Mike Bithell
@mikebithell.bsky.social
Director of video games. Most recently TRON: Catalyst, previously Thomas Was Alone, Subsurface Circular etc etc
Nic’s been doing some great polish on this recently, ger’ it wishlisted
February 9, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Nic’s been doing some great polish on this recently, ger’ it wishlisted
This moment is providing creatives with a valuable, renewable energy source: spite.
The point of the AI project is to provoke despair in creative people. They haven’t produced profits or anything anyone wants, just a steady stream of articles about how us artistic types can’t do the thing we’re already doing, making art. Jokes on them, we’re even better at despair than they are.
February 8, 2026 at 8:05 PM
This moment is providing creatives with a valuable, renewable energy source: spite.
The QAA podcast deep dive on this phenomenon was fascinating. Especially as someone who spends a lot of time in the part of London being demonised by these morons / charlatans
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM
The QAA podcast deep dive on this phenomenon was fascinating. Especially as someone who spends a lot of time in the part of London being demonised by these morons / charlatans
Reposted by Mike Bithell
This tracks with my experience. Shockingly easy transition if that’s what’s holding you back.
TL;DR Unity -> Godot transition: after 13 years in unity, it took me 4-6 weeks of getting adjusted, and now i’ll never go back. it has quirks, like other engines. there’s bugs. but it’s free, basically equally capable, and well reported issues get fixed quicker than in unity (sometimes within hours)
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 AM
This tracks with my experience. Shockingly easy transition if that’s what’s holding you back.
Damn, Starfleet Academy, damn (the most recent episode, which I will not be spoiling, but damn, beautiful)
February 7, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Damn, Starfleet Academy, damn (the most recent episode, which I will not be spoiling, but damn, beautiful)
At the Barbican. @kezdyer.bsky.social just bought me a cement model of the car park as a valentine’s gift.
Find a wife who truly sees into your soul, my fellow hetero lads.
Find a wife who truly sees into your soul, my fellow hetero lads.
February 7, 2026 at 12:39 PM
At the Barbican. @kezdyer.bsky.social just bought me a cement model of the car park as a valentine’s gift.
Find a wife who truly sees into your soul, my fellow hetero lads.
Find a wife who truly sees into your soul, my fellow hetero lads.
This is a pretty good example why, even outside of creative, if I find out your business uses AI at any point in your workflow, I lose 90% confidence.
It’s not an ethical concern, it’s a competency one. I assume you’re an idiot if you think these things can work reliably in any critical role.
It’s not an ethical concern, it’s a competency one. I assume you’re an idiot if you think these things can work reliably in any critical role.
I don’t want to laugh at a small business but also VERY funny
February 7, 2026 at 10:12 AM
This is a pretty good example why, even outside of creative, if I find out your business uses AI at any point in your workflow, I lose 90% confidence.
It’s not an ethical concern, it’s a competency one. I assume you’re an idiot if you think these things can work reliably in any critical role.
It’s not an ethical concern, it’s a competency one. I assume you’re an idiot if you think these things can work reliably in any critical role.
I still wince whenever I remember getting a note from a localiser which said ‘these two characters are referred to as men, but are later referred to as married to each other. Please explain’
The proofreader's "query" (which thankfully did not go to the authors) read, "Let's identify Cameron as 'he' for consistency with how the other stories use pronouns." 😑
February 5, 2026 at 11:00 PM
I still wince whenever I remember getting a note from a localiser which said ‘these two characters are referred to as men, but are later referred to as married to each other. Please explain’
Shook @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s hand earlier and I regret to inform you I’ve been utterly radicalised.
*takes out recycling, nods politely to neighbour.
*takes out recycling, nods politely to neighbour.
February 5, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Shook @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s hand earlier and I regret to inform you I’ve been utterly radicalised.
*takes out recycling, nods politely to neighbour.
*takes out recycling, nods politely to neighbour.
Reposted by Mike Bithell
We've done a new game! If you like one or more of:
* Tower defence
* Scottish Space Dwarves
* Retro vibes
You should check this out right now!
* Tower defence
* Scottish Space Dwarves
* Retro vibes
You should check this out right now!
We're reuniting with @ant-workshop.com to bring you Into the Slimy Mines, a tower defense roguelike with a card twist!
You can expect...
⚒️Intergalactic Mining Dwarves
🦠Hundreds and thousands of Slimes
⚒️Did we mention the Intergalactic Mining DWARVES?
youtu.be/9MPBCESan6Q
You can expect...
⚒️Intergalactic Mining Dwarves
🦠Hundreds and thousands of Slimes
⚒️Did we mention the Intergalactic Mining DWARVES?
youtu.be/9MPBCESan6Q
Into the Slimy Mines - Official Reveal Trailer
YouTube video by Wales Interactive
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 2:02 PM
We've done a new game! If you like one or more of:
* Tower defence
* Scottish Space Dwarves
* Retro vibes
You should check this out right now!
* Tower defence
* Scottish Space Dwarves
* Retro vibes
You should check this out right now!
I know this is a profoundly unoriginal take, but this is why Shakespeare is still awesome: the times change, but people don’t. When performed, rather than read, his work is a portal demonstrating the unity of humanity across time and space. There is comfort and tragedy in that reality.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:55 PM
I know this is a profoundly unoriginal take, but this is why Shakespeare is still awesome: the times change, but people don’t. When performed, rather than read, his work is a portal demonstrating the unity of humanity across time and space. There is comfort and tragedy in that reality.
