Kazuma Hashimoto
@kazuma.bsky.social
critic / consultant / ??? @ ??? x2 ・ award nominated ・ ハーフ ・ queer, he/him, FTM 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ ・ bylines: IGN, Polygon, GamesRadar+, MMORPG, Them, Inverse, Rolling Stone ・ CONTACT: kazuma.h.de@gmail.com ・ posts don't reflect employer, etc. etc.
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Kazuma Hashimoto
@kazuma.bsky.social
· Oct 21
hello! my name is kazuma hashimoto and i'm a critic and features writer. my work can be found on polygon, ign, and siliconera, usually entailing some kind of deep dive into japanese media. i also work as a narrative design consultant and a narrative designer on cool stuff i can't talk about yet.
oh yeah, my intro post. so a lot has changed in the past year. i still work as a critic and features writer. i'm now a part-time editor too. still do narrative design and consultation, but do market analysis to help identify trends and create marketing strategies. 👍 i'm also always open for work
going through re5 design documents and interviews at 1:10AM like a totally normal and well adjusted person
February 12, 2026 at 9:10 AM
going through re5 design documents and interviews at 1:10AM like a totally normal and well adjusted person
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
I don't know if it's really clear, outside of coverage of Mpls and pockets of organizing elsewhere, that hundreds of thousands of people are actively and at every level of society fighting our government as it abducts and imprisons and torments our neighbors.
February 12, 2026 at 1:09 AM
I don't know if it's really clear, outside of coverage of Mpls and pockets of organizing elsewhere, that hundreds of thousands of people are actively and at every level of society fighting our government as it abducts and imprisons and torments our neighbors.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
"we shouldn't have to work for free on a game until it's nearly-done enough to get funding" and "it's the only thing you can really do so you should do it if you want to make games" are both true imo and it's shit but what else is there really to do that isn't just give up
February 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
"we shouldn't have to work for free on a game until it's nearly-done enough to get funding" and "it's the only thing you can really do so you should do it if you want to make games" are both true imo and it's shit but what else is there really to do that isn't just give up
doing some research on streamers and what streamers like theburntpeanut have taught me is that the children yearn for peter griffin and seth macfarlane adjacent comedy at its lowest rung. they yearn for the early-00's without realizing it.
February 12, 2026 at 3:51 AM
doing some research on streamers and what streamers like theburntpeanut have taught me is that the children yearn for peter griffin and seth macfarlane adjacent comedy at its lowest rung. they yearn for the early-00's without realizing it.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
are there any tech and/or culture journalists that are interested in the vtubing and virtual idol space that are located in LA? if so please dm or email me. would love to get in touch concerning an upcoming event.
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
are there any tech and/or culture journalists that are interested in the vtubing and virtual idol space that are located in LA? if so please dm or email me. would love to get in touch concerning an upcoming event.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
it's hard not to think about how 5 or 10 years from now, the shooters (and games writ large) we'll be reverently talking about will still be the same ones we talk about now (DOOM 2016, Titanfall 2, etc) because there is no money going around to make new ones of those happen. we are in purgatory.
February 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM
it's hard not to think about how 5 or 10 years from now, the shooters (and games writ large) we'll be reverently talking about will still be the same ones we talk about now (DOOM 2016, Titanfall 2, etc) because there is no money going around to make new ones of those happen. we are in purgatory.
are there any tech and/or culture journalists that are interested in the vtubing and virtual idol space that are located in LA? if so please dm or email me. would love to get in touch concerning an upcoming event.
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
are there any tech and/or culture journalists that are interested in the vtubing and virtual idol space that are located in LA? if so please dm or email me. would love to get in touch concerning an upcoming event.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Games and stories are imitations of life, ways of playing at life, sometimes ways of learning how to live. Some of the rules may appear both cruel and arbitrary. But if you want to play the game, or live the life, you have to follow them.
