the VR space.

This category is likely to include but is not limited to HMDs, Input Devices, Haptic Products, and Cameras.

VR Game of the Year celebrates the pinnacle of virtual reality gaming, rewarding those who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation. Nominees must bring a unique perspective to the table, elevating the immersive experience far beyond traditional gaming.

Nominees must bring a unique perspective to the table, showcasing originality and ingenuity in both gameplay and design. Judges will carefully evaluate a range of factors, including the innovative features, stunning graphics, and immersive audio that make the game stand out from the crowd.

The winning game must provide a user experience that is both enjoyable and accessible, engaging players with exciting and interactive gameplay that keeps them coming back for more. It must showcase exceptional originality, demonstrating a deep understanding of what makes virtual reality gaming so unique and special.

*Games that incorporate location-based interaction with the physical environment around the user are encouraged to nominate for Location-Based-Entertainment of the Year.

VR Experience of the Year recognizes organizations that have created exceptional virtual reality experiences that go beyond traditional categories like games or films. We seek to celebrate experiences that provide a truly immersive and engaging user experience, with a strong focus on innovative features, stunning graphics, and high-quality audio.

Our judges will evaluate each experience on a variety of factors, including user enjoyability, experience originality, motion comfort, and accessibility. We want to see experiences that push the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual reality while remaining comfortable and accessible for a wide range of users.

Additionally, we will be paying close attention to the user experience and how well the experience is planned and executed. We want to see experiences that transport users to new and exciting worlds while providing an intuitive and enjoyable experience.

*Experiences that incorporate location-based interaction with the physical environment around the user are encouraged to nominate for Location-Based-Entertainment of the Year.

VR Film of the Year recognises the very best in VR filmmaking. Celebrating projects that have used VR to create an unforgettable experience that immerses viewers in new worlds.

A VR film typically places emphasis on storytelling, character development, and narrative structure as opposed to gameplay mechanics.

Submissions for this award must make substantive use of VR technology, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for the viewer. Judges will carefully evaluate a range of factors, including the innovative features, cinematography and production quality, and the originality of the film’s narrative.

*Films that incorporate location-based interaction with the physical environment around the user are encouraged to nominate for VR LBE of the Year instead.

VR Marketing Campaign of the Year celebrates the brands and products that have utilized virtual reality’s unique ability to reach new demographics in increasingly creative ways. Nominees for this award must demonstrate an example of a successful marketing campaign that pushed industry or technological boundaries, identifying an issue or problem and leveraging VR technology to provide an innovative solution.

Judges will evaluate each project based on the creativity, originality of concept, storytelling and messaging, range of platforms, and audience engagement exemplified in the campaign. Additionally, factors such as return on investment (ROI), research undertaken, and key results and statistics will be taken into account.

*This category also encompasses and accepts VR games, films, and experiences that have been created specifically to market a brand, product or service.

Rising VR Company of the Year award celebrates the brightest and most innovative organizations that are driving the virtual reality industry forward through their ambition, determination, and groundbreaking ideas.

This award promotes smaller startups, newcomers and growing companies to the VR industry that have shown promise and potential through their work in the past year. In particular, this award seeks to recognize companies that have demonstrated innovation, providing new and exciting solutions to the challenges of virtual reality.

Judges will evaluate the company’s progression, looking for evidence of exceptional growth, development, and innovation.

Formerly, Innovative VR Company of the Year

Outstanding VR Company of the Year recognises organizations that have paved the way for the constantly evolving landscape of virtual reality. This prestigious award recognizes the milestones and achievements of companies that have made a positive impact and significant contributions to the industry, sector, and marketplace through their innovative first-to-market developments.

Nominees for this award should demonstrate exceptional company progression, showcase milestones and achievements, and provide evidence of exceptional growth, development, and innovation.

Judges are seeking organizations or individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity and innovation in identifying a problem/need, conducting research and planning, and achieving their objectives.

