The Pokémon Company will take center stage to accept the award on behalf of the franchise, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, at the New York Game Awards on Sunday, January 18.
Pokémon is an iconic staple of global popular culture, breaking through to video game and mainstream audiences in the mid-to-late 90s with a unique combination of collectibility, strong and approachable RPG gameplay and unparalleled character design. With $12 billion in global retail sales in 2024, including over 489 million game copies sold since 1996, Pokémon is considered one of the world’s highest-grossing media franchises. Its legend only grows stronger as new generations are drawn to new video games, animated series, movies, The Pokémon Trading Card game, mobile apps and more from the The Pokémon Company.
“How do you articulate the impact of a cultural phenomenon like Pokémon? ‘Legend’ is the only word that comes to mind,” said Harold Goldberg, president and founder, NYVGCC. “For 30 years, the franchise has grown to become the most recognizable game series in the world and is beloved for its unique monster designs that have compelled players young and old to catch ‘em all. It is a tremendous honor to present the company with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at our 15th celebration of the New York Game Awards.”
“The Pokémon Company is without peer, responsible for creating a massive juggernaut of a franchise that has become a landmark title in gaming’s storied history,” said Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president of Nintendo of America and board member, NYVGCC. “I saw firsthand the love and care that went into each Pokémon game I was part of, and how much each new game resonated deeply with the fans. Now, to be there for Pokémon, when it’s being recognized as this year’s winner of the Andrew Yoon Legend Award, it’s a full circle moment that I am ecstatic to be a part of!”
In an exciting addition to this news, two fan-favorite Pokémon will be in attendance for the festivities, courtesy of The Pokémon Company! A limited number of photo opportunities with these iconic brand mascots will be available; more information will be shared soon. Fans should secure their tickets to the 15th Annual New York Game Awards before they’re sold out.
The New York Videogame Critics Circle presents the Andrew Yoon Legend Award to recognize industry icons and organizations that exhibited a significant, sustained body of work demonstrating exceptional artistic achievement and innovation. The award is named for Andrew Yoon, a founding member of the New York Game Critics Circle. Past recipients of the award include Sam Lake, Neil Druckmann, Reggie Fils-Aimé, Phil Spencer, Tim Schafer, Jerry Lawson, Jade Raymond, Richard Garriott, Todd Howard, Ralph Baer and Hideo Kojima.
The 2026 New York Game Awards takes place on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan. The celebration officially kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 17 with the newly added GG Fest, featuring panel discussions from beloved game creators and an exclusive Supergiant Games: Unplugged concert from Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett. Tickets for the GG Fest and NY Game Awards are available to purchase through Eventbrite for $80 each or combined in a bundle package for $140 with preferred seating at the NY Game Awards.
For more information on the NY Game Awards and other NYVGCC programs, please visit the official website.