Game Developers Choice Awards to Honor Industry Pioneers Don Daglow and Rebecca Heineman
The 26th annual Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) will recognize Don Daglow with the Lifetime Achievement Award and posthumously honor Rebecca Heineman with the Ambassador Award. The awards celebrate significant contributions to the video game industry.
Don Daglow: A Lifetime of Innovation
Don Daglow, a veteran of the games industry with over 55 years of experience, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. His career began as one of the original Intellivision game programmers at Mattel . Daglow has designed, programmed, and produced over 100 games, pioneering several industry innovations throughout his career. He founded Stormfront Studios in 1988, initially known as Beyond Software.
Rebecca Heineman: A Trailblazing Advocate
Rebecca Heineman, who passed away in November 2025, will be honored with the Ambassador Award. Heineman’s 45-year career encompassed function on over 250 titles, including The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate, Dragon Wars, Wolfenstein 3D, and Doom (3DO) . She founded Contraband Entertainment in 1999, contributing to games like Myth 3, Baldur’s Gate 2, and Icewind Dale. Heineman similarly provided programming expertise for companies such as Electronic Arts, Amazon, and Sony.
The Ambassador Award recognizes individuals who champion positive change within the gaming industry. Heineman was a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and a strong proponent of accessibility and diversity .
Interplay Productions and Early Career
Heineman co-founded Interplay Productions in 1983, alongside Brian Fargo, Jay Patel, and Troy Worrell . She was also the first champion of a national U.S. Video game tournament, winning an Atari 2600 Space Invaders championship in 1980 .
GDC President’s Statement
“Honouring the creators who shaped this industry is one of the great privileges of hosting the Game Developers Choice Awards,” said GDC president Nina Brown . “Don Daglow and Rebecca Heineman helped define what games could become, and their innovations continue to influence how developers create today. As GDC Festival of Gaming transforms alongside a rapidly changing industry, their legacy reminds us that creativity, conviction, and bold experimentation are what move this medium forward.”
The 26th annual Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony will take place on March 12, 2026, during the GDC Festival of Gaming in San Francisco .