Nominated projects must be original, creative, and immersive, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with VR technology while also prioritizing accessibility. Award recipients should demonstrate an exceptional level of innovation and delivery, highlighting their milestones, achievements, and key results.

VR Enterprise Solution of the Year award recognizes outstanding and practical uses of virtual reality to meet the specific needs of organizations, such as businesses, schools, and governments, as well as broader industries.

Judges will be evaluating projects that have showcased creative and practical uses of virtual reality as an enterprise solution. This should include every aspect of the product or service, from planning and research to the user experience.

Nominated projects should demonstrate an immersive and accessible experience, and detail its scalability and roll-out potential. Key results will also be considered, such as increased efficiency or productivity, improved outcomes, or cost savings.

*Nominated projects can include elements of training but this should not be a core mechanic of the solution. Training solutions are instead encouraged to nominate for VR Education and Training of the Year. Healthcare solutions are encouraged to nominate for VR Healthcare Solution of the Year.

Formerly, VR Education and Training of the Year

VR Education and Training Solution of the Year award recognizes projects that leverage virtual reality for an immersive and effective learning experience.

Nominees should demonstrate how their solution has fulfilled a specific need or gap in knowledge and its effectiveness in enhancing learning outcomes for students or learners. Judges will be looking for innovative and original solutions that provide a high-quality user experience, while also being scalable and accessible.

In addition, nominations should showcase planning and research, including a focus on production quality, user interactivity, and originality.

*Nominated projects can include elements of healthcare but this should not be a core mechanic of the solution. Healthcare solutions are instead encouraged to nominate for VR Healthcare Solution of the Year.

Formerly, VR Healthcare of the Year

VR Healthcare Solution of the Year celebrates the companies that have made significant strides in revolutionizing healthcare through the use of VR. The award recognizes solutions that can demonstrate how their product or service has solved a healthcare issue and provide evidence-based results.

Planning and research are key, as judges are looking for innovative and original solutions that showcase originality, user interactivity, accessibility, and quality production.

In addition, judges will also focus on the product or service’s rollout and scalability, as well as its ease of use and adoption. Innovation is also a critical factor, and nominees must demonstrate their solution’s impact on the healthcare industry through key results and milestones.

*Nominated projects can include elements of training but this should not be a core mechanic of the solution. Training solutions are instead encouraged to nominate for VR Education and Training Solution of the Year.

VR Location-Based Entertainment of the Year celebrates exceptional experiences that transport visitors to new realms of immersion, setting the bar for theme parks, cinemas, attractions, museums, and beyond. Nominated projects must demonstrate the effective use of cutting-edge technology to deliver user control, user movement, and innovative interactivity, with a particular focus on the user experience.

Judges will be assessing the nominees’ capacity to captivate visitors through unique and enjoyable user experiences while prioritizing accessibility and originality. Nominees should showcase how they have researched, designed, and executed an exceptional location-based experience.

The award will also emphasize the originality of each experience and how it has been optimized to meet the demands of location-based environments.

VR Content Creator of the Year honours the most influential VR advocate of the year. This award celebrates individuals who have exhibited an unwavering dedication and passion for true VR innovation while inspiring their audiences and striving to foster growth within the VR community.

Nominees for this award are inspirational and enthusiastic community leaders who consistently produce captivating and thought-provoking content across a range of multimedia-based platforms such as social, video, and audio channels. Their content showcases exceptional originality, creativity, and innovation, as they curate the most engaging and entertaining content to educate, drive forward, and explore the ever-evolving world of VR.

Judging criteria for this award includes audience growth, engagement rates, social media influence, case studies, originality, creativity, innovation, accessibility, dissemination of complex topics, and branding.

Nomination to the VR Content Creator of the Year category is free for all entrants.

*Nominees will be required to submit three pieces of publicly released content released between 01 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 that illustrate the variety and range of topics covered in your channels. These three pieces will be used to judge your submission and can be from a mixture of channels.