Hayes Madsen
@solfleet.bsky.social
Freelance Reporter looking for work. Former Video Game Trends Writer at Inverse.com. Words at CGMagOnline, IGN, Rolling Stone, and more. Writer of An Evening at the Inn Newsletter. RPG aficionado. Bisexual.He/they. madsenhayes@Gmail.com. Signal: HayesM.26
Pinned
Hayes Madsen
@solfleet.bsky.social
· Jan 19
Alright, here's the official I'm looking for work thread. After four years at Inverse, taking the lead on gaming coverage, I'm now completely open to work. I've been a reporter, editor, podcast host, and much more. If you want to see what I can bring to the table, here's some of my best from Inverse
After a rough couple weeks, we’re having someone come to the house on Saturday to help Oreo go peacefully. Been her caretaker for the last four years. Hard to think of her not being here soon.
February 19, 2026 at 9:05 PM
After a rough couple weeks, we’re having someone come to the house on Saturday to help Oreo go peacefully. Been her caretaker for the last four years. Hard to think of her not being here soon.
Makes my blood boil to over and over see consolidation ravage this industry. Dozens of studios, thousands of devs paying the price for inept management that'll get a bonus at the end of the year.
February 19, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Makes my blood boil to over and over see consolidation ravage this industry. Dozens of studios, thousands of devs paying the price for inept management that'll get a bonus at the end of the year.
I guarantee you a Bluepoint-made Legend of Dragoon remake would have made its return on investment. Can you imagine, a big AAA hybrid turn-based RPG? After the game that came out last year?
February 19, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I guarantee you a Bluepoint-made Legend of Dragoon remake would have made its return on investment. Can you imagine, a big AAA hybrid turn-based RPG? After the game that came out last year?
Absolutely insane and baffling decision. Genuinely don't see any reasonable way to justify this.
BREAKING: PlayStation is shutting down Bluepoint Games, the studio responsible for modern remakes of classic games such as Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, Bloomberg News has learned.
A shocking end for a well-respected studio.
A shocking end for a well-respected studio.
February 19, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Absolutely insane and baffling decision. Genuinely don't see any reasonable way to justify this.
Arc System announcing an alien ICE simulator made with AI wasn't on my bingo card for today, but you know, it pretty well fits this god-forsaken year.
February 19, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Arc System announcing an alien ICE simulator made with AI wasn't on my bingo card for today, but you know, it pretty well fits this god-forsaken year.
Considering everyone tells me they know me as the "RPG guy," it should come as no surprise I'm extremely interested in covering Crimson Desert. While I would, of course, be happy to do a review, I'll be diving into it fully and happy to help out with any form of coverage, if anyone needs assistance
February 19, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Considering everyone tells me they know me as the "RPG guy," it should come as no surprise I'm extremely interested in covering Crimson Desert. While I would, of course, be happy to do a review, I'll be diving into it fully and happy to help out with any form of coverage, if anyone needs assistance
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
Alright, ya'll, the latest issue of An Evening at the Inn is here. A little different, this one I dive into the idea of guest party members, and opine the brilliance of how Yasumi Matsuno's games use them mechanically and narratively. an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io/an-evening-a...
An Evening At the Inn - Issue #4
Welcome back to the inn, travellers. I know there's been a bit of a delay this time, and I do apologize. As it turns out, when you lose your job and source of income, that makes A LOT of other dominoe...
an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io
February 18, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Alright, ya'll, the latest issue of An Evening at the Inn is here. A little different, this one I dive into the idea of guest party members, and opine the brilliance of how Yasumi Matsuno's games use them mechanically and narratively. an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io/an-evening-a...
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
look at my country man, we’re getting out-No Kings’d by the fuckin’ british
King Charles has issued a statement following his brother Andrew’s arrest
February 19, 2026 at 2:22 PM
look at my country man, we’re getting out-No Kings’d by the fuckin’ british
The first time I heard about Denshattack I said that sounds sick as hell. After playing it, I’m pleased to report it is indeed sick as hell. www.cgmagonline.com/articles/pre...
