The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences announces the nominees for Game of the Year at the 2016 DICE Awards, which include The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, and more.

While The Game Awards may receive more mainstream attention, arguably the most prestigious awards in the gaming industry are the DICE Awards. Each year, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), comprised of numerous high profile individuals in the gaming industry, bands together to determine the best that video gaming had to offer in the preceding year. With less than a month to go until 2016's DICE Awards, the nominations for various categories have been revealed.

There's quite a few categories to sift through, all of which can be seen on the official DICE Awards Finalists list, but the category that most gamers will be likely interested in is Game of the Year. AIAS has narrowed down 2015's video game offerings to five possible Game of the Year contenders, which are Bloodborne, Fallout 4, Ori and the Blind Forest, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Few would argue that any of the aforementioned games don't at least deserve consideration for Game of the Year. All received great critical acclaim in 2015, and most were commercial successes as well. As to which game will win top prize, it seems likely that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be taking home yet another Game of the Year award come February 18th.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was named Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2015, and has won more Game of the Year awards from various publications than any other game released in 2015. That being said, there's also a distinct possibility that the timed-Xbox exclusive Rise of the Tomb Raider will steal the victory in a surprise upset, as the latter is actually nominated to win in nine different categories, whereas Witcher 3 is nominated in eight.

While it will certainly be interesting to see which game is named Game of the Year, whether it's Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Tomb Raider, or one of the other choices, this year's awards will also feature some other significant events. First of all, it has been announced along with the nominees that Nintendo's former president Satoru Iwata, who tragically passed away last summer, will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the gaming industry.

Other gaming industry icons will be honored at the DICE Awards as well. Perhaps most notable is Hideo Kojima, who will be inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame by his friend and collaborator, Guillermo del Toro. This will mark the first time that del Toro and Kojima have been seen in public together since the various Konami controversies that plagued 2015, and many fans are keeping their fingers crossed that the duo will use the time to announce a new project together.

Between Hideo Kojima's induction into the Hall of Fame and the honoring of Satoru Iwata, the 2016 DICE Awards are shaping up to be one of the most significant ceremonies in the history of the event. All things considered, it will be very interesting to see which game will be named Game of the Year at this historic show.

The 2016 DICE Awards, hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, will take place on February 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Source: PC Gamer