Kevin Riach
@kevinriach.bsky.social
Game Designer/Producer
Current: Game Design - Riot Games R&D
Ex: Riot Forge, Telltale games, Night School Studio, Marvel
Current: Game Design - Riot Games R&D
Ex: Riot Forge, Telltale games, Night School Studio, Marvel
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Learned that I am being laid off from Heart Machine, and will be leaving the studio later this month.
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
October 7, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Learned that I am being laid off from Heart Machine, and will be leaving the studio later this month.
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
Do you need a contractor? I've got a track record of leading scope-friendly script revisions late in dev. I have also done a lot of consulting on new IPs and pitches/demos. Feel free to DM me!
Reposted by Kevin Riach
You'll never play fewer video games than when you are working on video games
August 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
You'll never play fewer video games than when you are working on video games
Reposted by Kevin Riach
anyone who got on social media after 2014 or so is under the mistaken impression that the primary goal of social media is for it to Accomplish Something while those of us who have been on since the start know the true purpose of social media is to give us a place to Post so we don't go (more) insane
June 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
anyone who got on social media after 2014 or so is under the mistaken impression that the primary goal of social media is for it to Accomplish Something while those of us who have been on since the start know the true purpose of social media is to give us a place to Post so we don't go (more) insane
As a life long Indiana Pacers and Anaheim Ducks fan, these last 24hrs of sports fandom have fucking suuuuuuuuuuuuuucked
June 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
As a life long Indiana Pacers and Anaheim Ducks fan, these last 24hrs of sports fandom have fucking suuuuuuuuuuuuuucked
I never preorder games anymore and I never buy collectors editions, and I just did both instantly without hesitation I can not wait for this game
We hope you are just as excited about The Expanse: Osiris Reborn as we are. And to make the wait for its release more interesting, we invite you to join our development process and become a Founder.
Read more in the thread ➡️
Read more in the thread ➡️
June 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I never preorder games anymore and I never buy collectors editions, and I just did both instantly without hesitation I can not wait for this game
Listen @owlcatgames.bsky.social this is like dream game announcement for me.
If you need consulting or testing or a kidney or whatever the fuck you want I am here for you. I can’t remember the last time an announcement left me this hyped
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQi...
If you need consulting or testing or a kidney or whatever the fuck you want I am here for you. I can’t remember the last time an announcement left me this hyped
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQi...
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Announcement Trailer
YouTube video by Owlcat Games
m.youtube.com
June 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Listen @owlcatgames.bsky.social this is like dream game announcement for me.
If you need consulting or testing or a kidney or whatever the fuck you want I am here for you. I can’t remember the last time an announcement left me this hyped
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQi...
If you need consulting or testing or a kidney or whatever the fuck you want I am here for you. I can’t remember the last time an announcement left me this hyped
m.youtube.com/watch?v=pIQi...
Reposted by Kevin Riach
One more time for the people in the back
May 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
One more time for the people in the back
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Every other developer with a Q3/Q4 release date just breathed a massive sigh of relief. Expect bunches of release date announcements over the coming weeks.
GTA VI has been delayed until 2026 but now has an actual release date
GTA VI has been delayed until 2026 but now has an actual release date
'We need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.'
www.gamedeveloper.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Every other developer with a Q3/Q4 release date just breathed a massive sigh of relief. Expect bunches of release date announcements over the coming weeks.
Reposted by Kevin Riach
skin deep is at 96% positive with 107 reviews which is I think literally the best steam user rating ranking anything I've ever written for on has ever had at launch
May 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
skin deep is at 96% positive with 107 reviews which is I think literally the best steam user rating ranking anything I've ever written for on has ever had at launch
Great high level run down on Matthew Ball’s report, a must watch for folks working in or interested in the games industry.
I spent well over a month talking to investors to get the actual data behind what’s happening to the games industry. I was going to say “enjoy!” but it’s, uh, not great.
youtu.be/9HM9nmqNioQ
youtu.be/9HM9nmqNioQ
The games industry is screwed 2.0
YouTube video by Charalanahzard
youtu.be
May 1, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Great high level run down on Matthew Ball’s report, a must watch for folks working in or interested in the games industry.