My in depth industry analysis is that I met Josh D’Amaro in a corridor once and he was very friendly / supportive of our nonsense.
February 4, 2026 at 2:07 PM
My in depth industry analysis is that I met Josh D’Amaro in a corridor once and he was very friendly / supportive of our nonsense.
Remembering the massive interest among billionaires in edutainment game pitches from indies in 2013 and wincing.
The Epstein files reveal what powerful people see in video games: profit, coercion, and control
aftermath.site/jeffrey-epstei...
aftermath.site/jeffrey-epstei...
February 3, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Remembering the massive interest among billionaires in edutainment game pitches from indies in 2013 and wincing.
Reposted by Mike Bithell
sometimes i think about that thing a disco elysium dev said in response to someone asking why choosing fascist options lowers your morale. that being a fascist is miserable, since it requires you to believe that you are being dominated by the weak and unworthy in everything you do.
February 3, 2026 at 6:41 PM
sometimes i think about that thing a disco elysium dev said in response to someone asking why choosing fascist options lowers your morale. that being a fascist is miserable, since it requires you to believe that you are being dominated by the weak and unworthy in everything you do.
Reposted by Mike Bithell
Finally! My book Super Nintendo is out TODAY in the US + Canada. Here's where to buy it: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753986...
"MacDonald is one of the best games journalists... Here is a book bursting with love. Bop your head against it and see if a shower of gold coins comes out." -The Times
"MacDonald is one of the best games journalists... Here is a book bursting with love. Bop your head against it and see if a shower of gold coins comes out." -The Times
February 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Finally! My book Super Nintendo is out TODAY in the US + Canada. Here's where to buy it: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753986...
"MacDonald is one of the best games journalists... Here is a book bursting with love. Bop your head against it and see if a shower of gold coins comes out." -The Times
"MacDonald is one of the best games journalists... Here is a book bursting with love. Bop your head against it and see if a shower of gold coins comes out." -The Times
It’s a small thing, but I like that nu-trek doesn’t anglicise Klingon words.
February 2, 2026 at 9:23 PM
It’s a small thing, but I like that nu-trek doesn’t anglicise Klingon words.
Reposted by Mike Bithell
Thrilled to announce that Slay the Princess has officially surpassed one million units sold!
When we started work on it, we couldn't imagine a visual novel would be able to hit such a milestone let alone being backed by critical acclaim. And yet, here we are. We couldn't have done this without you.
When we started work on it, we couldn't imagine a visual novel would be able to hit such a milestone let alone being backed by critical acclaim. And yet, here we are. We couldn't have done this without you.
February 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Thrilled to announce that Slay the Princess has officially surpassed one million units sold!
When we started work on it, we couldn't imagine a visual novel would be able to hit such a milestone let alone being backed by critical acclaim. And yet, here we are. We couldn't have done this without you.
When we started work on it, we couldn't imagine a visual novel would be able to hit such a milestone let alone being backed by critical acclaim. And yet, here we are. We couldn't have done this without you.
It cannot be overstated how often you’ll hear, on the grapevine, about a AAA game that’s about to be announced.. only to not actually see the announcement for 2-3 years, if at all. So many ways for games at that scale to trip over. Most of them silently. So sympathetic to devs who pour years into em
February 2, 2026 at 9:49 AM
It cannot be overstated how often you’ll hear, on the grapevine, about a AAA game that’s about to be announced.. only to not actually see the announcement for 2-3 years, if at all. So many ways for games at that scale to trip over. Most of them silently. So sympathetic to devs who pour years into em
Space, our mortal void. These are our hungers, our cursed enterprises. Our damnation, to seek all that is living, all that is civilised. To consume more than any has consumed before.
February 1, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Space, our mortal void. These are our hungers, our cursed enterprises. Our damnation, to seek all that is living, all that is civilised. To consume more than any has consumed before.
I was today years old when I learned that I cowrote the pitch for the game that would star in Conan’s first clueless gamer segment (the Michael phelps shovelware Kinect game)
February 1, 2026 at 9:11 AM
I was today years old when I learned that I cowrote the pitch for the game that would star in Conan’s first clueless gamer segment (the Michael phelps shovelware Kinect game)
I wanna believe that the high concentration among billionaires is unrepresentative of the general population… but I worry my own biases may be playing into that assumption
one thing you never want to have to realize is that you were really underestimating the number of pedophiles
January 31, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I wanna believe that the high concentration among billionaires is unrepresentative of the general population… but I worry my own biases may be playing into that assumption
Reposted by Mike Bithell
It is consistently funny hearing American tourists having the time of their lives experiencing ‘authentic English culture’ in London on a Saturday. Mostly focused on consuming variants of chips and jacket potatoes. More of a criticism of my country than any of them, obviously.
January 31, 2026 at 2:32 PM
It is consistently funny hearing American tourists having the time of their lives experiencing ‘authentic English culture’ in London on a Saturday. Mostly focused on consuming variants of chips and jacket potatoes. More of a criticism of my country than any of them, obviously.
Wonder Man is too good. By which I mean the quality feels like it might have happened by accident. Someone wasn’t paying attention and a group of creative people made something awesome. You love to see it.
January 31, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Wonder Man is too good. By which I mean the quality feels like it might have happened by accident. Someone wasn’t paying attention and a group of creative people made something awesome. You love to see it.