Stephen Totilo
@stephentotilo.bsky.social
Reporter covering video games at Game File (gamefile.news). Previously launched games coverage at Axios and MTV News. Was Kotaku EiC. stephen(at)gamefile(dot)news he/him
Pretty good night so far
November 23, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Pretty good night so far
I think this is the only autograph I’ve ever gotten.
October 16, 1996
October 16, 1996
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I think this is the only autograph I’ve ever gotten.
October 16, 1996
October 16, 1996
NEW: Microsoft confirms to me that it won't publish its annual Diversity & Inclusion report, ending a decade-long run
Company's top spokesperson tells Game File that MS has "evolved" past publishing one
Prior reports tracked pay equity and company demographics
www.gamefile.news/p/microsoft-...
Company's top spokesperson tells Game File that MS has "evolved" past publishing one
Prior reports tracked pay equity and company demographics
www.gamefile.news/p/microsoft-...
Microsoft won’t publish a diversity and inclusion report this year
Company says it has “evolved” its D&I approach, as it skips its annual data-filled report
www.gamefile.news
November 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
NEW: Microsoft confirms to me that it won't publish its annual Diversity & Inclusion report, ending a decade-long run
Company's top spokesperson tells Game File that MS has "evolved" past publishing one
Prior reports tracked pay equity and company demographics
www.gamefile.news/p/microsoft-...
Company's top spokesperson tells Game File that MS has "evolved" past publishing one
Prior reports tracked pay equity and company demographics
www.gamefile.news/p/microsoft-...
Drag x Drive somehow remains the top Switch 2 game in my house
In September, I wrote that my 8-year-old son loves it
It faded, but came back
Last night at bath time: "Daddy, in Drag and Drive, I can do unbelievably amazing tricks"
[pauses; beaming]
"I’ve been park champion... I'm level 107!"
In September, I wrote that my 8-year-old son loves it
It faded, but came back
Last night at bath time: "Daddy, in Drag and Drive, I can do unbelievably amazing tricks"
[pauses; beaming]
"I’ve been park champion... I'm level 107!"
I might be playing Silk Song, but my daughter is digging the superb Is This Seat Taken?
And my son is hooked on... Drag x Drive.
Quite the surprise!
In today's (free) Game File, I share what's terrific about each game: www.gamefile.news/p/kids-switc...
And my son is hooked on... Drag x Drive.
Quite the surprise!
In today's (free) Game File, I share what's terrific about each game: www.gamefile.news/p/kids-switc...
November 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Drag x Drive somehow remains the top Switch 2 game in my house
In September, I wrote that my 8-year-old son loves it
It faded, but came back
Last night at bath time: "Daddy, in Drag and Drive, I can do unbelievably amazing tricks"
[pauses; beaming]
"I’ve been park champion... I'm level 107!"
In September, I wrote that my 8-year-old son loves it
It faded, but came back
Last night at bath time: "Daddy, in Drag and Drive, I can do unbelievably amazing tricks"
[pauses; beaming]
"I’ve been park champion... I'm level 107!"
"CDC’s monkey program was in jeopardy even before it was ordered to be shut down. A U.S. House of Representatives budget bill that sets 2026 spending levels for CDC would zero out funding for the HIV division at the agency. "
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
"CDC’s monkey program was in jeopardy even before it was ordered to be shut down. A U.S. House of Representatives budget bill that sets 2026 spending levels for CDC would zero out funding for the HIV division at the agency. "
Fascinating interview with the CEO of Roblox
He's flat-out asked why they even have chat in Roblox. Why is it so important to have chat while playing kids' games. (There are ways to disable it, mind you)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
He's flat-out asked why they even have chat in Roblox. Why is it so important to have chat while playing kids' games. (There are ways to disable it, mind you)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Fascinating interview with the CEO of Roblox
He's flat-out asked why they even have chat in Roblox. Why is it so important to have chat while playing kids' games. (There are ways to disable it, mind you)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
He's flat-out asked why they even have chat in Roblox. Why is it so important to have chat while playing kids' games. (There are ways to disable it, mind you)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/p...
