Creative director, writer, world-builder, and cult figure - Sam Lake is always chasing the next evolution in storytelling.

Best known as the mind behind Max Payne, Control, and Alan Wake, Sam continues Season 3 of Culture Canvas in conversation with ARK/8 founder Dimitri van Eetvelde. From reading fantasy novels in Finland to helping define the narrative voice of modern gaming, Sam shares how a single writing gig on Death Rally sparked a lifelong journey - one that’s still unfolding three decades later.

With the critical success of Alan Wake 2, he’s pushing further than ever before. Blending music, film, and metafiction into a deeply layered experience, Sam is once again reshaping the boundaries of what games can be - and laying the groundwork for whatever comes next.