Denshattack! Preview — Sick Tricks
Denshattack! wants you to wrap your mind around its weird world and rules. But once you do, it’s quite literally going to take you on a ride.
www.cgmagonline.com
February 19, 2026 at 4:27 PM
The first time I heard about Denshattack I said that sounds sick as hell. After playing it, I’m pleased to report it is indeed sick as hell. www.cgmagonline.com/articles/pre...
The Wii U’s best game became one of the Switch’s best games, and now on of Switch 2’s best games. The holy trinity.
The sprawling alien world of planet Mira, now enhanced on #NintendoSwitch2 with improved frame rates and up to 4K resolution in TV mode!
Join the fight for survival in #XenobladeChroniclesX: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, available now!
Join the fight for survival in #XenobladeChroniclesX: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, available now!
February 19, 2026 at 4:18 PM
The Wii U’s best game became one of the Switch’s best games, and now on of Switch 2’s best games. The holy trinity.
Alright, ya'll, the latest issue of An Evening at the Inn is here. A little different, this one I dive into the idea of guest party members, and opine the brilliance of how Yasumi Matsuno's games use them mechanically and narratively. an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io/an-evening-a...
An Evening At the Inn - Issue #4
Welcome back to the inn, travellers. I know there's been a bit of a delay this time, and I do apologize. As it turns out, when you lose your job and source of income, that makes A LOT of other dominoe...
an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io
February 18, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Alright, ya'll, the latest issue of An Evening at the Inn is here. A little different, this one I dive into the idea of guest party members, and opine the brilliance of how Yasumi Matsuno's games use them mechanically and narratively. an-evening-at-the-inn.ghost.io/an-evening-a...
Very very much seconding this. A couple times I had to put the game down, take a walk, and think it through. But BOY is it worth it.
I said this in my review of Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse and I’ll say it again.
I highly urge people to try and figure out everything in the game as hard as they can before looking up the answer or consulting a guide.
Very excited for everyone to play it & read their thoughts as they play.
I highly urge people to try and figure out everything in the game as hard as they can before looking up the answer or consulting a guide.
Very excited for everyone to play it & read their thoughts as they play.
February 18, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Very very much seconding this. A couple times I had to put the game down, take a walk, and think it through. But BOY is it worth it.
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
i wrote this piece when i was as an intern at Paste Magazine. my life has changed so much in the last 8 years... and i'm very sad to see how little the world has changed and, in some ways, only gotten worse
www.avclub.com/what-other-g...
www.avclub.com/what-other-g...
February 18, 2026 at 7:18 PM
i wrote this piece when i was as an intern at Paste Magazine. my life has changed so much in the last 8 years... and i'm very sad to see how little the world has changed and, in some ways, only gotten worse
www.avclub.com/what-other-g...
www.avclub.com/what-other-g...
I'm a little surprised that I haven't seen any writing or retrospective work about Life is Strange 2 recently, given, uh, everything going on in America - and what that game talked about.
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I'm a little surprised that I haven't seen any writing or retrospective work about Life is Strange 2 recently, given, uh, everything going on in America - and what that game talked about.
Seeing talk about Yakuza being a soap opera (derogatory) this week, I’ve feeling stronger than ever that Trails is the (complimentary) version of that. Even with Horizon’s faults, it’s just hits the series’ strengths so so well
After 22 years and 984 hours of JRPG adventures, the Trails series is finally "close to its conclusion," which is why the studio "needed to properly remake" the originals for new players www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/a...
After 22 years and 984 hours of JRPG adventures, the Trails series is finally "close to its conclusion," which is why the studio "needed to properly remake" the originals for new players
"Would it be right to end the story without doing anything for them?"
