Brian Barnett | Ribnax
@brianbarnett.bsky.social
He/Him
Co-Founder & Editor-at-Large @skyboxcritics.com
SkyboxCritics.com
https://www.patreon.com/skyboxcritics
Writer @ IGN, GameSpot, Kotaku, etc.
Podcaster | Singer | Drummer
http://linktr.ee/ribnax | Inquiries: brian@skyboxcritics.com
Co-Founder & Editor-at-Large @skyboxcritics.com
SkyboxCritics.com
https://www.patreon.com/skyboxcritics
Writer @ IGN, GameSpot, Kotaku, etc.
Podcaster | Singer | Drummer
http://linktr.ee/ribnax | Inquiries: brian@skyboxcritics.com
Pinned
Hey, everyone! I'm Brian Barnett. I am a singer, drummer, songwriter, & video game critic, podcaster, & guide writer
I write for @ign.com, GameSpot, @kotaku.bsky.social, etc, & was full-time on the IGN Wiki team for a bit
Community is incredibly important to me, so I try to build it wherever I can
I write for @ign.com, GameSpot, @kotaku.bsky.social, etc, & was full-time on the IGN Wiki team for a bit
Community is incredibly important to me, so I try to build it wherever I can
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
gooners will goon but i don't think a series that spent the better part of a decade confronting that it Used to be Problematic should suddenly start hiding its history when it gets remade.
Removing God Of War's Sex Minigames In The Remakes Would Be A Big Mistake https://kotaku.com/god-of-war-ps5-remake-trilogy-sex-minigames-censored-2000669769
God Of War Remakes Shouldn’t Remove The Sex Minigames
Sony is bringing the first three God of War games to PS5, but what happens if they remove one of the series’ more controversial elements?
kotaku.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:43 PM
gooners will goon but i don't think a series that spent the better part of a decade confronting that it Used to be Problematic should suddenly start hiding its history when it gets remade.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
the butlerian jihad but it's just the entirety of tech infrastructure collapsing because middle-tier companies also can't afford it anymore so every piece of tech up and down the consumer/business spectrum/chain is unintentionally nuked and we just go "yeah let's never do that again"
February 17, 2026 at 8:24 PM
the butlerian jihad but it's just the entirety of tech infrastructure collapsing because middle-tier companies also can't afford it anymore so every piece of tech up and down the consumer/business spectrum/chain is unintentionally nuked and we just go "yeah let's never do that again"
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
People who immigrate to the U.S. come here to find safety and opportunity and contribute to our communities.
We should be welcomed with dignity, not demonized.
We should be welcomed with dignity, not demonized.
February 17, 2026 at 8:26 PM
People who immigrate to the U.S. come here to find safety and opportunity and contribute to our communities.
We should be welcomed with dignity, not demonized.
We should be welcomed with dignity, not demonized.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
They raided the jailed children to steal their letters.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
They raided the jailed children to steal their letters.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
The problem, in federal officials' minds, wasn't confining children in prison-camp conditions; it was that the children could tell the public about it.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
James Talarico: No one's ever asked me about the cost of housing. The only thing the media wants to ask me about are trans athletes.
The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. We are all focused on the wrong 1%.
The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. We are all focused on the wrong 1%.
February 13, 2026 at 2:45 AM
James Talarico: No one's ever asked me about the cost of housing. The only thing the media wants to ask me about are trans athletes.
The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. We are all focused on the wrong 1%.
The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires. Trans people are 1% of the population. We are all focused on the wrong 1%.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Rev. Jesse Jackson's "I *am* somebody..." remains one of the all-time great pieces of 20th century rhetoric / agitprop
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
February 17, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Rev. Jesse Jackson's "I *am* somebody..." remains one of the all-time great pieces of 20th century rhetoric / agitprop
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
v proud to say our team at All Will Rise has officially signed up to @nogamesforgenocide.com -- in solidarity with BDS we will NOT be publishing our game on Xbox unless and until Microsoft end their complicity in Israel's genocide. You can read more about it and pledge here nogamesforgenocide.com
No Games For Genocide
The games industry is complicit in genocide. It’s time to divest.
nogamesforgenocide.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:36 PM
v proud to say our team at All Will Rise has officially signed up to @nogamesforgenocide.com -- in solidarity with BDS we will NOT be publishing our game on Xbox unless and until Microsoft end their complicity in Israel's genocide. You can read more about it and pledge here nogamesforgenocide.com
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
and no one I know will play any of them, on principal alone
Unity says its AI tech will soon be able to 'prompt full casual games into existence'
Unity says its AI tech will soon be able to 'prompt full casual games into existence'
Company CEO Matt Bromberg claims AI will empower non-coders and seasoned developers alike.
www.gamedeveloper.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:15 PM
and no one I know will play any of them, on principal alone
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
fascism
Posting about ICE on Instagram is now enough to get you an “administrative subpoena.” 👀
@nytimes.com #$META
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
@nytimes.com #$META
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
February 16, 2026 at 3:39 PM
fascism
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 1:51 AM
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
they're very sorry they got caught
February 14, 2026 at 9:42 PM
they're very sorry they got caught
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Cartoon by Nick Anderson
February 13, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Cartoon by Nick Anderson
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Not trying to blow up this spot or the others I have seen make points like this but you can not leave out when talking about this that the firm that is handling this stuff for Discord is part of Palantir.