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Hear me out: what if a game acknowledged the fact immersive sims are, at their core, slapstick comedies? And rather than hide it with tone & content, instead leaned into it?
SKIN DEEP is fun & hilarious; buy it immediately
M E O W
SKIN DEEP is fun & hilarious; buy it immediately
M E O W
Out of stasis and into the fray – Skin Deep is OUT NOW!
Sneak around, sabotage systems, and make use of everyday items like soap or bananas to save cat passengers and take control of the ship once again.
10% off until May 14, links in 🧵
Sneak around, sabotage systems, and make use of everyday items like soap or bananas to save cat passengers and take control of the ship once again.
10% off until May 14, links in 🧵
Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be
April 30, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Hear me out: what if a game acknowledged the fact immersive sims are, at their core, slapstick comedies? And rather than hide it with tone & content, instead leaned into it?
SKIN DEEP is fun & hilarious; buy it immediately
M E O W
SKIN DEEP is fun & hilarious; buy it immediately
M E O W
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Two games out this week have firmly lodged themselves into my brain as the year's best. Maybe even all-timers.
One of them is SKIN DEEP. If you have not played a Blendo game before, I feel sorry for you.
Nine years since Quadrilateral Cowboy. This is a gift. store.steampowered.com/app/301280/S...
One of them is SKIN DEEP. If you have not played a Blendo game before, I feel sorry for you.
Nine years since Quadrilateral Cowboy. This is a gift. store.steampowered.com/app/301280/S...
April 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Two games out this week have firmly lodged themselves into my brain as the year's best. Maybe even all-timers.
One of them is SKIN DEEP. If you have not played a Blendo game before, I feel sorry for you.
Nine years since Quadrilateral Cowboy. This is a gift. store.steampowered.com/app/301280/S...
One of them is SKIN DEEP. If you have not played a Blendo game before, I feel sorry for you.
Nine years since Quadrilateral Cowboy. This is a gift. store.steampowered.com/app/301280/S...
Reposted by Kevin Riach
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
April 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
Reposted by Kevin Riach
April 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Building something for someone to play, and then watching people play it is simply the greatest feeling of all time.
That and working with talented artists and engineers is like watching a magic show everyday.
That and working with talented artists and engineers is like watching a magic show everyday.
honestly, why do you make games?
April 1, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Building something for someone to play, and then watching people play it is simply the greatest feeling of all time.
That and working with talented artists and engineers is like watching a magic show everyday.
That and working with talented artists and engineers is like watching a magic show everyday.
Reposted by Kevin Riach
So we’ve got two competing schools of what the Democratic Party should do next. One of them is hosting the largest political rallies in history in places like New Hampshire and Arizona, and the other one just got $120 million from Silicon Valley and is on a book tour.
March 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
So we’ve got two competing schools of what the Democratic Party should do next. One of them is hosting the largest political rallies in history in places like New Hampshire and Arizona, and the other one just got $120 million from Silicon Valley and is on a book tour.
Reposted by Kevin Riach
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
March 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
Reposted by Kevin Riach
I really enjoyed this game. It's hilarious and heartfelt and full of pleasantly tedious tasks, and it doesn't outstay its welcome (unless you want it to)
I cannot believe I'm actually writing these words: Wanderstop is OUT NOW!!
Although it's difficult to communicate just how meaningful this moment is to me, I've done my best to put my thoughts into a personal note. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the game 💖
Although it's difficult to communicate just how meaningful this moment is to me, I've done my best to put my thoughts into a personal note. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the game 💖
March 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I really enjoyed this game. It's hilarious and heartfelt and full of pleasantly tedious tasks, and it doesn't outstay its welcome (unless you want it to)
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Additionally - “6 years” doesn’t mean “6 years with a full team.”
It often means “3 years with a skeleton crew, 2 years at a half prod team, and 1 year borrowing people from other teams to close it out.” Team size ramps up near the end but, depending on the studio, can stay tiny for a WHILE
It often means “3 years with a skeleton crew, 2 years at a half prod team, and 1 year borrowing people from other teams to close it out.” Team size ramps up near the end but, depending on the studio, can stay tiny for a WHILE
A theme I've been hearing recently, talking to people who worked on games that took 6+ years to make, is that they always made calls thinking they had much less time. Then the game kept slipping, but they were still stuck with those old calls. So six years of development is never *really* six years
March 5, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Additionally - “6 years” doesn’t mean “6 years with a full team.”
