Throughout his career as a writer and creative director with Remedy Entertainment, Sam Lake has played a huge role in delivering some of the most beloved video game franchises, from Max Payne in 2001 to the monumental Alan Wake sequel in 2023. He is a true visionary whose work continues to pave the way for narrative-focused game design and visually striking universes.
“What an honor it is to celebrate someone of Sam Lake’s caliber during the 14th annual New York Game Awards,” said Harold Goldberg, president and co-founder, NYVGCC. “You know a Remedy game when you see it, largely due to Sam Lake’s impact on the worlds he creates. It’s really cool to see how his 20-year career at Remedy has touched so many of our members and interns at the Circle, and we are thrilled to have him join the roster of esteemed game changers previously recognized with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award.”
“It’s not often that you see a video game studio deliver a superb sequel to a title a decade later, but it’s even rarer to see how it resonates with fans and spawns a whole connected universe comprised of its past franchises,” said Ryan O’Callaghan, executive director, NYVGCC. “I don’t think anyone expects anything less from someone like Sam Lake. He spoke with some of our students and interns a few weeks ago, and it was insightful to see where he draws his inspiration and the care that goes into crafting a video game. This will be a year to remember at the New York Game Awards.”
The New York Videogame Critics Circle presents the Andrew Yoon Legend Award to recognize people and organizations that exhibited a significant, sustained body of work that shows exceptional artistic achievement and innovation. The award is named for Andrew Yoon, a founding member of the New York Videogame Critics Circle. Past award recipients include Neil Druckmann, Reggie Fils-Aimé, Phil Spencer, Tim Schafer, Jerry Lawson, Jade Raymond, Hideo Kojima and other industry veterans.
The 2025 New York Game Awards will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan. Tickets are available for purchase through Eventbrite with two options: $80 for reserved seats and $100 for access to the awards afterparty with free drinks. Proceeds from ticket sales help fund ongoing educational programs provided by NYVGCC for 2025.