Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences launched its first ceremony in 1998 with two distinct categories for action games. One honored console titles while the other recognized computer releases.
GoldenEye 007 won the console category that year and was developed by Rare while Nintendo published it. Quake II from id Software took the inaugural computer prize under Activision.
Eligibility requires games to follow gameplay from the perspective of the character the player controls. These titles must feature heavy weapons use or involve characters engaged in combat while moving through linear or open environments.
Ubisoft Montreal holds a unique record as the developer with the most nominations and award wins combined. In 2004, that studio achieved an unprecedented feat by winning two different awards for the same year.
A final unification occurred in 2008 when they established the current Action Game of the Year format. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare became the first recipient under this new unified system.
Helldivers 2 emerged as the most recent recipient in 2025 after Arrowhead Game Studios created it. Sony Interactive Entertainment published that title.