Gonçalo Santos
@mushwrites.bsky.social
Freelance writer on all things videogames.
https://buttonmusher.substack.com/
https://buttonmusher.substack.com/
Pinned
8 DevGAMM Portugal 2025 Games To Add To Your Wishlist
Here are the most interesting titles I played at the event.
open.substack.com
Here is my second piece covering my time at @devgamm.bsky.social Portugal 2025. I go over the 8 most interesting games I played at the event and my experience talking to some of the developers.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
The Rockstar Workers Fired Before They Could Finish GTA 6
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I went to meet the 'Rockstar 31', the developers who were suddenly fired from their work on GTA 6 for what the studio has described as gross misconduct.
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
That's not what the workers call it though. They have another couple of words they prefer to use: union busting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9nO...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
For non-subscribers, here's a gift: For the next 30 days, Aftermath subscriptions for new readers are on sale at $1 for your first month:
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
For non-subscribers, here's a gift: For the next 30 days, Aftermath subscriptions for new readers are on sale at $1 for your first month:
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
read the site but never subscribed? you can get a month for $1. try it out, read some blogs, support worker-owned media.
been hesitant to give us your cc details? fair! we now accept link, google pay and apple pay as well.
been a $7 subscriber but wanted to comment? now you can comment!
been hesitant to give us your cc details? fair! we now accept link, google pay and apple pay as well.
been a $7 subscriber but wanted to comment? now you can comment!
For non-subscribers, here's a gift: For the next 30 days, Aftermath subscriptions for new readers are on sale at $1 for your first month:
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
aftermath.ghost.io/11-06-2025...
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
read the site but never subscribed? you can get a month for $1. try it out, read some blogs, support worker-owned media.
been hesitant to give us your cc details? fair! we now accept link, google pay and apple pay as well.
been a $7 subscriber but wanted to comment? now you can comment!
been hesitant to give us your cc details? fair! we now accept link, google pay and apple pay as well.
been a $7 subscriber but wanted to comment? now you can comment!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE
This has consumed around 4 months of my life. We've rebuilt the business from the ground-up. New site, new backend, new customer experience, new platform, new everything.
we spent two years flailing, having no idea how to run a business. now...we have more of an idea.
This has consumed around 4 months of my life. We've rebuilt the business from the ground-up. New site, new backend, new customer experience, new platform, new everything.
we spent two years flailing, having no idea how to run a business. now...we have more of an idea.
Despite the ravages of age and an internet steeped in misinformation, your eyes – in this one case – do not deceive you: Website different. It’s taken an immense amount of time and effort, but welcome to Aftermath version 2.0:
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
aftermath.site/aftermath-rela...
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE
This has consumed around 4 months of my life. We've rebuilt the business from the ground-up. New site, new backend, new customer experience, new platform, new everything.
we spent two years flailing, having no idea how to run a business. now...we have more of an idea.
This has consumed around 4 months of my life. We've rebuilt the business from the ground-up. New site, new backend, new customer experience, new platform, new everything.
we spent two years flailing, having no idea how to run a business. now...we have more of an idea.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Here is my second piece covering my time at @devgamm.bsky.social Portugal 2025. I go over the 8 most interesting games I played at the event and my experience talking to some of the developers.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
8 DevGAMM Portugal 2025 Games To Add To Your Wishlist
Here are the most interesting titles I played at the event.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Here is my second piece covering my time at @devgamm.bsky.social Portugal 2025. I go over the 8 most interesting games I played at the event and my experience talking to some of the developers.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
Here is my second piece covering my time at @devgamm.bsky.social Portugal 2025. I go over the 8 most interesting games I played at the event and my experience talking to some of the developers.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
8 DevGAMM Portugal 2025 Games To Add To Your Wishlist
Here are the most interesting titles I played at the event.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Here is my second piece covering my time at @devgamm.bsky.social Portugal 2025. I go over the 8 most interesting games I played at the event and my experience talking to some of the developers.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
I challenge you to finish this piece without at least a new game on your Steam Wishlist.
Great piece! I spent the last day of Next Fest playing Final Sentence and it was a genuinely stressful experience, loved it.
my first for gamespot, about the typing games that are doing a bunch of fun things with the genre:
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
Typing Games Are Cool Again Thanks To Wildly Unexpected Twists
Typing games have come a long way since Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.
www.gamespot.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Great piece! I spent the last day of Next Fest playing Final Sentence and it was a genuinely stressful experience, loved it.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
my first for gamespot, about the typing games that are doing a bunch of fun things with the genre:
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
Typing Games Are Cool Again Thanks To Wildly Unexpected Twists
Typing games have come a long way since Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.
www.gamespot.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
my first for gamespot, about the typing games that are doing a bunch of fun things with the genre:
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
www.gamespot.com/articles/typ...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
buttonmusher.substack.com/p/devgamm-li...
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
DevGamm Lisbon 2025 Award Winners
Helping smaller game creators reach for the stars.
buttonmusher.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
buttonmusher.substack.com/p/devgamm-li...
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
A plea for help. 🙏
One of the lead playtesters of Blue Prince, Iggy, has polycystic kidney disease and has only a few months to find a living kidney donor.
His story, contact and donor information can all be found on
iggyland.org
Please help us in sharing his story and getting the word out.💙
One of the lead playtesters of Blue Prince, Iggy, has polycystic kidney disease and has only a few months to find a living kidney donor.
His story, contact and donor information can all be found on
iggyland.org
Please help us in sharing his story and getting the word out.💙
November 8, 2025 at 12:42 AM
A plea for help. 🙏
One of the lead playtesters of Blue Prince, Iggy, has polycystic kidney disease and has only a few months to find a living kidney donor.
