Games for Change Announces 2026 Special Award Winners

Games for Change (G4C) is a New York nonprofit decdicated to the use of games and interactive media to enact positive social change. Every year they sp9tlight game makers and companies who best exemplify the spirit of their mission with the Games for Change Awards. The 2026 winners, including the makers of Journey and Flower, were announced to the press this morning.

“The Special Awards are a chance to step back and recognize the longer arc of someone’s work,” said G4C President Susanna Pollack. “This year’s honorees look nothing alike on paper: a first game, a body of work twenty years deep, and hardware built so more people can play. What they share is that each of them changed who games are for, and I’m glad we can showcase this breadth of work on one stage.”

Vanguard Award – Jenn Panattoni
The G4C Vanguard Award is given each year to an individual who has made notable contributions to the gaming community. Jenn Panattoni is a pioneer of social impact work inside the games industry. She founded the Xbox Social Impact team in 2018,  where she spearheaded campaigns that generated more than $250 million in value for nonprofits worldwide. She now leads her own agency, Aizle Impact, which builds cause partnerships across gaming and entertainment.

Industry Leadership – thatgamecompany
The G4C Industry Leadership Award recognizes companies doing exemplary work at the intersection of games and social impact. For two decades, thatgamecompany has reimagined what games can be, embedding emotion and human connection at their core. Their titles, including Flower, Journey, and Sky: Children of the Light, have shaped how the wider industry thinks about what games can express and the feelings they leave with players.

Giving Award – SpecialEffect
The G4C Giving Award recognizes companies, organizations, and individuals who make significant contributions through community initiatives, fundraising, or donations. Since 2007, the UK-based charity SpecialEffect has helped people with physical disabilities play video games using individually tailored assistive technology solutions, such as eye-control and adapted controllers. Their work has broadened access to gaming worldwide, allowing more people to play in new and inclusive ways.

Look for these honorees to be recognized during the G4C Awards Ceremony on July 21, which will be hosted by actors Anjali Bhimani (Overwatch, Apex Legends, Ms. Marvel) and Osric Chau (Supernatural, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency). Tickets are available until July 5, 2026, with discounts offered for nonprofits, educators, and students.