Okay, so the CEO of Midjiwan, Christian Lövstedt, just dropped a pretty harsh open letter calling out awards shows. Basically, he’s saying they consistently ignore mobile games, and it’s a huge problem. He thinks the whole industry is biased against us mobile gamers, and a lot of people just see mobile gaming as nothing but pay-to-win stuff and cheap games, which he says isn’t fair.
This letter is written after the BAFTA Games Awards 2026 announced its initial longlist. Notably, only one game designed primarily for or exclusively on mobile devices was included as a potential nominee.
‘Real Gaming’
As a big mobile gaming fan, I was really interested to read Lövstedt’s letter. He didn’t hold back at all, basically calling out the major award shows for consistently overlooking mobile games when it comes to recognizing winners. He specifically mentioned the IGN Awards, the GDC Awards, D.I.C.E., and even the BAFTA Games Awards – it’s clear he feels like mobile games are constantly being snubbed!
The D.I.C.E. Awards, known for recognizing excellence in gaming, have only twice nominated a mobile game for their top Game of the Year honor: Angry Birds HD and Pokémon Go. Despite the huge popularity and cultural influence of both games, D.I.C.E. was the only major awards show to give them that recognition.
Even highly-regarded mobile games, such as the RPG Fantasian and puzzle game Grindstone, were only recognized with a nomination for Best Mobile Game of the Year. They weren’t considered for awards in their specific genres, or broader categories like best art style.
It demonstrates that the games industry is biased.
One where mobile is seen as a lesser form of gaming, if it is seen as gaming at all.
So, I’ve been playing this game called The Battle of Polytopia, made by a company called Midjiwan. The creator, Lövstedt, says it’s got the same kind of deep, strategic gameplay you’d find in those big strategy games, but it was originally made for phones. Now it’s awesome because you can play it on consoles and PC too!
He wrote:
The awards and media attention something receives heavily influence what we consider to be culturally or creatively important. By overlooking mobile games and apps, we tell developers, investors, and publishers that it’s not a worthwhile space for innovative or artistic work. This perception then affects who gets hired, where funding goes, and who receives recognition.
If we celebrate innovation, we should celebrate it everywhere.
If we value creativity, we should value it wherever players find it.
Lövstedt cautioned that dismissing mobile gaming, the industry’s biggest and most innovative platform, could seriously harm the gaming community as a whole. He believes overlooking mobile games will ultimately favor a limited and outdated view of what constitutes ‘true’ gaming.
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2025-12-11 19:50