Austin Manchester
@manchesterwrites.bsky.social
Plays too many video games. You can read my musings on them here: https://www.polygon.com/authors/austin-manchester
“We just want everyone to think a little bit harder about the ways they listen to music,” Karthikeyan says. “It just flattens culture at its core if we only stick to this algorithmically built comfort zone.”
‘Death to Spotify’: the DIY movement to get artists and fans to quit the music app
‘Death to Spotify’: the DIY movement to get artists and fans to quit the music app
Musicians have long criticized the streaming service’s paltry payouts, but a new wave of boycotts is emerging
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
“We just want everyone to think a little bit harder about the ways they listen to music,” Karthikeyan says. “It just flattens culture at its core if we only stick to this algorithmically built comfort zone.”
And yet... I still don't believe it! Lol
(Perhaps I'm coping)
(Perhaps I'm coping)
It’s official: #MarvelComics is ending the Ultimate Universe. 🔥 Ultimate Endgame kicks off in Dec and wraps in 202: USM #24, UBP #24, UXM #24, Ultimates #24, UW #16. More details:
Marvel confirms the death of the Ultimate Universe (For Real This Time)
The final issues of Marvel’s new ULTIMATE UNIVERSE revealed, including ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #24, ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #24, ULTIMATE X-MEN #24, ULTIMATES #24, and ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #16.
aiptcomics.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM
And yet... I still don't believe it! Lol
(Perhaps I'm coping)
(Perhaps I'm coping)
Reposted by Austin Manchester
My first for Aftermath!! Thx for the great edits @rcmacleod.bsky.social
Playing Is This Seat Taken? feels different when you live in DC
aftermath.site/is-this-seat-t...
aftermath.site/is-this-seat-t...
September 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
My first for Aftermath!! Thx for the great edits @rcmacleod.bsky.social
Reposted by Austin Manchester
📚 New AIPT Tradewatch!
@colinreedmoon.bsky.social spotlights bookshelf gems for 9/8:
✨ DC Finest: Horror – The Devil’s Doorway #DCComics
✨ The Complete Moon Girl @darkhorse.com
✨ Micronauts Epic Collection #MarvelComics
✨ Paying the Land by Joe Sacco #Macmillan
✨ The Lexicon of Comicana
& more:
@colinreedmoon.bsky.social spotlights bookshelf gems for 9/8:
✨ DC Finest: Horror – The Devil’s Doorway #DCComics
✨ The Complete Moon Girl @darkhorse.com
✨ Micronauts Epic Collection #MarvelComics
✨ Paying the Land by Joe Sacco #Macmillan
✨ The Lexicon of Comicana
& more:
Tradewatch: exciting bookshelf editions for the week of 09/08/25
Featuring Moon Girl, Micronauts, DC Horror, and the lingo of comics.
aiptcomics.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
📚 New AIPT Tradewatch!
@colinreedmoon.bsky.social spotlights bookshelf gems for 9/8:
✨ DC Finest: Horror – The Devil’s Doorway #DCComics
✨ The Complete Moon Girl @darkhorse.com
✨ Micronauts Epic Collection #MarvelComics
✨ Paying the Land by Joe Sacco #Macmillan
✨ The Lexicon of Comicana
& more:
@colinreedmoon.bsky.social spotlights bookshelf gems for 9/8:
✨ DC Finest: Horror – The Devil’s Doorway #DCComics
✨ The Complete Moon Girl @darkhorse.com
✨ Micronauts Epic Collection #MarvelComics
✨ Paying the Land by Joe Sacco #Macmillan
✨ The Lexicon of Comicana
& more:
Reposted by Austin Manchester
This would add administrative costs, making rent stabilization much more expensive for the city, while discouraging ppl from seeking better jobs/pay. They'd lose housing before they could afford market rate. We'd have more homelessness! More poverty! More ppl leaving the city! It makes no sense!
Cuomo defends his "Zohran's Law" proposal to means-test vacant rent-stabilized units. It would require people be rent-burdened in order to rent those units.
