Alan Wen
@damisanthrope.bsky.social
Words merc in games print and online media
Email: alan@alanwen.co.uk
Email: alan@alanwen.co.uk
It’s new Edge day, and this issue I’ve doubled down on fighting games, checking out upcoming roguelike fighting game Poly Fighter and checking in on the state of SF6’s long game. Oh, and also a review of Where Winds Meet.
November 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM
It’s new Edge day, and this issue I’ve doubled down on fighting games, checking out upcoming roguelike fighting game Poly Fighter and checking in on the state of SF6’s long game. Oh, and also a review of Where Winds Meet.
🙃
Splash Damage places entire studio into consultation ahead of extensive layoffs: www.gamesindustry.biz/splash-damag...
Splash Damage places entire studio into consultation ahead of redundancies
Splash Damage has announced a consultation process affecting all staff at the Bromley-based studio, which will conclude…
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
🙃
Reposted by Alan Wen
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Alan Wen
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
We did something different with the credits for Demonschool. We used this format: name, title, lengthy description of what they did. Often you see credits in games where you don't know what the credited developer was actually responsible for. We wanted to give people proper, actual credit.
Reposted by Alan Wen
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Got back into games in 2014 after a near-decade hiatus, resubscribed to Edge where I’d occasionally write letters, and also started up a gaming blog for yuks. Then just as a multitude of life turning to shit happened at the end of 2016, a pitch to Kotaku UK got commissioned.
November 23, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Got back into games in 2014 after a near-decade hiatus, resubscribed to Edge where I’d occasionally write letters, and also started up a gaming blog for yuks. Then just as a multitude of life turning to shit happened at the end of 2016, a pitch to Kotaku UK got commissioned.
Reposted by Alan Wen
Jennifer English realizing she's a lesbian and falling in love with one of her mocap directors (Aliona Baranova) over the course of making BG3 and seeing all the queer folks embracing Shadowheart and the impact the game had is genuinely one of the best stories in game production in a long time
Congrats to Jennifer English for winning the Best Lead Performer award at the 2025 #GoldenJoystickAwards!
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
And her acceptance speech about queer joy was a love letter to @aliona.bsky.social 🥹🌈
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Jennifer English realizing she's a lesbian and falling in love with one of her mocap directors (Aliona Baranova) over the course of making BG3 and seeing all the queer folks embracing Shadowheart and the impact the game had is genuinely one of the best stories in game production in a long time
I tried out the Mini Arcade Pro, a pretty cool controller/mini cabinet that turns your Switch (1, 2 or OLED) into a tabletop arcade machine, albeit with a few design oversights www.stuff.tv/features/imp...
IMP Gaming's Mini Arcade Pro turned my Switch 2 into a tabletop arcade machine | Stuff
A budget-friendly way to get a portable arcade experience on your Switch - though the IMP Mini Arcade Pro has a few foibles
www.stuff.tv
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I tried out the Mini Arcade Pro, a pretty cool controller/mini cabinet that turns your Switch (1, 2 or OLED) into a tabletop arcade machine, albeit with a few design oversights www.stuff.tv/features/imp...
Reposted by Alan Wen
GamesRadar+ is also hiring a hybrid UK-based Hardware & Tabletop Staff Writer.
Come work with @thewordyben.bsky.social and me!
Come work with @thewordyben.bsky.social and me!
Hardware & Tabletop Staff Writer, GamesRadar+ - Future Publishing
GamesRadar+ is the games, movies, TV, and comics website that upgrades your downtime; helping you spend your free time wisely.On GamesRadar+ we always aim to inform, entertain, and inspire through our...
apply.workable.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
GamesRadar+ is also hiring a hybrid UK-based Hardware & Tabletop Staff Writer.
Come work with @thewordyben.bsky.social and me!
Come work with @thewordyben.bsky.social and me!
Kirby Air Riders is how many GB?! The lil’ guy sure gobbles up storage, huh
November 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Kirby Air Riders is how many GB?! The lil’ guy sure gobbles up storage, huh
To commemorate the PS5’s 5th anniversary week, I look ahead to Intergalactic, which might finally bring Naughty Dog kicking and screaming into this generation with a new IP that will hopefully remind us why it’s the top dog in AAA cinematic blockbusters www.gamesradar.com/games/action...
I don't care if Intergalactic blasts past 2026, a new Naughty Dog cinematic action-adventure is reason enough to be excited
Opinion | Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet could be a post-The Last of Us Naughty Dog's return to its brighter blockbuster era
www.gamesradar.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
To commemorate the PS5’s 5th anniversary week, I look ahead to Intergalactic, which might finally bring Naughty Dog kicking and screaming into this generation with a new IP that will hopefully remind us why it’s the top dog in AAA cinematic blockbusters www.gamesradar.com/games/action...
Reposted by Alan Wen
We're giving away 10 codes for the 3 available Lumines Arise singles released so far: Arise (new!), Dreamland, and Only Human to get you hyped for the OST release on 2/2/26.
