Summary
Nintendoindustry visionary Don James will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards in 2025. Formerly known as the Interactive Achievement Awards, the event is often referred to as the Academy Awards for video games, with a backronym meaning “Design Innovate Communicate Entertain." The upcoming 28th show will take place on Thursday, July 21, 2025, and will be hosted at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas showcasing theNintendoveteran’s award.
Preceding the upcoming D.I.C.E. Awards’ 28th show, Geoff Keighley’sThe Game Awards 2024 was the biggest one yet, according to fans. The event broke records for its 10th anniversary celebrations, with an astounding procession of new game reveals, including theElden Ring: Nightreignmultiplayer, Naughty Dog’s next titleIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a stunning look atThe Witcher 4, and the announcement of anOkamisequel. The D.I.C.E. Awards are all about recognition of the games, individuals, and teams that make the industry a success, and Nintendo’s James is one of those professionals.
In response to his Lifetime Achievement Award, James noted he was “truly honored” to be the recipient, and acknowledged the gaming industry is brimming with “so many talented and creative people.” James also labeled his career a “wild and fun ride,” and the industry pioneer has earned his place alongside some of the greats, including Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto.Reggie Fils-Aimé has teased an imminent ‘upswing” in the gaming industry, and the former Nintendo of America president is another figure rubbing shoulders with James in the publisher’s hall of fame.
Nintendo Veteran Don James Earns Lifetime Achievement Award at the D.I.C.E. Awards 2025
James joined Nintendo of America in 1981, becoming one of the branch’s first employees, and oversaw several departments as executive vice president. James was paramount in establishing the industry’s ESRB rating system and became a notable figure in the company’s relationship with the Starlight Children’s Foundation. DespiteE3 being officially deadas of 2023, James was an integral part of the expo’s creation back in the 90s, and he’s also served as an Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) board member since 1991.
Nintendo currently has its hands full navigating the hopefully impending announcement of the company’s next-gen console.Details of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller have recently leakedonline, joining several other rumors that discuss the hardware’s improvements, launch title, and release date. Fans are hopingMario Kart 9is announced in tandem with the console, and it’s fair to say Nintendo holds a decent chunk of the games industry spotlight right now.
