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| (Image Source: Women In Games International) |
The Checkpoint Festival, co-hosted by GAMM Game Museum of Rome, CSAI (Centro Sperimentale di Arti Interattive) and Women In Games, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Checkpoint Awards, honouring individuals and organizations whose work has helped define and elevate video games as a vital cultural, artistic, and social force.
Far beyond professional achievement, the Awards celebrate those who have helped define games as a form of cultural expression; a medium capable of inspiring reflection, fostering inclusion, preserving memory, and shaping the creative languages of our time. Each Award reflects the Checkpoint Festival's overarching mission: to affirm the value of video games at every level – from education to preservation, from artistic creation to institutional recognition, and to highlight their essential role as one of the most influential and vital cultural forces of the 21st century. The 2025 Checkpoint Award Winners are:
Nick Poole OBE (Ukie)
Champion of Cultural Recognition and Public Engagement
For his outstanding leadership in strengthening the cultural, educational, and economic recognition of the games industry, and for his lifelong commitment to building bridges between creativity, policy, and public engagement.
Roberto Genovesi (RAI Kids)
Pioneer of Video Game Culture
For being a pioneer in bringing the cultural and artistic value of video games to the public sphere through academia, literature, major cultural events, and public television — long before it became a shared understanding.
Natalia Kovalainen (Embracer Games Archive)
Guardian of Gaming Memory – Women in Games Special Award
For her extraordinary dedication to preserving our interactive heritage through the creation and curation of one of the largest and most valuable video game archives in existence.
Piotr Gnyp (GOG)
Advocate of Accessibility and Preservation
For his pivotal role in ensuring that the legacy of classic games remains alive and accessible, championing a vision of digital preservation that celebrates both freedom and cultural continuity.
Athena Maria Enderstein (Keywords Studios)
Leader of Diversity and Belonging – Women in Games Special Award
For her visionary leadership in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the global games industry, inspiring change and belonging across creative and professional communities worldwide.
Benjamin Rostalski (Foundation for Digital Games Culture)
Ambassador of Recognition and Excellence
For his unwavering commitment to elevating the cultural and creative value of video games through prestigious and authoritative awards such as the gamescom awards, giving the medium the recognition it deserves as one of the most influential art forms of our time.
Dr. Tracy Gardner (Flip Computing)
Empowering Future Creators – Women in Games Special Award
For her inspiring work at the crossroads of technology, education, and inclusion, empowering new generations through open access to creation tools and a shared belief that everyone can build digital worlds.
CSAI and GAMM Game Museum Director Marco Accordi Rickards said, “The Checkpoint Awards pay tribute to the pioneers who continually push the boundaries of what games can represent. Their work demonstrates how games have become a crucial cultural language – one that invites us to reflect, to create, and to remember. We are honoured to recognize these extraordinary individuals whose dedication enriches our shared understanding of this medium.” Women In Games CEO Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman added, “At their best, video games tell stories that welcome everyone. This year’s honourees exemplify leadership, innovation, and an unshakable belief in the power of games to empower individuals and transform society. Their achievements open doors, nurture belonging, and ensure that creative voices from all backgrounds can be heard.”
The Checkpoint Awards were presented during the Checkpoint Festival, hosted at the GAMM Game Museum of Rome and virtually via the Women In Games RingCentral online platform. Held annually, the Checkpoint Festival is dedicated to celebrating video games as a cultural and artistic medium. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops, and the Awards, the Festival facilitates dialogue across creative, educational, institutional, and community-driven spaces – affirming games as a vital cultural force shaping the 21st century.