Follow and repost to enter. Contest ends Thursday, 11/20. lumines.game
Follow and repost to enter. Contest ends Thursday, 11/20. lumines.game
November 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
We're giving away 10 codes for the 3 available Lumines Arise singles released so far: Arise (new!), Dreamland, and Only Human to get you hyped for the OST release on 2/2/26.
Follow and repost to enter. Contest ends Thursday, 11/20. lumines.game
Follow and repost to enter. Contest ends Thursday, 11/20. lumines.game
Since the game is coming out later this week, the latest Creative Bloq indie spotlight has gone live a bit earlier for Constance, a colourful hand-drawn Metroidvania that’s also inspired by Photoshop tools www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-gam...
This indie game’s hand-drawn style started in Photoshop
Constance makes painting art gameplay.
www.creativebloq.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Since the game is coming out later this week, the latest Creative Bloq indie spotlight has gone live a bit earlier for Constance, a colourful hand-drawn Metroidvania that’s also inspired by Photoshop tools www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-gam...
I wanted a Mega Drive and got a Master System so kinda resented having to play the inferior version of Sonic before finally upgrading to 16-bit later but a fascinating piece all the same.
But we gotta have a word about who’s handling your images and captions. What’s going on with image 4?!
But we gotta have a word about who’s handling your images and captions. What’s going on with image 4?!
Hi I wrote about the Sega Master System and how it’s been criminally overlooked because everyone goes on about the NES like it was the only 8bit console in the world look don’t get me started
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
Master System at 40: the truth about Sega’s most underrated console
Forty years ago, the Nintendo Entertainment System dominated the markets in Japan and the US. But in Europe, a technologically superior rival was making it look like an ancient relic
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I wanted a Mega Drive and got a Master System so kinda resented having to play the inferior version of Sonic before finally upgrading to 16-bit later but a fascinating piece all the same.
But we gotta have a word about who’s handling your images and captions. What’s going on with image 4?!
But we gotta have a word about who’s handling your images and captions. What’s going on with image 4?!
Reposted by Alan Wen
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Reposted by Alan Wen
Persistence paid off for schoolboy game dev @rockandrollmachine.bsky.social when he landed a publishing deal for his first game, Total Wormage (aka Worms), at a trade show.
Listen to the untold story of how Andy designed a game at school that became a global sensation.
Out now: apple.co/47PAhUk
Listen to the untold story of how Andy designed a game at school that became a global sensation.
Out now: apple.co/47PAhUk
November 18, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Persistence paid off for schoolboy game dev @rockandrollmachine.bsky.social when he landed a publishing deal for his first game, Total Wormage (aka Worms), at a trade show.
Listen to the untold story of how Andy designed a game at school that became a global sensation.
Out now: apple.co/47PAhUk
Listen to the untold story of how Andy designed a game at school that became a global sensation.
Out now: apple.co/47PAhUk
Reposted by Alan Wen
The AI bubble may be about to bust.
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
November 17, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The AI bubble may be about to bust.
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
Reposted by Alan Wen
Excellent and courageous investigative journalism.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Excellent and courageous investigative journalism.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
How did Amazon lose the gamers again…
November 16, 2025 at 11:15 AM
How did Amazon lose the gamers again…
Reposted by Alan Wen
The best, succinct, and simplest statement about right and left politics. The right start with fear the Zack Polanski starts with hope, facts, and science. Every Reform supporter should watch this short, Zack makes it clear and simple.
youtube.com/shorts/LQZom...
youtube.com/shorts/LQZom...
Whether it's Zohran Mamdani or Claudia Sheinbaum, there is a progressive movement rejecting fascism
YouTube video by Bold Politics with Zack Polanski
youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:32 AM
The best, succinct, and simplest statement about right and left politics. The right start with fear the Zack Polanski starts with hope, facts, and science. Every Reform supporter should watch this short, Zack makes it clear and simple.
youtube.com/shorts/LQZom...
youtube.com/shorts/LQZom...
Saw some cosmic worms at a new installation just around the corner, as you do
November 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Saw some cosmic worms at a new installation just around the corner, as you do
This week’s Creative Bloq indie spotlight is Birdcage, a shmup that with smart use of digitised sprites and sprite-scaling captures the 2D/3D vibe of 32-bit classics like Radiant Silvergun www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-gam...
This 90s-inspired bullet hell shooter slows down on purpose, and it’s brilliant
Birdcage is stubbornly retro.
www.creativebloq.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This week’s Creative Bloq indie spotlight is Birdcage, a shmup that with smart use of digitised sprites and sprite-scaling captures the 2D/3D vibe of 32-bit classics like Radiant Silvergun www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-gam...
Reposted by Alan Wen
Do I know any Edinburgh-based games journalists?
November 14, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Do I know any Edinburgh-based games journalists?
Reposted by Alan Wen
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
Reposted by Alan Wen
The IWGB has just announced that 220 letters, signed by Rockstar staff, have now been delivered to leadership at the company, demanding the immediate reinstatement of their fired colleagues.
November 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The IWGB has just announced that 220 letters, signed by Rockstar staff, have now been delivered to leadership at the company, demanding the immediate reinstatement of their fired colleagues.