NEW: Ubisoft has not been sold, nor has it collapsed.
The week-long delay in its corporate earnings, the subject of much speculation, was due to--are you sitting down?-- financial reporting technicalities regarding two unspecified partnerships.
www.gamefile.news/p/ubisoft-de...
The week-long delay in its corporate earnings, the subject of much speculation, was due to--are you sitting down?-- financial reporting technicalities regarding two unspecified partnerships.
www.gamefile.news/p/ubisoft-de...
Speculation around Ubisoft earnings delay proves unfounded
It was an accounting issue involving new auditors and the reporting of revenue from two unspecified partnerships, the company said.
www.gamefile.news
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
NEW: Ubisoft has not been sold, nor has it collapsed.
The week-long delay in its corporate earnings, the subject of much speculation, was due to--are you sitting down?-- financial reporting technicalities regarding two unspecified partnerships.
www.gamefile.news/p/ubisoft-de...
The week-long delay in its corporate earnings, the subject of much speculation, was due to--are you sitting down?-- financial reporting technicalities regarding two unspecified partnerships.
www.gamefile.news/p/ubisoft-de...
A weird news week for former Assassin's Creed voice actors
Wait hang on this is crazy
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
A weird news week for former Assassin's Creed voice actors
EA just announced the date for shareholders to vote on the sale of the company: December 22.
Regulatory approval would need to follow.
www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
Regulatory approval would need to follow.
www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
www.sec.gov
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
EA just announced the date for shareholders to vote on the sale of the company: December 22.
Regulatory approval would need to follow.
www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
Regulatory approval would need to follow.
www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
Circana U.S. console sales for October 2025:
-"Nintendo Switch 2 sold 328k units in October."
-"Video game hardware spending in October grew 36% when compared a year ago, to $351M. Switch 2 was again
able to offset declines across Switch (-52% versus a year ago), Xbox Series (-37%) and PS5 (-22%)"
-"Nintendo Switch 2 sold 328k units in October."
-"Video game hardware spending in October grew 36% when compared a year ago, to $351M. Switch 2 was again
able to offset declines across Switch (-52% versus a year ago), Xbox Series (-37%) and PS5 (-22%)"
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Circana U.S. console sales for October 2025:
-"Nintendo Switch 2 sold 328k units in October."
-"Video game hardware spending in October grew 36% when compared a year ago, to $351M. Switch 2 was again
able to offset declines across Switch (-52% versus a year ago), Xbox Series (-37%) and PS5 (-22%)"
-"Nintendo Switch 2 sold 328k units in October."
-"Video game hardware spending in October grew 36% when compared a year ago, to $351M. Switch 2 was again
able to offset declines across Switch (-52% versus a year ago), Xbox Series (-37%) and PS5 (-22%)"
"Hiiiii one last bump here!
"It seems our paths may not align at this time, but we’ll be here if you ever need some capital injection (up to $30M) to take Game File to the next level - ..."
"It seems our paths may not align at this time, but we’ll be here if you ever need some capital injection (up to $30M) to take Game File to the next level - ..."
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
"Hiiiii one last bump here!
"It seems our paths may not align at this time, but we’ll be here if you ever need some capital injection (up to $30M) to take Game File to the next level - ..."
"It seems our paths may not align at this time, but we’ll be here if you ever need some capital injection (up to $30M) to take Game File to the next level - ..."
Reposted by Stephen Totilo
“There are 750 achievements divided across checklists dedicated to each mode, and completing them earns you meaningful unlockables like characters, machines, tracks, music, alternate colors, hats, and other cosmetics”
Kirby Air Riders has an enormous amount of varied content, meaningful unlockables, in-depth customization, and an unrivaled attention to detail.
Our review: https://bit.ly/4oeSpfi
Our review: https://bit.ly/4oeSpfi
November 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM
“There are 750 achievements divided across checklists dedicated to each mode, and completing them earns you meaningful unlockables like characters, machines, tracks, music, alternate colors, hats, and other cosmetics”
One more Metroid Prime 4 thing... the mysterious world map
I included this clip in my preview last week. The main zone I explored had the familiar 3D map. But it zooms out to show a map made of hundreds of hexagons.
