Pokémon Company President and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara has been awarded the prestigious Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 15th Annual New York Game Awards, an event that celebrates the luminaries of the video game industry.
Recognized for shaping and sustaining the worldwide phenomenon that is Pokémon, Ishihara appeared in a pre-recorded video acceptance message, reflecting on the franchise's storied legacy and global impact. The Andrew Yoon Legend Award, named in honor of New York Game Critics Circle founder Andrew Yoon, acknowledges industry icons and organizations that have demonstrated significant, sustained contributions to gaming through artistic achievement and innovation.
The roster of previous honorees includes influential names such as Sam Lake, Neil Druckmann, Reggie Fils-Aimé, Phil Spencer, Tim Schafer, Jerry Lawson, Jade Raymond, Richard Garriott, Todd Howard, Ralph Baer, and Hideo Kojima, solidifying the award's stature within the community. In his acceptance remarks, Ishihara recalled his beginnings in the industry as the producer of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green—titles first released in Japan in 1996.
He credited the collaborative efforts of development partners from Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo, along with the ongoing enthusiasm of millions of Pokémon fans around the world, for supporting the franchise through nearly three decades of evolution. "I am deeply honored to receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award," Ishihara stated, thanking the New York Game Critics Circle, the development teams at Game Freak, Creatures, Nintendo, business partners, and the worldwide Pokémon community.
He emphasized that the true winners are "all those who have created, nurtured, and elevated Pokémon to its global standing." Reflecting on the origins of the iconic series, Ishihara shared that Pokémon stemmed from a simple concept proposed by the Game Freak team: allowing players to capture and trade fantastical creatures.
Despite limited resources and a lengthy development process that spanned six years, the team succeeded in establishing core gameplay features—catching, raising, trading, and battling creatures—that have become the backbone of the Pokémon franchise across the Nintendo Switch and prior generations of hardware. Ishihara highlighted the challenges of expanding the game’s appeal beyond Japan, expressing initial uncertainty about Pokémon’s overseas success.
Today, however, Pokémon is celebrated globally through initiatives such as the Pokémon World Championships, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, mobile titles like Pokémon GO, and team battle games like Pokémon UNITE, all popular across platforms including the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch. He further noted that Pokémon has transcended boundaries, uniting fans of all ages and backgrounds through shared experiences, and reaffirmed the series’ universal resonance.
"Pokémon has provided a place for people around the world to connect and grow," Ishihara remarked, expressing ongoing gratitude to those who have contributed to its enduring success. As Pokémon approaches its 30th anniversary, Ishihara reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the Pokémon world for existing fans and new generations alike.
Under his leadership, The Pokémon Company, along with Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo, continues to innovate and bring new experiences to one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. For more on the latest developments in the Nintendo Switch ecosystem, eShop releases, and milestone moments in gaming, stay tuned for updates on Pokémon and The Pokémon Company’s ongoing achievements.
Recognized for shaping and sustaining the worldwide phenomenon that is Pokémon, Ishihara appeared in a pre-recorded video acceptance message, reflecting on the franchise's storied legacy and global impact. The Andrew Yoon Legend Award, named in honor of New York Game Critics Circle founder Andrew Yoon, acknowledges industry icons and organizations that have demonstrated significant, sustained contributions to gaming through artistic achievement and innovation.
The roster of previous honorees includes influential names such as Sam Lake, Neil Druckmann, Reggie Fils-Aimé, Phil Spencer, Tim Schafer, Jerry Lawson, Jade Raymond, Richard Garriott, Todd Howard, Ralph Baer, and Hideo Kojima, solidifying the award's stature within the community. In his acceptance remarks, Ishihara recalled his beginnings in the industry as the producer of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green—titles first released in Japan in 1996.
He credited the collaborative efforts of development partners from Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo, along with the ongoing enthusiasm of millions of Pokémon fans around the world, for supporting the franchise through nearly three decades of evolution. "I am deeply honored to receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award," Ishihara stated, thanking the New York Game Critics Circle, the development teams at Game Freak, Creatures, Nintendo, business partners, and the worldwide Pokémon community.
He emphasized that the true winners are "all those who have created, nurtured, and elevated Pokémon to its global standing." Reflecting on the origins of the iconic series, Ishihara shared that Pokémon stemmed from a simple concept proposed by the Game Freak team: allowing players to capture and trade fantastical creatures.
Despite limited resources and a lengthy development process that spanned six years, the team succeeded in establishing core gameplay features—catching, raising, trading, and battling creatures—that have become the backbone of the Pokémon franchise across the Nintendo Switch and prior generations of hardware. Ishihara highlighted the challenges of expanding the game’s appeal beyond Japan, expressing initial uncertainty about Pokémon’s overseas success.
Today, however, Pokémon is celebrated globally through initiatives such as the Pokémon World Championships, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, mobile titles like Pokémon GO, and team battle games like Pokémon UNITE, all popular across platforms including the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch. He further noted that Pokémon has transcended boundaries, uniting fans of all ages and backgrounds through shared experiences, and reaffirmed the series’ universal resonance.
"Pokémon has provided a place for people around the world to connect and grow," Ishihara remarked, expressing ongoing gratitude to those who have contributed to its enduring success. As Pokémon approaches its 30th anniversary, Ishihara reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the Pokémon world for existing fans and new generations alike.
Under his leadership, The Pokémon Company, along with Game Freak, Creatures, and Nintendo, continues to innovate and bring new experiences to one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. For more on the latest developments in the Nintendo Switch ecosystem, eShop releases, and milestone moments in gaming, stay tuned for updates on Pokémon and The Pokémon Company’s ongoing achievements.
