The New York Videogame Critics Circle (NYVGCC) gave its own “World Premiere” today with the announcement that Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, will receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 12th annual New York Game Awards.
Known for being the CEO and spokesperson for the Xbox brand, Phil has hosted and been a keynote speaker at major events such as E3, DICE, and The Game Awards. Xbox fans know that when he’s on stage, they are about to be dazzled. With the Andrew Yoon Legend Award, he is being honored for his phenomenal contributions to the video game industry. The award will be presented live during the show at the SVA Theatre on January 17, 2023 and will include a short documentary discussing Spencer’s impact in the industry by NYVGCC members and top industry luminaries.
“Phil Spencer is the exact sort of person you want as an executive of a gaming company,” said Harold Goldberg, president and founder, NYVGCC. “He has consistently shown his commitment to making Xbox the most consumer friendly and diverse platform in the console gaming space. Phil has transformed Xbox into one of the most progressive companies truly pushing the medium forward. He is an exemplary figure that encourages the message that games are for everyone and we are honored to present him with the 2022 Andrew Yoon Legend Award.”
With more than 30 years at Microsoft, Phil Spencer worked his way up from an internship in 1988 to becoming CEO of Microsoft Gaming in 2022. In this role, Spencer is an advocate for player-minded initiatives such as cross-platform play, backward compatibility on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming services, the Xbox Adaptive Controller, re-focusing on PC gaming, and bringing Microsoft published titles to more platforms, like Nintendo Switch.
“Phil and I have been a part of this industry together for many years and I’ve always admired his ability to find new, creative ways to serve gamers,” said Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president, Nintendo of America and board member, NYVGCC. “Phil isn’t just an executive in games, he is a gamer himself and because of that he knows exactly what fans want when it comes to the Xbox brand. I am thrilled to have him join the prestigious ranks of Andrew Yoon Legend Award winners and look forward to celebrating his illustrious career at the New York Game Awards this January.”
The Andrew Yoon Legend Award is presented by the New York Videogame Critics Circle to recognize people and organizations that have 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 Game Critics Circle. Past recipients of the award include Reggie Fils-Aimé, Tim Schafer, Jerry Lawson, Jade Raymond, Richard Garriott, Todd Howard, Rockstar Games, Ralph Baer and Hideo Kojima.
Ticket sales for the NYVGCC Awards will help to fund ongoing programs for 2023, and are on sale today at this link. Tickets cost $40 for General Admission. For $75 attendees will have Orchestra seating (closest to the stage) and be able to attend an afterparty with free wine, beer, and nonalcoholic beverages. Orchestra tickets include a special Meet and Greet opportunity with Phil Spencer before the show. For more information on ticket sales and other NYVGCC programs, please visit the website: https://nygamecritics.com/
The 12th annual New York Game Awards will be held live in-person from the SVA Theatre in Manhattan, NY on January 17, 2023. The show will be co-hosted by NYVGCC board members Harold Goldberg and Reggie Fils-Aimé. Ticket proceeds from the New York Game Awards are donated to the NYVGCC scholarship fund and paid internship opportunities for kids at Bronxworks network of homeless residences, Mott Hall III, TapCo, and the DreamYard Prep School. Through these programs, kids learn essential skills in video game development, journalistic content, and fictional writing like video game narratives.
About New York Videogame Critics Circle
Based in Manhattan, the New York Videogame Critics Circle is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit multicultural organization comprised of 40 of the finest videogame critics, writers, reporters and bloggers in the nation. Members of the NYVGCC give back to their communities by providing scholarships, mentoring and community outreach to NYC schools students. The New York Videogame Critics Circle sees great benefit in advocating for those who are less fortunate.
