My latest for startmenu is a preview! Imprinted is a creative take on the os-simulator “horror” genre, focusing on audio as the main vehicle for its mysterious narrative.

@mushwrites.bsky.social takes an early look at Imprinted, in which the player takes on the role of an audio engineer tasked with unraveling an eerie mystery.

Welcome to the second edition of Portugal Makes Games? - RTP Arena spoke to @eirasantunes.com - Loading Studios got a cultural prize for their upcoming game based on “Os Lusíadas” by Camões - A funny story about Ricardo Cesteiro at @camel101.com open.substack.com/pub/buttonmu...

If you are able to help support our site migration that would be amazing! I am very bad at asking for help but right now, @butwhytho.net needs it. We have to get set up on a new host, work with a dev, and our old host still has not refunded us the $3k they took. Anything helps!

@stopcar.ing returns to Off-Peak City and reminisces about luck in her impressions of Cosmo D’s Moves of the Diamond Hand.

Welcome to the second edition of Portugal Makes Games? - RTP Arena spoke to @eirasantunes.com - Loading Studios got a cultural prize for their upcoming game based on “Os Lusíadas” by Camões - A funny story about Ricardo Cesteiro at @camel101.com open.substack.com/pub/buttonmu...

You can wishlist the game here, if you want to help the devs out: store.steampowered.com/app/2288520/...

BAFTA pulling a trailer for an autobiographical game about surviving sexual assault only hours before it was said to be a part of a showcase is an exceptionally bad look.

We are partnering with the ONF–Acting for the Forest program to bring back Mountain elms to the Oisans forest in the Alps! In Cairn, Kami’s slopes are lush with life, and so should the Ecrins mountain ridge 🗻 youtu.be/SLpf-atLfIg

Despite a runtime of over five hours, Jeff Kaplan’s tell-all interview with Lex Fridman did not include any line of questioning regarding Blizzard’s largest-ever scandal that broke just months after the creative director and vice president left the company. @mushwrites.bsky.social digs deeper.

Deleted Saves #2 - Spring 2026 is now live! @aeneas-nin.bsky.social finds dark depths in Legend of the River King. @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social reviews Kazuma Kiryu's too long tenure. @lesbiankakyoin.bsky.social brings a double dose of NieR and 100 Line analysis www.deletedsaves.com/deleted-save...

IMO @startmenu.bsky.social is doing some really cool shit considering our size and budget.

I am really thankful to @kellymerka.bsky.social and @lexluddy.xyz for letting newer writers like me publish works like these on startmenu. An extra thank you goes to Lexi for the invaluable edits to my original (messy) draft.

I've been playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC for the first time over the past few days and it has been bittersweet. I am thoroughly enjoying my time with the game, but I can't help but fear for the future of Nixxes given the recent closure of Bluepoint. open.substack.com/pub/buttonmu...

i had a lovely time playing and reviewing dosa divas! a hell of a lot of heart, but a slight bitter aftertaste thank you for reading 💜

Angel Engine solidly executes upon an interesting premise, but it is based on a web series that was made using generative AI. @brandoncraw.bsky.social grapples with a quandary: if the source material used AI, but the game itself does not, is it corrupted by association?

Big interview today with the head of Rebel Wolves, the studio behind The Blood of the Dawnwalker. That's the game from The Witcher devs that has around 1m wishlists.

With Disney and Epic potentially teaming up for an extraction shooter, it sure was nice to have the Triple-I Initiative full of cool little indie games to balance things out. All this and more in @lesbiankakyoin.bsky.social's latest Update Patch.

ICYMI

Here is the first edition of my newsletter covering the Portuguese videogame industry, featuring @astralshiftpro.com , @studioellipsis.bsky.social and Codfish Academy. Portugal Makes Games? Yes!

Here is the first edition of my newsletter covering the Portuguese videogame industry, featuring @astralshiftpro.com , @studioellipsis.bsky.social and Codfish Academy. Portugal Makes Games? Yes!

Had a fantastic time talking to @remysiu.com about Prove You're Human which then turned into a ramble about video codecs??? One minute you're talking about "Semiotic Angst" and another you're ranting about h.264 and other bullshit. I love video games.