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Games and stories are imitations of life, ways of playing at life, sometimes ways of learning how to live. Some of the rules may appear both cruel and arbitrary. But if you want to play the game, or live the life, you have to follow them.
i think it's also worth mentioning that consumer trust has been slowly eroded away over the years re: live service. you saw it happening w/ JP mobile games over the past decade. a game comes out. closes three months later. consumers won't spend on battle passes, micro-transactions, etc.
February 12, 2026 at 12:58 AM
i think it's also worth mentioning that consumer trust has been slowly eroded away over the years re: live service. you saw it happening w/ JP mobile games over the past decade. a game comes out. closes three months later. consumers won't spend on battle passes, micro-transactions, etc.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
booting up some summoner's rift
February 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
booting up some summoner's rift
it's insane to me as someone who watched the live service model grow into what it is today that these kinds of games aren't even given a month to live and potentially grow and gain and audience when something like league or fortnite didn't blow up overnight.
February 11, 2026 at 11:43 PM
it's insane to me as someone who watched the live service model grow into what it is today that these kinds of games aren't even given a month to live and potentially grow and gain and audience when something like league or fortnite didn't blow up overnight.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
I've reached out to Wildlight for more details, but if you work there (or did), my DMs are open and my email is in my bio if you'd like to talk (on or off record).
Highguard developer Wildlight Entertainment has reportedly laid off "most of the team." gameinformer.com/2026/02/11/h...
February 11, 2026 at 11:23 PM
I've reached out to Wildlight for more details, but if you work there (or did), my DMs are open and my email is in my bio if you'd like to talk (on or off record).
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Between streaming, live service, and AI, businesses have just fundamentally forgotten how to make real money in favor of chasing theoretical money. And until business remember simple stuff like, "You can produce a cheap season of TV every year if you want" we're going to keep seeing layoffs.
February 11, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Between streaming, live service, and AI, businesses have just fundamentally forgotten how to make real money in favor of chasing theoretical money. And until business remember simple stuff like, "You can produce a cheap season of TV every year if you want" we're going to keep seeing layoffs.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Pour one out for Y3 Remastered. Yakuza 3 is flawed for sure but there's so much heart in that original game - and the work we were able to do in making Y3R the dad game it always deserved to be is something I will forever be proud of 🥹
(it's also not-so-secretly one of my favorites in the series)
(it's also not-so-secretly one of my favorites in the series)
Last chance to get Yakuza 3 Remastered digital individually
(Steam) Fanatical $16.99 w/ code OMENVIP buff.ly/O1GPEtl #ad
$19.99 US PSN buff.ly/33B5sZL
Xbox buff.ly/JzS3MoQ
3-5 Collection PS4 physical $22 at VGP buff.ly/a1692lp
Y3R will only be available in $130 bundle after tomorrow
(Steam) Fanatical $16.99 w/ code OMENVIP buff.ly/O1GPEtl #ad
$19.99 US PSN buff.ly/33B5sZL
Xbox buff.ly/JzS3MoQ
3-5 Collection PS4 physical $22 at VGP buff.ly/a1692lp
Y3R will only be available in $130 bundle after tomorrow
February 11, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Pour one out for Y3 Remastered. Yakuza 3 is flawed for sure but there's so much heart in that original game - and the work we were able to do in making Y3R the dad game it always deserved to be is something I will forever be proud of 🥹
(it's also not-so-secretly one of my favorites in the series)
(it's also not-so-secretly one of my favorites in the series)
the deeply south western desire to simply get inside of a car and just drive aimlessly for miles
February 11, 2026 at 7:38 AM
the deeply south western desire to simply get inside of a car and just drive aimlessly for miles
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Playing a character action game. 😎
February 11, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Playing a character action game. 😎
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Feeling stressed? Badly draw a horse and then watch your badly drawn horse run with other badly drawn horses 💜
February 11, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Feeling stressed? Badly draw a horse and then watch your badly drawn horse run with other badly drawn horses 💜
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
For anyone interested, Brody King, the big burly dude from that AEW “Fuck ICE” clip last week, is doing another run of his charity shirt. All proceeds go to supporting Minnesota efforts. Get in there if you’re interested, these will probably be gone tomorrow. edgemenstore.com/products/bro...
