Austin Gallagher
@austingallagher.bsky.social
Mostly game thoughts. Contributor @Checkpoint Gaming.
I'm angry at the government and my tummy hurts
I'm angry at the government and my tummy hurts
Imagine being such a big fan that you break down a fence and cause a safety incident that cancels a free show at Fed square. Sorry did I say fan? I meant fuckwit.
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Imagine being such a big fan that you break down a fence and cause a safety incident that cancels a free show at Fed square. Sorry did I say fan? I meant fuckwit.
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
getting a text in the middle of the night and it's just my loathsome vizier saying "Your enemies lie in wait, my lord!!" what am I supposed to do with that. its four in the morning
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 AM
getting a text in the middle of the night and it's just my loathsome vizier saying "Your enemies lie in wait, my lord!!" what am I supposed to do with that. its four in the morning
God Waleed is truly such a waste of space
absolute banger week for "international progressive victory makes Australian dumbass scared for no reason" takes
November 14, 2025 at 2:04 AM
God Waleed is truly such a waste of space
I was once again on the @checkpointau.bsky.social pod, here's the news half if anyone felt like taking a listen:
Up To Date: GTA VI delays and union busting
open.spotify.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I was once again on the @checkpointau.bsky.social pod, here's the news half if anyone felt like taking a listen:
Masterful gambit sir
How about we shut down the government for this very popular and specific goal and then, hear me out, we hold out for like a month and a half and then, ok this part is important, after a watershed election where we ran the table, ONLY THEN, fold and don't get the one thing we said we wanted.
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Masterful gambit sir
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
Senators on the brink of retirement who lived full, wealthy lives and never feared the loss of their own healthcare voting for their constituents to die from their inability to afford the same is treasonous
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Senators on the brink of retirement who lived full, wealthy lives and never feared the loss of their own healthcare voting for their constituents to die from their inability to afford the same is treasonous
Oh man I'm gonna be so annoying about Pluribus, those first two episodes were peak. We are so back.
November 9, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Oh man I'm gonna be so annoying about Pluribus, those first two episodes were peak. We are so back.
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
Could this be the birth of another crowdfunded star?✨
Starfinder Afterlight ends Kickstarter campaign at 1000% funded
Ambitious RPG Starfinder Afterlight has concluded its Kickstarter with resounding success, passing 1000% funding in the closing hours of the campaign.
checkpointgaming.net
November 9, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Could this be the birth of another crowdfunded star?✨
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
Really struggled with this one if I'm honest. Dead Static Drive has been something I've been looking forward to for years, so I'm sad it didn't resonate with me.
My review:
My review:
Dead Static Drive Review - Burnout
Dead Static Drive stalls on ignition. Almost instantly, you’ll realise Dead Static Drive feels fundamentally unfinished.
checkpointgaming.net
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Really struggled with this one if I'm honest. Dead Static Drive has been something I've been looking forward to for years, so I'm sad it didn't resonate with me.
My review:
My review:
Watching the victory speech and being genuinely reminded that good things are possible and we're stronger than they are.
BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Watching the victory speech and being genuinely reminded that good things are possible and we're stronger than they are.
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
Trump administration's use of Halo "ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation", says key series designer
www.eurogamer.net/trump-admini...
www.eurogamer.net/trump-admini...
October 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Trump administration's use of Halo "ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation", says key series designer
www.eurogamer.net/trump-admini...
www.eurogamer.net/trump-admini...
If Bezos is still interested he can flick a few million my way to confirm the market research that no one wants to buy video games from him.
I legitimately didn't know they were competing with Steam and it's crazy to me that they burnt so much money on what sounds like something with very little (or wildly misguided) market research.
October 29, 2025 at 2:54 AM
If Bezos is still interested he can flick a few million my way to confirm the market research that no one wants to buy video games from him.
Never believe things can't get dumber and worse.
I reached out to The White House and asked about its use of AI-generated Halo imagery. White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai just responded to me, and it's insane.
I've removed the paywall. Please share and subscribe if you can.
www.patreon.com/posts/exclus...
I've removed the paywall. Please share and subscribe if you can.
www.patreon.com/posts/exclus...
[Exclusive] The White House Responds To Its Use of Halo Imagery: 'Yet Another War Ended Under President Trump's Watch' | Alyssa Mercante - Video Games, Internet Culture & More
Get more from Alyssa Mercante - Video Games, Internet Culture & More on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Never believe things can't get dumber and worse.
Reposted by Austin Gallagher
Guillermo del Toro says “I’d rather die” than use generative AI
“My concern is not artificial intelligence, but natural stupidity. I think that's what drives most of the world's worst features”
(Source: www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...)
“My concern is not artificial intelligence, but natural stupidity. I think that's what drives most of the world's worst features”
(Source: www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...)
October 25, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Guillermo del Toro says “I’d rather die” than use generative AI
“My concern is not artificial intelligence, but natural stupidity. I think that's what drives most of the world's worst features”
(Source: www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...)