www.gamesradar.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Seeing talk about Yakuza being a soap opera (derogatory) this week, I’ve feeling stronger than ever that Trails is the (complimentary) version of that. Even with Horizon’s faults, it’s just hits the series’ strengths so so well
Inspired casting for this whole movie series man www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
‘Sonic 4’: Kristen Bell to Voice Amy Rose (Exclusive)
Jeff Fowler is back as director in Paramount's hit franchise based on the Sega video games.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Inspired casting for this whole movie series man www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
An extremely true post
guy who has played one suda51 game: "killer7 goes crazy"
guy who has played five suda51 games: "Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes represents Suda-san returning to his roots in his Kill The Past series with a personal and incisive ta-"
guy who has played every suda51 game: "killer7 goes crazy"
guy who has played five suda51 games: "Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes represents Suda-san returning to his roots in his Kill The Past series with a personal and incisive ta-"
guy who has played every suda51 game: "killer7 goes crazy"
February 18, 2026 at 5:40 PM
An extremely true post
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
I hope things in our industry change for the better in the future. I will not allow anyone to feel this way again.
February 18, 2026 at 6:44 AM
I hope things in our industry change for the better in the future. I will not allow anyone to feel this way again.
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
sorry still mad: after after i landed my first games media gig, a reporter took a liking to me offered to chat about the industry at GDC. We met, chatted. I get into a cab. He texted me "I really wanted to kiss you" after i got back to my hotel.
I was 21 and thought i did something wrong.
I was 21 and thought i did something wrong.
"name and shame them"
cool strat, but do you know how many men have been called out publicly, only to skulk away in silence for a few months and then reappear at consulting firms. They stick around and rely on us all forgetting.
and the industry does forget, because it still happens.
cool strat, but do you know how many men have been called out publicly, only to skulk away in silence for a few months and then reappear at consulting firms. They stick around and rely on us all forgetting.
and the industry does forget, because it still happens.
February 18, 2026 at 4:48 PM
sorry still mad: after after i landed my first games media gig, a reporter took a liking to me offered to chat about the industry at GDC. We met, chatted. I get into a cab. He texted me "I really wanted to kiss you" after i got back to my hotel.
I was 21 and thought i did something wrong.
I was 21 and thought i did something wrong.
I previewed People of Note for RPG Site. Its very clearly heavily inspired by the formula of PS1 Final Fantasy, but brings a little unique musical twist that seeps into both its world building and surprisingly smart combat www.rpgsite.net/preview/1964...
People of Note brings a melodic twist to the classic Final Fantasy formula | RPG Site
People of Note makes a strong first impression as a tongue-in-cheek, whimsical RPG, and it might be drawing just the right amount of inspiration from the classics.
www.rpgsite.net
February 18, 2026 at 4:05 PM
I previewed People of Note for RPG Site. Its very clearly heavily inspired by the formula of PS1 Final Fantasy, but brings a little unique musical twist that seeps into both its world building and surprisingly smart combat www.rpgsite.net/preview/1964...
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
I spent my childhood inside of American concentration camps. I know one when I see one. And that is what ICE is building.
February 17, 2026 at 9:00 PM
I spent my childhood inside of American concentration camps. I know one when I see one. And that is what ICE is building.
At least once a month I think about how the fuck Capcom is gonna do Steve in a Code Veronica remake
February 18, 2026 at 2:36 AM
At least once a month I think about how the fuck Capcom is gonna do Steve in a Code Veronica remake
Reposted by Hayes Madsen
Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series and co-creator and game designer on Chrono Trigger, from Next Generation Magazine Issue 50 (February 1999)
February 15, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series and co-creator and game designer on Chrono Trigger, from Next Generation Magazine Issue 50 (February 1999)
I’m not reposting the Kid Rock RFK video, no one needs to see that. But there’s a hyper specific kind of dude that’s for, and he’s the worse guy you’ve ever worked with. 20 years later you tell stories about how much he sucked
February 17, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I’m not reposting the Kid Rock RFK video, no one needs to see that. But there’s a hyper specific kind of dude that’s for, and he’s the worse guy you’ve ever worked with. 20 years later you tell stories about how much he sucked
Well that’s certainly a twist
NEW: Highguard studio Wildlight's secret financial backer was Tencent, sources tell me
www.gamefile.news/p/tencent-hi...
www.gamefile.news/p/tencent-hi...
Sources: Tencent secretly funded struggling shooter Highguard
Wildlight Entertainment has said for years it was "fully-funded" but not shared details.
www.gamefile.news
February 17, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Well that’s certainly a twist