BRODY KING | Abolish Ice Chain Tee (PRE-ORDER)
Printed on COMFORT COLORSALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE MINNESOTA IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ACTION COMMITTEE THIS IS A PRE-ORDER, PLEASE ALLOW 3-4 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY. ANY OTHER ITEMS ORDERED WITH IT WILL SHIP AT THE...
edgemenstore.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:40 AM
For anyone interested, Brody King, the big burly dude from that AEW “Fuck ICE” clip last week, is doing another run of his charity shirt. All proceeds go to supporting Minnesota efforts. Get in there if you’re interested, these will probably be gone tomorrow. edgemenstore.com/products/bro...
think I might go to a club this Saturday. think I might go to a vampire ball...
February 11, 2026 at 2:49 AM
think I might go to a club this Saturday. think I might go to a vampire ball...
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Can you believe the poors are irresponsibly choosing not to starve to death?
Gen Zers and millennials are swimming in student debt and may never own homes, but they’re splurging on gut-healthy juices and rotisserie chickens.
The Booming Business of Luxury Grocery Stores
A new crop of gourmet grocers has hit the city, drawing lines of trendy TikTokers, MAHA-curious health fiends and Instacart devotees who want to pop in for a treat.
on.wsj.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Can you believe the poors are irresponsibly choosing not to starve to death?
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Just received my Trench Crusade rulebook.
Folks.
It is legitimately one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen outside of museum pieces.
Every other page is a beautifully printed illustration, and there's a section dedicated to painted minis with full artist credits.
It's incredible.
Folks.
It is legitimately one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen outside of museum pieces.
Every other page is a beautifully printed illustration, and there's a section dedicated to painted minis with full artist credits.
It's incredible.
February 10, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Just received my Trench Crusade rulebook.
Folks.
It is legitimately one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen outside of museum pieces.
Every other page is a beautifully printed illustration, and there's a section dedicated to painted minis with full artist credits.
It's incredible.
Folks.
It is legitimately one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen outside of museum pieces.
Every other page is a beautifully printed illustration, and there's a section dedicated to painted minis with full artist credits.
It's incredible.
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Vagrant Story (PS1) (2000)
1/2
1/2
January 14, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Vagrant Story (PS1) (2000)
1/2
1/2
i'm not in this episode since i've been very busy due to work --- ! but @cullenforever.bsky.social was gracious enough to read out my responses to a question about game music and how we should speak about it in crit!
❗NEW EPISODE OF BURNOUT CULTURES❗
Oh this one is spicy. Topics this week include:
Nintendo Partner Direct
Dragon Quest VII, and remake culture
Romeo is a Dead Man (Hayes and Cullen both played it for review!)
open.spotify.com/episode/3mc6...
Oh this one is spicy. Topics this week include:
Nintendo Partner Direct
Dragon Quest VII, and remake culture
Romeo is a Dead Man (Hayes and Cullen both played it for review!)
open.spotify.com/episode/3mc6...
February 10, 2026 at 8:52 PM
i'm not in this episode since i've been very busy due to work --- ! but @cullenforever.bsky.social was gracious enough to read out my responses to a question about game music and how we should speak about it in crit!
Reposted by Kazuma Hashimoto
Jack Duffy attaches a respirator to his bagpipes to play through tear gas. “I always play it whenever the police retreat because it's like, ‘You fucking ran while we stayed,’” he says.
The full story: lataco.com/protest-bagp...
By Julianne Le
The full story: lataco.com/protest-bagp...
By Julianne Le
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Jack Duffy attaches a respirator to his bagpipes to play through tear gas. “I always play it whenever the police retreat because it's like, ‘You fucking ran while we stayed,’” he says.
The full story: lataco.com/protest-bagp...
By Julianne Le
The full story: lataco.com/protest-bagp...
By Julianne Le