Not sure how it'll fill out
I included this clip in my preview last week. The main zone I explored had the familiar 3D map. But it zooms out to show a map made of hundreds of hexagons.
Not sure how it'll fill out
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 AM
One more Metroid Prime 4 thing... the mysterious world map
I included this clip in my preview last week. The main zone I explored had the familiar 3D map. But it zooms out to show a map made of hundreds of hexagons.
Not sure how it'll fill out
I included this clip in my preview last week. The main zone I explored had the familiar 3D map. But it zooms out to show a map made of hundreds of hexagons.
Not sure how it'll fill out
REVIEW: In the last two weeks, I've spent 30+ hours playing the remarkable News Tower, a PC/Mac strategy game about chasing deadlines and making hard choices while publishing a weekly newspaper in New York City in the 1930s.
www.gamefile.news/p/news-tower...
www.gamefile.news/p/news-tower...
My new surprise obsession: A game about running a 1930s newspaper
In News Tower, I published lies for the mob, then printed a blank front page to impress an artist. Review: I had an amazing time.
www.gamefile.news
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
REVIEW: In the last two weeks, I've spent 30+ hours playing the remarkable News Tower, a PC/Mac strategy game about chasing deadlines and making hard choices while publishing a weekly newspaper in New York City in the 1930s.
www.gamefile.news/p/news-tower...
www.gamefile.news/p/news-tower...
Reposted by Stephen Totilo
Rebecca was one of the founders of Interplay and programmed & designed for some of the most influential games of my youth, notably Bard's Tale I & III and Wasteland. She will be missed.
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Rebecca Heineman - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Rebecca was one of the founders of Interplay and programmed & designed for some of the most influential games of my youth, notably Bard's Tale I & III and Wasteland. She will be missed.
Something Metroid Prime 4 related that's not about you-know-who...
The build I recently played had lots of helper text on-screen. You can turn off tutorials, which is nice, because I found that the info Samus got from scanning provided sufficient guidance
Couple of examples:
1st, with tutorial on
The build I recently played had lots of helper text on-screen. You can turn off tutorials, which is nice, because I found that the info Samus got from scanning provided sufficient guidance
Couple of examples:
1st, with tutorial on
November 17, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Something Metroid Prime 4 related that's not about you-know-who...
The build I recently played had lots of helper text on-screen. You can turn off tutorials, which is nice, because I found that the info Samus got from scanning provided sufficient guidance
Couple of examples:
1st, with tutorial on
The build I recently played had lots of helper text on-screen. You can turn off tutorials, which is nice, because I found that the info Samus got from scanning provided sufficient guidance
Couple of examples:
1st, with tutorial on
Let me share a bit more about Myles MacKenzie, the notorious new Metroid Prime 4 sidekick
Just who is this guy?
Well, being a professional Metroid previewer, once I rescued Myles in Prime 4, I scanned him (this is how Samus greets everyone, even at parties)
His bio says he's "extremely talkative"
Just who is this guy?
Well, being a professional Metroid previewer, once I rescued Myles in Prime 4, I scanned him (this is how Samus greets everyone, even at parties)
His bio says he's "extremely talkative"
November 15, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Let me share a bit more about Myles MacKenzie, the notorious new Metroid Prime 4 sidekick
Just who is this guy?
Well, being a professional Metroid previewer, once I rescued Myles in Prime 4, I scanned him (this is how Samus greets everyone, even at parties)
His bio says he's "extremely talkative"
Just who is this guy?
Well, being a professional Metroid previewer, once I rescued Myles in Prime 4, I scanned him (this is how Samus greets everyone, even at parties)
His bio says he's "extremely talkative"
For better or worse, canonically, Samus seems to think that Myles MacKenzie sucks, too
As noted in my preview, the impression I got from Nintendo is that he's not a game-long companion. That you'll mostly explore without him. A trailer today does shows other allies.