February 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Not trying to blow up this spot or the others I have seen make points like this but you can not leave out when talking about this that the firm that is handling this stuff for Discord is part of Palantir.
yesssssss
Castlevania 40th Anniversary message www.konami.com/games/castle...
"This is the beginning of numerous new products around Castlevania."
"Look forward to the return of the magnificent “nightmare” lurking in the darkness."
"This is the beginning of numerous new products around Castlevania."
"Look forward to the return of the magnificent “nightmare” lurking in the darkness."
February 13, 2026 at 1:05 AM
yesssssss
my
body
is
ready
body
is
ready
Magik the Queen of Limbo, Wolverine the infamous Weapon X, and Danger the last remnant of Shiar technology, are all coming to Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on PS5 and PC when it launches on Aug. 6, 2026. https://bit.ly/4qA6XXU
February 13, 2026 at 1:02 AM
my
body
is
ready
body
is
ready
If you work in gamedev and need a resource on mock reviews, I write them, and I know MANY other critics who do, too
Hit me up and I can put you in touch with a critic who can help!
❤️
Hit me up and I can put you in touch with a critic who can help!
❤️
"Developers can also become very close to their projects, sometimes making it difficult for them to impartially critique their own work. In these cases, mock reviews and evaluations are able to provide a more 'detached' form of feedback."
www.gamesindustry.biz/mock-reviews...
www.gamesindustry.biz/mock-reviews...
Mock reviews and game evaluations: what are they, and why are they useful for devs?
Mock reviews are a widespread practice within the games industry, yet due to the secretive nature of the work involved,…
www.gamesindustry.biz
February 13, 2026 at 12:30 AM
If you work in gamedev and need a resource on mock reviews, I write them, and I know MANY other critics who do, too
Hit me up and I can put you in touch with a critic who can help!
❤️
Hit me up and I can put you in touch with a critic who can help!
❤️
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
it's so crucial for external consultants to evaluate your game before it releases (if you can afford it). the right team can catch major gameplay flaws, weak story aspects, and much more. i've worked with teams who have saved devs major PR crises. consultants do more than predict metacritic scores.
"Internal feedback on Highguard prior to its reveal "was quite positive," Sobel wrote: There was, apparently, a widespread expectation that the game was a sure-fire hit."
Getting playtests and mock reviews done by external partners can be a really good idea.
Getting playtests and mock reviews done by external partners can be a really good idea.
Laid-off Highguard developer cuts loose on the reaction to the infamous Game Awards reveal trailer: 'We were turned into a joke from minute one'
Former lead technical artist Josh Sobel says false assumptions and ragebait were major contributors to Highguard's failure to connect with players.
www.pcgamer.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:32 PM
it's so crucial for external consultants to evaluate your game before it releases (if you can afford it). the right team can catch major gameplay flaws, weak story aspects, and much more. i've worked with teams who have saved devs major PR crises. consultants do more than predict metacritic scores.
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
"Despite the fantastical Afrofuturistic setting... every artifact I stole currently exists in the real world...
I hated the feeling that this fantasy of stealing back the bones of venerated ancestors would be the closest thing to justice that my extended cultural family would ever get"
I hated the feeling that this fantasy of stealing back the bones of venerated ancestors would be the closest thing to justice that my extended cultural family would ever get"
Relooted Is A Big Black Middle Finger To History Controlled By White People:
Relooted Review: A Thrilling Heist Game Turns Crime Into Justice
Hear me out, what if it doesn’t belong in a museum?
kotaku.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:54 PM
"Despite the fantastical Afrofuturistic setting... every artifact I stole currently exists in the real world...
I hated the feeling that this fantasy of stealing back the bones of venerated ancestors would be the closest thing to justice that my extended cultural family would ever get"
I hated the feeling that this fantasy of stealing back the bones of venerated ancestors would be the closest thing to justice that my extended cultural family would ever get"
Reposted by Brian Barnett | Ribnax
Huh, I'm no political expert but "we don't want punish child rapists because the stock market is doing well" seems like bad optics.
Bondi crashes out over Epstein: "The Dow is over 50,000 dollars! I don't know why you're laughing. You're a great stock trader as I hear, Raskin. The Dow is over 50,000 right now. The S&P at almost 7,000, and the Nasdaq smashing records. That's what we should be talking about."
February 11, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Huh, I'm no political expert but "we don't want punish child rapists because the stock market is doing well" seems like bad optics.