Legendary game director Masahiro Sakurai has announced that the Game Designers Award will not return to the Japan Game Awards. Sakurai, who founded the honor in 2010 to celebrate creativity and innovation, stated that he was unable to find a suitable successor to take over the mantle after years of searching.
The final recipient of the award was the indie title Word Game, recognized for its unique puzzle design. During the ceremony, Sakurai stressed the importance of protecting innovation in the gaming industry, warning that a lack of new ideas could lead to its stagnation.