"The people who have the highest rent burden, they should be prioritized for rent-stabilized units," he says.
"The people who have the highest rent burden, they should be prioritized for rent-stabilized units," he says.
August 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This would add administrative costs, making rent stabilization much more expensive for the city, while discouraging ppl from seeking better jobs/pay. They'd lose housing before they could afford market rate. We'd have more homelessness! More poverty! More ppl leaving the city! It makes no sense!
what are we even doing here
The 2025-26 NBA schedule will have more nationally broadcast games than ever — a reflection of the new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal that kicks in this fall.
Here's how you can watch the 247 games on national TV this season:
Here's how you can watch the 247 games on national TV this season:
August 15, 2025 at 2:07 AM
what are we even doing here
Really happy with how this piece turned out. Any fans of Spiritfarer should check it out!
www.polygon.com/gaming/61599...
www.polygon.com/gaming/61599...
The Spiritfarer team’s next game is all about messed-up families and super cool swords
Thunder Lotus, the team behind Spiritfarer, is pulling from aristocratic history, Celtic mythology, and personal stories for At Fate’s End.
www.polygon.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Really happy with how this piece turned out. Any fans of Spiritfarer should check it out!
www.polygon.com/gaming/61599...
www.polygon.com/gaming/61599...
@jamesgunn.bsky.social what do you have against eyes, my guy
Superman continues James Gunn’s horrifying war against characters’ eyes
Superman continues James Gunn’s horrifying war against characters’ eyes
He knows it squicks us out, and that’s why he keeps coming back for more
www.polygon.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
@jamesgunn.bsky.social what do you have against eyes, my guy
Reposted by Austin Manchester
Maelle remains Clair Obscur’s boss-killing machine, even after being nerfed
Maelle remains Clair Obscur’s boss-killing machine, even after being nerfed
Stendhal still slays, as does plenty of Maelle’s other OP abilities.
www.polygon.com
July 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Maelle remains Clair Obscur’s boss-killing machine, even after being nerfed
Reposted by Austin Manchester
My latest title in the WHO HQ collection! Learn all about Rita Moreno, the first Puerto Rican actress to win an Academy Award for her role in "West Side Story," who voiced Carmen San Diego, and a known political activist for human rights.
#amwriting #whohq #ritamoreno #nonfictionforkids
#amwriting #whohq #ritamoreno #nonfictionforkids
July 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
My latest title in the WHO HQ collection! Learn all about Rita Moreno, the first Puerto Rican actress to win an Academy Award for her role in "West Side Story," who voiced Carmen San Diego, and a known political activist for human rights.
#amwriting #whohq #ritamoreno #nonfictionforkids
#amwriting #whohq #ritamoreno #nonfictionforkids
Reposted by Austin Manchester
A month behind but it’s been one year since the publication of WHO IS BAD BUNNY? To many more fun books to write and more amazing music from el conejo malo.
July 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A month behind but it’s been one year since the publication of WHO IS BAD BUNNY? To many more fun books to write and more amazing music from el conejo malo.
Reposted by Austin Manchester
How Dispatch survived COVID-19 and evolved into a familiar Telltale-like game
How Dispatch survived COVID-19 and evolved into a familiar Telltale-like game
With inspo from an unlikely place: SportsCetner commercials
www.polygon.com
July 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
How Dispatch survived COVID-19 and evolved into a familiar Telltale-like game
Reposted by Austin Manchester
Jeffrey Wright’s Dispatch performance surprised developer AdHoc Studio in the best way
Jeffrey Wright’s Dispatch performance surprised developer AdHoc Studio in the best way
Gotta go fast
www.polygon.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Jeffrey Wright’s Dispatch performance surprised developer AdHoc Studio in the best way
Reposted by Austin Manchester
The Eternal Die team always knew Lost In Random would make a great roguelike
The Eternal Die team always knew Lost In Random would make a great roguelike
‘It was very important to keep the essence of Lost in Random’
www.polygon.com
July 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The Eternal Die team always knew Lost In Random would make a great roguelike
Reposted by Austin Manchester
What really goes into fine-tuning a roguelike, according to Lost in Random: The Eternal Die director
What really goes into fine-tuning a roguelike, according to Lost in Random: The Eternal Die director
‘Sometimes you just have to kill your darlings’
www.polygon.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
What really goes into fine-tuning a roguelike, according to Lost in Random: The Eternal Die director
Reposted by Austin Manchester
The fiscal conservatives in the GOP just added $4 trillion to the deficit to give the wealthiest people on earth a tax cut. The pro-family party just took healthcare away from 17 million Americans to give ICE a bigger budget than Brazil’s military. The single most inhumane bill ever passed.
