Controversial video game Grand Theft Auto V has taken the top honour at the annual Golden Joystick Awards.
The fastest-selling title of all time, GTA V scooped the prestigious gong at the ceremony in central London, while there were also awards for Call Of Duty and the man behind the BioShock franchise.
A key date in the gaming industry’s calendar, the Golden Joystick Awards celebrate the best video-gaming creations of the past 12 months.
Now in its 31st year, the event, which was held at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, saw cult shooter game Call Of Duty pick up a Hall of Fame accolade, while Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us also took home awards for Best Newcomer and Best Storytelling.
Set in the familiar fictional city of San Andreas, GTA V’s open-world freedom and mission-led gameplay have garnered rave reviews from fans worldwide, but critics claim the Rockstar-developed game glorifies violence, torture and crime.
Costing an estimated £170 million to make and market, GTA V’s release last month saw chaotic scenes across the UK as avid fans queued up to get a copy of the fifth instalment of the series.
A 23-year-old man in north London was stabbed and robbed of his copy minutes after it went on sale. Three teenagers have been charged over the incident.
The GTA series has also shifted around 150 million copies since it started in 1997.
The game’s victory at the Golden Joystick Awards, which saw a record 10 million voters for 2013, came as BioShock creator Kevin Levine was recognised for his work with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement award.
Levine also picked up the Best Visual Design award for BioShock Infinite and the innovative creator believes the future is bright for the gaming industry.
He said: “The great thing about the still-maturing nature of video games is you get to be inspired by the work of novices and veterans alike. We’re all figuring out day by day exactly what the medium is capable of.”
Other winners included Payday 2 which scooped Best Multiplayer, while Oculus Rift – a next-generation virtual reality headset – picked up the Innovation of the Year in association with T3 award.
Andy Robinson, editor of Golden Joysticks, said that this year’s awards had proved to be the ‘most thrilling’ ever.
He said: “This year’s Golden Joystick Awards have seen a record-breaking 10 million votes, proving that even after 31 years they’re still the awards that best represent the voice of gamers worldwide. This year’s ceremony has been the most thrilling yet.”
The awards were held in association with Green Man Gaming.
