Develop:Brighton organisers Tandem Events have announced the conference’s first keynote session will be a fireside chat, with Remedy Entertainment’s Sam Lake sharing his insights on storytelling from his decorated career.
Titled ‘Remedy’s Sam Lake: 30 Years of Storytelling’ - the fireside chat will explore Sam’s lengthy and prestigious career in games. From starting out as a writer on Death Rally in 1996 to becoming the multi-award-winning storyteller and one of the Creative Directors of Remedy Entertainment, attendees can look forward to hearing about what inspires Sam today and his creative drive to make a brighter future for the games industry.
Sam Lake has been a key creative force in dreaming up Remedy’s acclaimed catalogue of games: Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and Control. Lake famously even provided the likeness for the title character in the first Max Payne game. His passion lies in deep, layered storytelling and melding together different mediums to create unique interactive experiences.
Sam was the co-director and lead writer of Alan Wake 2, which won over 200 industry awards, including The Game Awards for Game Direction and Narrative. Lake was also a BAFTA nominee for Narrative and Performer in a Supporting Role for Alan Wake 2.
Sam Lake will become the latest the recipient of the Develop Star Award at this year’s Develop:Star Awards on Wednesday 9 July. Previous winners of the award include Bethesda’s Todd Howard, Team17’s Debbie Bestwick and Guerrilla Games. Sports Interactive received the award in 2024.
“I am thrilled and deeply honoured to receive this award, it has been a long journey getting here with many games along the way - I feel happy and proud looking back and I’m very much looking forward to visiting Develop:Brighton in the summer.” Sam Lake, Creative Director, Remedy Entertainment.
“Following an absolutely stellar year for both Sam Lake and Remedy Entertainment, attendees of this year’s conference have a wealth of experience and knowledge to look forward to from Sam’s fireside chat” said Tandem Events Managing Director Andy Lane. “Passionate storytelling will always be an asset to games development, and we look forward to welcoming Sam to Brighton this year – as well as recognising his achievements with the Star Award”
Speakers announced so far include representatives from Sony, ustwo games, FuturLab, Criterion, Frontier Developments, The Chinese Room, Wargaming, Google and d3t. Sessions fall across ten tracks covering every discipline, including brand-new categories for 2025: Games Edu and Performance. The free Indie BootCamp and Roundtables will also return.
Develop:Brighton 2025 takes place this July, with a range of passes available now for the conference and expo. Passes are available at the discounted Super Early Bird rate until Tuesday 9 April and can be booked at www.developconference.com.
The Develop:Brighton 2025 expo will run from Wednesday 9 July, including the Indie Showcase competition and stands from exhibitors spanning the industry. That Wednesday evening will also see the best and brightest of the game developer community celebrated at The Develop:Star Awards.
For the latest information on speaker announcements, the Develop:Star Awards, and all things Develop:Brighton visit www.developconference.com and follow @DevelopConf on Twitter, @developconference.com on Bluesky, or @DevelopConference on Instagram.
--- END ---
About Develop:Brighton conference & expo
Develop:Brighton brings together the entire UK game dev industry to learn from each other, share ideas and experiences, network, and do business in a friendly and inclusive environment. The event also offers high quality conference sessions - from the industries brightest minds and talents - with practical takeaways that allow delegates to ‘skill-up’ and be inspired to make better games.
With a programme shaped to reflect attendees’ feedback this year’s conference will cover all the hot topics for game makers in 2025. The Expo brings together some of the most innovative companies from every sector of games development. Guests can also keep up-to date with the latest dev tools/tech and get hands on with all the games on display.
Develop:Brighton offers three days of insight, inspiration, networking and fun on England’s south coast.
X: @developconf
Bluesky: developconference.com
LinkedIn: DevelopConference
Instagram: DevelopConference
About The Develop:Star Awards
Taking place alongside the conference, the Develop:Star Awards recognise the very best of the game development community. The achievements of developers and success of great games and creativity will be celebrated across 17 categories, plus one ‘Develop Star’ honouring an extraordinary game developer or studio for outstanding achievements and contributions to the industry.
About Sam Lake
Sam Lake is a respected writer and director in the video game industry. He’s been a key creative force in dreaming up Remedy’s acclaimed games, stories and characters, Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and Control. Lake posed in the role of the title character in the first Max Payne game. His passion is deep, layered storytelling and melding together different mediums to create unique interactive experiences.
Lake was the co-director and lead writer of Alan Wake 2 that won over 200 industry awards, including The Game Awards for Game Direction and Narrative. Lake was also a BAFTA nominee for Narrative and Performer in a Supporting Role in Alan Wake 2. In 2023 and 2024 Lake was part of the Variety500 list of the most influential people shaping the global media industry and received The Develop:Star Award for Best Creative Lead and Gamesbeat Visionary Award. He also received the prestigious Andrew Yoon Legend Award at New York Game Awards in January 2025, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the 25th Game Developers Choice Awards at GDC 2025.
