The vibes in Arc Raiders' solo queue are so chill. I haven't felt *this* enchanted by a multiplayer game since Classic WoW. Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together. Yes, I was terrified the whole time.

komm susser tod on slap bass gigantic newman lying dead in an ocean of coffee

Where are my Vancouver friends at??? Come say hello!

The way I snorted when I saw this...

Looking forward to @vangamegarden.bsky.social🌱🕹 this weekend and hanging out with fellow independent studios & creators! @bbigames.bsky.social is providing hardware, while @stevenmessner.bsky.social and I will have #AmbrosiaSky🪐 from our friends at @softrains.bsky.social available to play 😀

Did you know that early versions of Shipbreaker looked a lot more like Citizen Sleeper (and vice versa)? Watch this video to learn about the serendipitous similarities between each game and the ways they each explore labor and life under (space) capitalism. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClXa...

In space, no one can hear you scream... for joy! Citizen Sleeper and Hardspace: Shipbreaker are teaming up for the Space Capitalism Steam Bundle! Two awesome sci-fi games, together at a permanent 10% discount! Buy it here: store.steampowered.com/bundle/58811...

My PC has been hard resetting when playing certain games (like Expedition 33) pretty regularly after I got a 5070ti. Thought maybe the card or drivers were the issue but then I looked up when I bought my PSU and that bad boy is now 13 years old. I think it's time for a Viking funeral...

One last plug for @shipbreakergame.bsky.social before I sleep for a thousand years. I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games. Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...

Very exciting day at the office! We acquired full ownership of the Hardspace IP and are working on new Hardspace games! Huzzah!! store.steampowered.com/news/app/116...

Between the FF7 Remake trilogy, the Eva Rebuild series, Gundam GQuuuX, and now Death Stranding 2, I'm discovering that I really like the "Works in direct but understated conversation with the creator's previous stuff" genre.

Got home from a work trip to a surprise birthday party. Cake, balloons, even a present! It is not my birthday. Turns out my 3yo just randomly decided she had to throw me a party and refused to take no for an answer. Also the gift was reusable water balloons... She insisted I'd love them!

Got really worried when this random person messaged me on Chess dot com, only for it to turn into the most wonderful interaction. I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹

WHAT IS @stevenmessner.bsky.social TELLING US HERE !!! had a fun time, thanks everyone!

Made a disastrous parenting error playing chess with my 3yo this morning. I saw a chance to teach her about discovered checks while also taking her bishop. I am an idiot. But I'm at least a proud idiot: While she was sobbing under the sofa she correctly referred to it as her "dark-squared bishop"

Super excited that BBI is supporting this wonderful project as co-development partners. Go check out the demo on Steam and let me know what you think!

I want this to sell no less than 33 times more.

I wrote a tribute to Leif Johnson, a former writer for many gaming publications, and my friend, who died last weekend. The world is poorer without him in it.

I became friends with Leif so early in my career because I emailed him out of the blue randomly asking for advice. He didn't know me at all, but he was so generous with his time. He was a wonderful, brilliant person and we will miss him dearly. RIP, friend... www.after.com/obituaries/j...

Very good fix in today's Stellaris patch notes:

Alert: I'm now Director of Communications & Audiences! Hooray! I'm STOKED for obvious reasons but especially because this role means working more closely with our amazing dev teams, empowering them to make games that players will adore. Lots happening at BBI that I can't wait to talk about SOON™!

There are too many strong games reporters, not enough platforms. Maybe Game File can help? Thus...I'm announcing a plan for freelancers Guaranteed rates plus a cut of new subscriber revenue, so that writers, not just me, benefit if their stories blow up Details: www.gamefile.news/p/game-file-...

I'm getting more sad about getting laid off. My work means so much to me. I'm a really good reporter. I've been getting scoops every single week lately, while also doing in-depth, award-winning reporting. I have good ideas! New email: [email protected] www.polygon.com/23776996/bar...

doom and gloom aside, we just recently committed to publishing even more freelance work as part of our subscriber drive, and we’re (finally) gonna post an actual pitch guide next week. for now, though, hit up [email protected] if you’ve got a cool idea. our rates are pretty good

Really sad to hear the news about Polygon today. Hoping all those very talented folks land *VERY QUICKLY* into new jobs.

Pretty sweet to go see a band you've never even heard before, they end up being one of the best live shows you've ever seen, and walk out being like yah okay I guess this is my new favorite artist. (They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)

The millionaire failson incompetence it takes to buy, squander, and then kill a studio with Monolith’s pedigree — No One Lives Forever, FEAR, Shadow of Mordor — truly spectacular. Another in the infinite line of unwelcome examples that the people in charge of the money offer us nothing of value.

chappell roan

I have such unreal knee-injury PTSD, and a close friend just busted his up at a soccer game. It has sent me into a days-long spiral of invasive knee-breaking thoughts and compulsively babying my own knee. I could book therapy, or, the cheaper option, I could raw dog a 1-hour leg breaking montage?

Canadian hockey fans rn

Relatable. We have great team illustrations done by our art director, yet I've been using this guy that @stevenmessner.bsky.social drew when we played Christmas party Drawful in like 2020 as a Slack avatar ever since. And I hate cigarettes!! He's just that cool.

I kid you not, @itch.io has been taken down by Funko of "Funko Pop" because they use some trash "AI Powered" Brand Protection Software called Brand Shield that created some bogus Phishing report to our registrar, iwantmyname, who ignored our response and just disabled the domain

Only played an hour of Path of Exile 2 but, damn, the combat feels *so* good. I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways. Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...

qud is the best game

In primordial tunnels gnashed by stone teeth, I find it. An artifact. Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose: It is a metal folding chair. --- Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.

Caves of Qud is my goty - and it's not even close. Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike. Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides. And the controller support is sublime!

Best girl time

Weekend project is painting the kids' rooms -- really proud of how this turned out... ...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃

Friday vibes are off the charts

What I wouldn't sacrifice at the altar of any god to make this a reality...

Absolutely surreal that we are 2 days away from STALKER 2. I remember seeing the first one in a PC Gamer eons ago and the rust texture on a gangplank absolutely breaking my brain because it looked so realistic, hahaha

Finally watched The Boy and the Heron last night. I feel like at any point over the next three weeks, no less than 30% of my brain is going to be dedicated to parsing it.

I started in games media on November 8th 2005, 19 years ago today. As I enter my 20th year, I remain convinced: videogames is one word. Thank you.

Putting up our Christmas tree because we made the mistake of telling our 3 year old that Christmas comes after Halloween and she was asking to put it up no less than 20 times a day.

Finished Death Stranding last night for the first time and felt so sad to be done with that world. I know I could keep going just for the sake of it, but the backlog must be whittled. Haven't felt this way about finishing a game in a hot minute, though. Loved (almost) every kilometer of it.

I refuse to believe some of you are out here updating your graphics card drivers on the regular instead of forgetting they exist for 8 months until a game starts crashing and you google it and the first article is like "update your drivers" and you're like oh right okay I guess I can do that

Expected and in many ways totally deserved. The ESA thoroughly mismanaged the event in later years. Buuuuut I'm also sad. Remember growing up reading about E3 in gaming mags and being able to attend myself felt like a huge accomplishment. Pour one out I guess...

My wrapped is severely affected by my desperate need for specific vibes when I'm writing.