July 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The fiscal conservatives in the GOP just added $4 trillion to the deficit to give the wealthiest people on earth a tax cut. The pro-family party just took healthcare away from 17 million Americans to give ICE a bigger budget than Brazil’s military. The single most inhumane bill ever passed.
the alters has a great finale...just takes too damn long to get there
The Alters has a fascinating ending, once you trudge through its final act
The Alters has a fascinating ending, once you trudge through its final act
If only Jan Scientist would hurry up!
www.polygon.com
July 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
the alters has a great finale...just takes too damn long to get there
yep, got a text today from the state saying my insurance may be affected 🙃
'beautiful' bill, my ass
'beautiful' bill, my ass
This bill steals from the sick: as many as 20 million Americans could be kicked off of Medicaid, including a million and half New Yorkers.
By the Numbers: The Republican ‘Big Ugly Bill’ Would Have Devastating Impacts on New York Health Care Providers, Patients, Employees and Communities
As the Senate voted to pass the Trump Administration and Washington Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill,” Governor Hochul sounded the alarm about the potential devastating consequences of the Bill on New York...
www.governor.ny.gov
July 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
yep, got a text today from the state saying my insurance may be affected 🙃
'beautiful' bill, my ass
'beautiful' bill, my ass
getting a New York City Department of Corrections ad while watching Andor is a, ah, hm, interesting ad placement, to say the least
June 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
getting a New York City Department of Corrections ad while watching Andor is a, ah, hm, interesting ad placement, to say the least
Reposted by Austin Manchester
Aftermath (at last) has a pitch guide! We're a growing outlet and can only accept so much right now, but we'd love to see stories you think might be right for us. Learn more about what we're looking for and how to pitch here:
aftermath.site/aftermath-free...
aftermath.site/aftermath-free...
June 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Aftermath (at last) has a pitch guide! We're a growing outlet and can only accept so much right now, but we'd love to see stories you think might be right for us. Learn more about what we're looking for and how to pitch here:
aftermath.site/aftermath-free...
aftermath.site/aftermath-free...
Reposted by Austin Manchester
The one-man-army behind a ferocious new Raid-inspired beat-’em-up answers all of our questions
The one-man-army behind a Raid-inspired beat-’em-up answers all of our questions
‘We’re going all-in on violence,’ the developer behind the graphic beat-em-up Acts of Blood told Polygon.
www.polygon.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The one-man-army behind a ferocious new Raid-inspired beat-’em-up answers all of our questions
Reposted by Austin Manchester
The Lonesome Guild champions the power of friendship
The Lonesome Guild champions the power of friendship
Battling our loneliness epidemic one level at a time
www.polygon.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The Lonesome Guild champions the power of friendship
Reposted by Austin Manchester
I can’t stop playing The Alters even though it’s stressing me out
I can’t stop playing The Alters even though it’s stressing me out
The Alters is ostensibly a survival and management sim, but it’s really a test of how well you handle stress.
www.polygon.com
June 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I can’t stop playing The Alters even though it’s stressing me out
Reposted by Austin Manchester
Summer 2025 is being propped up by indie and AA gems
Summer 2025 is being propped up by indie and AA gems
No GTA, no problem — indies and AAs are filling in a summer release schedule that’s missing heavy hitters outside of Mario Kart World.
www.polygon.com
June 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Summer 2025 is being propped up by indie and AA gems