His story, contact and donor information can all be found on
iggyland.org
Please help us in sharing his story and getting the word out.💙
One of the lead playtesters of Blue Prince, Iggy, has polycystic kidney disease and has only a few months to find a living kidney donor.
His story, contact and donor information can all be found on
iggyland.org
Please help us in sharing his story and getting the word out.💙
buttonmusher.substack.com/p/devgamm-li...
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
DevGamm Lisbon 2025 Award Winners
Helping smaller game creators reach for the stars.
buttonmusher.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
buttonmusher.substack.com/p/devgamm-li...
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Here is the first part of my @devgamm.bsky.social Lisbon 2025 coverage: Award Winners. I'll recommend games that I played in another piece, but this list is curated by people a lot more qualified than me.
Prepare your Wishlists and hide your wallets.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room. ✍️
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room
"It's a small planet, but someone's gotta make the deliveries."
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room. ✍️
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
'Gaming is the new oil:' How the EA buyout 'diverges from the traditional playbook'
'Gaming is the new oil:' How the EA buyout 'diverges from the traditional playbook'
Analysts explain how the high-risk leveraged buyout will impact Electronic Arts and the video game industry.
www.gamedeveloper.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM
'Gaming is the new oil:' How the EA buyout 'diverges from the traditional playbook'
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room. ✍️
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room
"It's a small planet, but someone's gotta make the deliveries."
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Exploring A Planet From An ER Waiting Room. ✍️
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
How a tiny game had the power to transport me from a stressful situation into a small planet where I just had to make five deliveries.
Thank you to @lukeplunkett.com at @aftermath.site for showing me this gem. Go play messenger.abeto.co now!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Was great talking about @designroom.bsky.social with the Aftermath folks!
October 17, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Was great talking about @designroom.bsky.social with the Aftermath folks!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
In 2021, the makers of the indie classic CrossCode got a grant from the German government to fund half of their next game. They thought it'd take ~$1.5 million and 3.5 years.
Things didn't go quite as planned. Here's the story behind the follow-up to a masterpiece: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Things didn't go quite as planned. Here's the story behind the follow-up to a masterpiece: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
'CrossCode' Makers Look to Follow Up on an Indie Masterpiece
'Alabaster Dawn' will build on the combat and puzzles of 'CrossCode' but present an entirely new setting
www.bloomberg.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
In 2021, the makers of the indie classic CrossCode got a grant from the German government to fund half of their next game. They thought it'd take ~$1.5 million and 3.5 years.
Things didn't go quite as planned. Here's the story behind the follow-up to a masterpiece: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Things didn't go quite as planned. Here's the story behind the follow-up to a masterpiece: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
more union news at blizzard this week!
Big week for unions at Blizzard as Hearthstone team also votes 'yes'
aftermath.site/hearthstone-un...
aftermath.site/hearthstone-un...
October 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
more union news at blizzard this week!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
With our new demo running during Steam Next Fest, I'm seeing more players discover Ambrosia Sky's immersive sim sensibilities.
I thought it might be fun to share a pair of moment from the demo that illustrates this, through the lens of how I do my work as a level designer.
I thought it might be fun to share a pair of moment from the demo that illustrates this, through the lens of how I do my work as a level designer.
October 15, 2025 at 9:24 PM
With our new demo running during Steam Next Fest, I'm seeing more players discover Ambrosia Sky's immersive sim sensibilities.
I thought it might be fun to share a pair of moment from the demo that illustrates this, through the lens of how I do my work as a level designer.
I thought it might be fun to share a pair of moment from the demo that illustrates this, through the lens of how I do my work as a level designer.
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
really did not expect bloomberg to become the place for detailed reporting on my most anticipated indie games
(gift link)
(gift link)
Why 'Mina the Hollower' Was Delayed
Yacht Club Games hasn't given a new release date, but the delay shouldn’t be more than a few months
www.bloomberg.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
really did not expect bloomberg to become the place for detailed reporting on my most anticipated indie games
(gift link)
(gift link)
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Don't know what to play during @steampowered.com Next Fest? AIIG will be publishing email lists of worthy games every day. Subscribe for free and find the best game demos.
Past coverage: indiegames.substack.com/s/steam-next...
#steamnextfest #nextfest #gaming #games #videogames #newsletter
Past coverage: indiegames.substack.com/s/steam-next...
#steamnextfest #nextfest #gaming #games #videogames #newsletter
October 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Don't know what to play during @steampowered.com Next Fest? AIIG will be publishing email lists of worthy games every day. Subscribe for free and find the best game demos.
Past coverage: indiegames.substack.com/s/steam-next...
#steamnextfest #nextfest #gaming #games #videogames #newsletter
Past coverage: indiegames.substack.com/s/steam-next...
#steamnextfest #nextfest #gaming #games #videogames #newsletter
Wrote about the disconnect between critic scores and audience reviews when it comes to the technical aspect of videogames and speculated on why that might be. Give it a read and let me know what your thoughts are on this!
Are Technical Issues Ignored In Game Reviews?
Would You Give A 10/10 To A Game That Runs Poorly?
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Wrote about the disconnect between critic scores and audience reviews when it comes to the technical aspect of videogames and speculated on why that might be. Give it a read and let me know what your thoughts are on this!
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Scoop: Ubisoft cancelled a post-Civil War Assassin’s Creed last year
Company leadership deemed the project too controversial for the moment, sources tell Game File
www.gamefile.news
October 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
Reposted by Gonçalo Santos
i wrote about consume me for @theverge.com ✨
October 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
i wrote about consume me for @theverge.com ✨