As noted in my preview, the impression I got from Nintendo is that he's not a game-long companion. That you'll mostly explore without him. A trailer today does shows other allies.
November 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
For better or worse, canonically, Samus seems to think that Myles MacKenzie sucks, too
As noted in my preview, the impression I got from Nintendo is that he's not a game-long companion. That you'll mostly explore without him. A trailer today does shows other allies.
As noted in my preview, the impression I got from Nintendo is that he's not a game-long companion. That you'll mostly explore without him. A trailer today does shows other allies.
NEW: I played Metroid Prime 4 Beyond last week and can confirm some key details:
- The scanning? Great. I scanned so many things
- The vibe? Impeccable, except when a companion named Myles showed up
- The doors? Wonderfully over-animated, as desired
www.gamefile.news/p/metroid-pr...
- The scanning? Great. I scanned so many things
- The vibe? Impeccable, except when a companion named Myles showed up
- The doors? Wonderfully over-animated, as desired
www.gamefile.news/p/metroid-pr...
Two tantalizing hours with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Wait a minute. What did that one scan mention?
www.gamefile.news
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
NEW: I played Metroid Prime 4 Beyond last week and can confirm some key details:
- The scanning? Great. I scanned so many things
- The vibe? Impeccable, except when a companion named Myles showed up
- The doors? Wonderfully over-animated, as desired
www.gamefile.news/p/metroid-pr...
- The scanning? Great. I scanned so many things
- The vibe? Impeccable, except when a companion named Myles showed up
- The doors? Wonderfully over-animated, as desired
www.gamefile.news/p/metroid-pr...
Nintendo's official "overview video" of Metroid Prime 4, which went live when the preview embargo lifted, mentioned details that weren't shown during previews. Doing a bit of a pre-publication re-work of my preview to take that into account.
November 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Nintendo's official "overview video" of Metroid Prime 4, which went live when the preview embargo lifted, mentioned details that weren't shown during previews. Doing a bit of a pre-publication re-work of my preview to take that into account.
Please stand by
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Please stand by
Reposted by Stephen Totilo
CORRECTION TO LAST TWEET:
Asus said the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld has seen high demand and is in short supply.
Expects to generate NT$ 3 to 5 billion ($96m - $160m) in sales from its Ally line this quarter, stabilizing at around NT$ 4 to 5 billion each quarter ($130m - $160m).
Asus said the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld has seen high demand and is in short supply.
Expects to generate NT$ 3 to 5 billion ($96m - $160m) in sales from its Ally line this quarter, stabilizing at around NT$ 4 to 5 billion each quarter ($130m - $160m).
November 13, 2025 at 9:53 PM
CORRECTION TO LAST TWEET:
Asus said the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld has seen high demand and is in short supply.
Expects to generate NT$ 3 to 5 billion ($96m - $160m) in sales from its Ally line this quarter, stabilizing at around NT$ 4 to 5 billion each quarter ($130m - $160m).
Asus said the Xbox ROG Ally X handheld has seen high demand and is in short supply.
Expects to generate NT$ 3 to 5 billion ($96m - $160m) in sales from its Ally line this quarter, stabilizing at around NT$ 4 to 5 billion each quarter ($130m - $160m).
A mystery in EA's 6-year financial forecast: company is expecting a huge fiscal year 2028 (April 2027- March 2028)
For other years in the forecast, they expect about $400 million in annual growth in net bookings (player spending)
Quadruple that for 2028
Sims 5? Battlefield 7? College basketball?
For other years in the forecast, they expect about $400 million in annual growth in net bookings (player spending)
Quadruple that for 2028
Sims 5? Battlefield 7? College basketball?
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
A mystery in EA's 6-year financial forecast: company is expecting a huge fiscal year 2028 (April 2027- March 2028)
For other years in the forecast, they expect about $400 million in annual growth in net bookings (player spending)
Quadruple that for 2028
Sims 5? Battlefield 7? College basketball?
For other years in the forecast, they expect about $400 million in annual growth in net bookings (player spending)
Quadruple that for 2028
Sims 5? Battlefield 7? College basketball?