It often means “3 years with a skeleton crew, 2 years at a half prod team, and 1 year borrowing people from other teams to close it out.” Team size ramps up near the end but, depending on the studio, can stay tiny for a WHILE
It often means “3 years with a skeleton crew, 2 years at a half prod team, and 1 year borrowing people from other teams to close it out.” Team size ramps up near the end but, depending on the studio, can stay tiny for a WHILE
Entertainment companies should not be publicly traded. Full stop.
At Polygon @mmcwhertor.bsky.social reports on the email the head of global streaming and games for Warner Bros. Discovery sent to staff announcing the closures in which he talked about "getting our swagger back" one fiscal quarter at a time. www.polygon.com/news/529310/...
February 26, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Entertainment companies should not be publicly traded. Full stop.
Reposted by Kevin Riach
Pro tip from a former Telltale layoff: if your instinct on someone’s “I just got laid off” post is to be snarky, cheeky, talk about how their job was your dream job, or try to minimize their pain in a desperate attempt to find an upside — don’t do that.
February 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Pro tip from a former Telltale layoff: if your instinct on someone’s “I just got laid off” post is to be snarky, cheeky, talk about how their job was your dream job, or try to minimize their pain in a desperate attempt to find an upside — don’t do that.
Stop what you’re doing and please go check this one out asap
February 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Stop what you’re doing and please go check this one out asap
Depressing how:
- none of that spending matters because Meta is publicly traded and is run on hype not profit
- a lot of that money probably got used as losses to write off paying taxes
- all of this was preventable, VR was already a cash sinkhole when they started this bad Ready Player One fanfic
- none of that spending matters because Meta is publicly traded and is run on hype not profit
- a lot of that money probably got used as losses to write off paying taxes
- all of this was preventable, VR was already a cash sinkhole when they started this bad Ready Player One fanfic
February 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Depressing how:
- none of that spending matters because Meta is publicly traded and is run on hype not profit
- a lot of that money probably got used as losses to write off paying taxes
- all of this was preventable, VR was already a cash sinkhole when they started this bad Ready Player One fanfic
- none of that spending matters because Meta is publicly traded and is run on hype not profit
- a lot of that money probably got used as losses to write off paying taxes
- all of this was preventable, VR was already a cash sinkhole when they started this bad Ready Player One fanfic
Reposted by Kevin Riach
What the fuck are we doing, man.
Netflix has laid off staff at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio
The U.S. studio launched Oxenfree II in 2023 under the Netflix banner—but the streamer's long-term plans for its video game business remain unclear
www.gamedeveloper.com/business/net...
The U.S. studio launched Oxenfree II in 2023 under the Netflix banner—but the streamer's long-term plans for its video game business remain unclear
www.gamedeveloper.com/business/net...
Netflix has laid off staff at Oxenfree developer Night School Studio
The U.S. studio launched Oxenfree II in 2023 under the Netflix banner—but the streamer's long-term plans for its video game business remain unclear.
www.gamedeveloper.com
February 19, 2025 at 11:14 PM
What the fuck are we doing, man.
I love this energy and desperately hope/wish this is a truly viable way forward.
BUT the market is only getting more packed with each passing day, and all available data points to the vast majority of players’ spending habits doesn’t reflect this being a viable strategy :(
BUT the market is only getting more packed with each passing day, and all available data points to the vast majority of players’ spending habits doesn’t reflect this being a viable strategy :(
the only way forward for video games is self-published games made by properly-organised studios
corporate ownership will fire all of you in the end.
corporate ownership will fire all of you in the end.
February 20, 2025 at 6:21 AM
I love this energy and desperately hope/wish this is a truly viable way forward.
BUT the market is only getting more packed with each passing day, and all available data points to the vast majority of players’ spending habits doesn’t reflect this being a viable strategy :(
BUT the market is only getting more packed with each passing day, and all available data points to the vast majority of players’ spending habits doesn’t reflect this being a viable strategy :(