Great write-up from @andybrown202.bsky.social on the joys of the GTA alternative.

Great quotes here about how @hazelightgames.bsky.social's Josef Fares inspired Imprinted and came to the lead developer in a dream telling him to make the game 🫨

This week's Update Patch comes courtesy of @lesbiankakyoin.bsky.social and includes news on the future of Shinji Mikami's new studio and the future of Epic Games.

A feature about games on SBS News? It’s more likely than you think. www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

Planet of Lana II builds on its predecessor’s strong foundation, but retains some of the original game’s issues. @alexgreen9898.bsky.social reviews.

Balatro. Clover Pit. Raccoin. Gambling-themed roguelikes have been helping indie devs hit the jackpot in recent years. But what does the blurring line between gaming and gambling say about modern game design? We asked a bunch of experts, including the developer who arguably started the whole trend.

nova roma is a neat, but also fairly limited city builder that has two things going for it: it looks cute as hell, and the water/aqueduct system is very cool

The only joke is the one on you for not picking this up, fool.

Portugal Makes Games?! A newsletter coming soon.. open.substack.com/pub/buttonmu...

I think I genuinely forgot to announce that I've been the Gaming Editor of the UK's biggest technology website for more than seven months now. You can find my contact email for article pitches or press releases on my author page, or reach out via DMs to chat!

The Games for Change London schedule was announced this morning and we've got some pretty big names coming along to talk about channelling game community power to Do Good in the world. Full deets in this week's VGIM: www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/games-for-...

the only thing worse than waiting on an email is waiting on multiple emails

It's April and that means another thread with freelance and full-time tech, gaming and culture journalism jobs! [crowd goes wild] ✨ Please repost or tag a friend 💛

NEW: During a recent capital markets briefing, Arc Raiders publisher Nexon explained how it's betting big on AI and revealed newly-appointed chairman Patrick Soderlund will oversee a company reset that will result in project cancellations. "Fewer bets" with "more conviction" is the new mantra.

click here for *what*

Hard to ignore the irony of Wanderstop being nominated for an “Award for Mental Health” when the studio behind it is now closing. Just a sad state of the industry. Glad their work is being recognized, though, and hope it serves as some sort of consolation.

youtu.be/kc62MvYcPp8 Made in Portugal, by the way! Beyond excited for this.

Excited to finally be able to talk about the Canadian Game Awards nominees! It's been an honour to help shortlist some of the finest games Canadian folks released last year. Congratulations to all the nominees! 🇨🇦🎮

If you can afford some time/money today, read up on these charities which support trans people, and consider donating to one of them. Our trans pals are constantly up against it 🏳️‍⚧️ UK goodlawproject.org/resource/sup... US www.them.us/story/orgs-f... World www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/trust...

The final Update Patch of March sees @lsmewtwo.bsky.social round up Crimson Desert's AI controversy, rising prices across the industry, and Epic's huge layoffs.

Here is a short piece on videogame sizes and how bigger isn’t always better. substack.com/home/post/p-...

“Hannun, however, rejects the idea that any sports washing happening in Saudi Arabia is internationally focused, instead suggesting that it’s more about placating the domestic population. “ They hired “fans ” to the EWC and edited out a segment of their Prime documentary about a gay esports exec.

New Stop Caring essay is live. @dietdeitz.bsky.social joins the site to write about Consume Me, Wii Fit, fast food, diet culture, and eating disorders. A really poignant personal essay that weaves in a potent critical analysis of Consume Me. www.stopcar.ing/a-consumer-c...

My Next Fest overview is now open to everyone! ft. surprise Jenny Holzer and a lot of house decorating games

Inspired by the two great Ashleys, @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social and @ashleybardhan.bsky.social, I spilled my guts into Google Docs ( I don't have a blog set up yet). What Remains Of Edith Finch? Everything. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

BUY ME ALIEN DEATHSTORM OR GO TO HELL!

i wrote about my rainbow pencil and getting back into art

I am loving this new era of Rebellion. Atomfall was janky and flawed, but a great time regardless. youtu.be/7DlVXpef_xY