“My concern is not artificial intelligence, but natural stupidity. I think that's what drives most of the world's worst features”
(Source: www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...)
Check in with the Halo fan in your life
October 24, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Check in with the Halo fan in your life
Having grown up in Thailand I would have lost my mind if this was around when I was a kid
The inaugural Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show saw 206,159 visitors from 95 countries across its four day schedule
www.gamesindustry.biz/over-206000-...
www.gamesindustry.biz/over-206000-...
Over 206,000 visitors attend inaugural Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show
Event's business area saw 5,590 industry professionals from 81 countries
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Having grown up in Thailand I would have lost my mind if this was around when I was a kid
"so when he demolishes the White House, that links to our main thematic throughline"
"I think that might be a bit on the nose"
"I think that might be a bit on the nose"
October 24, 2025 at 12:30 AM
"so when he demolishes the White House, that links to our main thematic throughline"
"I think that might be a bit on the nose"
"I think that might be a bit on the nose"
Booooooooooo
Krafton (PUBG, Subnautica, Tango Gameworks) says it is now an "AI first" company, with automated work, AI-centric HR, management systems, and workflows, in-game AI, and a full company-wide AI infrastructure.
(Krafton press release)
(Krafton press release)
October 23, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Booooooooooo
Honestly shocked at how much I liked Outer World's 2! This was very almost a higher score and I think that's reflected in the content of my review. Maybe check it out, and if you end up playing it, lemme know what you think!
The Outer Worlds 2 Review - This will be remembered
With diverse factions alongside a deep system that will reward repeat plays, Obsidian has crafted another great RPG in The Outer Worlds 2.
checkpointgaming.net
October 23, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Honestly shocked at how much I liked Outer World's 2! This was very almost a higher score and I think that's reflected in the content of my review. Maybe check it out, and if you end up playing it, lemme know what you think!
As a certified Remedy Sicko I was crushed when I got this for review and had to give it a 6. It's just a weird hodgepodge of half-baked ideas.
However an executive shouldering the failure, rather than layoffs, is a silver lining in what is otherwise a baffling move from Remedy.
However an executive shouldering the failure, rather than layoffs, is a silver lining in what is otherwise a baffling move from Remedy.
Big change at Alan Wake studio, Remedy, as CEO steps down following failure of Control spin-off FBC: Firebreak
www.eurogamer.net/big-change-a...
www.eurogamer.net/big-change-a...
October 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
As a certified Remedy Sicko I was crushed when I got this for review and had to give it a 6. It's just a weird hodgepodge of half-baked ideas.
However an executive shouldering the failure, rather than layoffs, is a silver lining in what is otherwise a baffling move from Remedy.
However an executive shouldering the failure, rather than layoffs, is a silver lining in what is otherwise a baffling move from Remedy.
Check out my interview with the guys at the head of Jackbox! Some cool tidbits in this one from a pair of storied party game devs
We interviewed @jackboxgames.com's CEO and CCO about Jackbox past and present!
Chatting with Mike Bilder and Allard Laban about all things Jackbox Games
Checkpoint Gaming's chat with Jackbox CEO Mike Bilder and CCO Allard Laban at PAX AUS 2025.
checkpointgaming.net
October 19, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Check out my interview with the guys at the head of Jackbox! Some cool tidbits in this one from a pair of storied party game devs
I wonder if Glenn Israel's departure (leaving after 17 years on Halo) quote including references to not trading away your values and ethics is related to this somehow.
Anyway, Halo franchise management continues to be in shambles.
Anyway, Halo franchise management continues to be in shambles.
Halo insider: Halo Studios has generative AI "woven into every aspect" of game dev, from core workflows to world building and enemy AI
www.resetera.com/threads/13...
www.resetera.com/threads/13...
October 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I wonder if Glenn Israel's departure (leaving after 17 years on Halo) quote including references to not trading away your values and ethics is related to this somehow.
Anyway, Halo franchise management continues to be in shambles.
Anyway, Halo franchise management continues to be in shambles.
Live service narrative has always been the MCU of video game storytelling. There should be no expectation for a true ending when the base economic unit of the game is diametrically opposed to it.
Destiny 2 gave a satisfying ending to ten years of narrative, says Rob Fahey – and now player numbers are cratering. "Destiny 2's example, unfortunately, will probably lead to a lot of pressure to avoid ending anything with a bang."
www.gamesindustry.biz/can-a-live-s...
www.gamesindustry.biz/can-a-live-s...
Can a live service game ever have a satisfying conclusion? | Opinion
Destiny 2 gave a satisfying ending to ten years of narrative – and now player numbers are cratering. The lessons to be learned bode ill for storytelling
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Live service narrative has always been the MCU of video game storytelling. There should be no expectation for a true ending when the base economic unit of the game is diametrically opposed to it.