Summary
Neil Druckmann has been selected as the 13th recipient of the Andrew Yoon Legend Award for theNew York Game Awards, which is set to air on June 16, 2025. Druckmann, thecreative director behindThe Last of Us Part 1andPart 2, joins a recognizable list of video game creators, designers, and business people who have greatly contributed to the gaming industry and beyond. The award show is being hosted by the New York Videogame Critics Circle.
The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) is a non-profit organization that operates out in Manhattan. It’s comprised of bloggers, critics, reporters, and writers who provide tools for its gaming community while also recognizing influential names in the industry. This is presented with the organization’s very ownNew York Game Awards, a presentation that honors individuals who have displayed impactful works of art in video games while showing “exceptional artistic achievement and innovation.” For the awards' 13th annual event, the New York Videogame Critics Circle will present its Andrew Yoon Legend Award to a new recipient who’s made an impact not only in the gaming industry but in media in general.
On Jun 15, 2025, the NYVGCC will honor Neil Druckmann with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award for the 13th annual New York Game Awards in Manhattan. In ablog post from the NYVGCC, Druckmann was selected for his two-decade-long contribution to video game design, highlighting his work in theUnchartedseries and theLast of Usfranchise.
The NYVGCC acknowledgesDruckmann’s story from being an intern at Naughty Dogto eventually becoming co-president. “Neil Druckmann’s story is an inspirational one of self-determinism,” wrote Harold Goldberg, president and founder of the NYVGCC. “His brilliant work has been lauded with multiple New York Game Awards over the year, and we are honored to recognize him as this year’s Andrew Yoon Legend Award winner.”
Druckmann is the 13th recipient of the Andrew Yoon Award, joining a list of 12 other individuals who have greatly influenced the video game industry. Other recipients of the award include Todd Howard (The Elder Scrolls,Fallout), Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid,Death Stranding), Phil Spencer (CEO of Microsoft Gaming), Jerry Lawson (theFather of the Video Game Cartridge), and more. The award is named after Andrew Yoon, a founding member of the NYVGCC who unfortunately passed away in 2015.
The 2024 New York Game Awards is set to take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan. Tickets are available for purchase through Eventbrite, and the tickets come in three different tiers: General Admission, VIP, and VIP + After Party. Neil Druckmann will attend the event in-person to receive the 2024 Andrew Yoon Legend Award.
The Last of Us
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey. Includes the complete The Last of Us single-player story and celebrated prequel chapter, Left Behind, which explores the events that changed the lives of Ellie and her best friend Riley forever.
