Sam Winkler
@samwinkler.bsky.social
Narrative Director, Borderlands 4 at Gearbox Software | Prev: Lead Writer, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands | BL3 | BL3: Guns, Love, and Tentacles | Non-canonical lore item | He/him.
Pinned
Sam Winkler
@samwinkler.bsky.social
· Jul 1
Hi BlueSky! I’m Sam, a narrative director at Gearbox Software, and these are my most enduring artistic and cultural works:
Reposted by Sam Winkler
"why are games so expensive"
"why are mass layoffs happening"
"why are games getting cancelled"
"why did that popular studio close"
it's capitalism. capitalism is why all of this is happening. the rampant prioritizing of profit over the all else, from price and quality to dev health and well being.
"why are mass layoffs happening"
"why are games getting cancelled"
"why did that popular studio close"
it's capitalism. capitalism is why all of this is happening. the rampant prioritizing of profit over the all else, from price and quality to dev health and well being.
SCOOP: For the last two years, Microsoft has pushed Xbox to hit profit margins of 30%, an ambitious target that's far higher than the industry average.
This chase for profit has led Xbox to raise prices, cut thousands of jobs, and rethink everything.
Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
This chase for profit has led Xbox to raise prices, cut thousands of jobs, and rethink everything.
Story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Microsoft Pushes Xbox Division to Hit Higher Profit Margins
Management’s goal of 30% profit margins for gaming has led to job losses, canceled projects
www.bloomberg.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
"why are games so expensive"
"why are mass layoffs happening"
"why are games getting cancelled"
"why did that popular studio close"
it's capitalism. capitalism is why all of this is happening. the rampant prioritizing of profit over the all else, from price and quality to dev health and well being.
"why are mass layoffs happening"
"why are games getting cancelled"
"why did that popular studio close"
it's capitalism. capitalism is why all of this is happening. the rampant prioritizing of profit over the all else, from price and quality to dev health and well being.
Reposted by Sam Winkler
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOAT GIRL is my one hundredth one page game.
YOU ARE A GOAT GIRL. It is always your birthday and God Himself could not stop you from doing exactly what you want.
PDFs (including text-only) and design commentary here: www.patreon.com/posts/138800...
YOU ARE A GOAT GIRL. It is always your birthday and God Himself could not stop you from doing exactly what you want.
PDFs (including text-only) and design commentary here: www.patreon.com/posts/138800...
September 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOAT GIRL is my one hundredth one page game.
YOU ARE A GOAT GIRL. It is always your birthday and God Himself could not stop you from doing exactly what you want.
PDFs (including text-only) and design commentary here: www.patreon.com/posts/138800...
YOU ARE A GOAT GIRL. It is always your birthday and God Himself could not stop you from doing exactly what you want.
PDFs (including text-only) and design commentary here: www.patreon.com/posts/138800...
Reposted by Sam Winkler
"doxxing" was named after the first person doxed, Robert Dox, 4520 Jacobs Ave, Belview, MN
October 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
"doxxing" was named after the first person doxed, Robert Dox, 4520 Jacobs Ave, Belview, MN
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Third, we cannot forgot PAX Aus! If you wanna see me chitchat with @jesawyer.bsky.social and @samwinkler.bsky.social about worldbuilding that sticks with you… I can only imagine it’s going to be a wildly fun hour ✨
Sunday the 12th at 12:30pm on the Main Stage
Sunday the 12th at 12:30pm on the Main Stage
October 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Third, we cannot forgot PAX Aus! If you wanna see me chitchat with @jesawyer.bsky.social and @samwinkler.bsky.social about worldbuilding that sticks with you… I can only imagine it’s going to be a wildly fun hour ✨
Sunday the 12th at 12:30pm on the Main Stage
Sunday the 12th at 12:30pm on the Main Stage
Reposted by Sam Winkler
LET’S GO, VAULT HUNTERS! Contributing to the writing of Borderlands 4 was so much fun. Thanks @samwinkler.bsky.social for the opportunity to play around in one of my favorite fictional worlds alongside a fantastic team!
September 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
LET’S GO, VAULT HUNTERS! Contributing to the writing of Borderlands 4 was so much fun. Thanks @samwinkler.bsky.social for the opportunity to play around in one of my favorite fictional worlds alongside a fantastic team!
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Fuck it, Bug Dimmadome
September 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Fuck it, Bug Dimmadome
Reposted by Sam Winkler
LOOK THAT’S ME IN THE BORDERLANDS 4 CREDITS AHHHHHH
September 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM
LOOK THAT’S ME IN THE BORDERLANDS 4 CREDITS AHHHHHH
Borderlands 4 is in players' hands and I am honestly too overwhelmed by the enormity of it all to take it in. If you're playing or planning to play, thank you.
September 11, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Borderlands 4 is in players' hands and I am honestly too overwhelmed by the enormity of it all to take it in. If you're playing or planning to play, thank you.
Reposted by Sam Winkler
I got laid off from Firaxis today. I helped ship Marvel's Midnight Suns DLC and Civilization VII, and would love to talk to you about mid level Producer roles.
September 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I got laid off from Firaxis today. I helped ship Marvel's Midnight Suns DLC and Civilization VII, and would love to talk to you about mid level Producer roles.
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Hey y'all- I was impacted by the layoffs at Firaxis this morning. If you or anyone you know needs a mid to senior level materials artist that has experience in building material libraries, lighting, 2D art, and props I'm your girl!https://www.artstation.com/daniellazeman
Daniella Zeman
Concept/Materials/Lighting @ Firaxis Games
www.artstation.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Hey y'all- I was impacted by the layoffs at Firaxis this morning. If you or anyone you know needs a mid to senior level materials artist that has experience in building material libraries, lighting, 2D art, and props I'm your girl!https://www.artstation.com/daniellazeman
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Hi! I was laid off from Firaxis this morning. I wrote leaders and civs for Civilization VII (NDA for now) and Deadpool and Storm for Marvel's Midnight Suns. I also wrote the award-nominated Hindsight.
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
Portfolio
emmkid.info
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Hi! I was laid off from Firaxis this morning. I wrote leaders and civs for Civilization VII (NDA for now) and Deadpool and Storm for Marvel's Midnight Suns. I also wrote the award-nominated Hindsight.
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
I'm available for full time, remote work starting ASAP. DMs are open:
emmkid.info
Reposted by Sam Winkler
We're going to PAX West!
Join our guests Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Ify Nwadiwe, Bill Amend, Kris Straub, Jasmine Bhullar, Anna Prosser, Kate Welch, and Sam Winkler as they play Party Pack 11!
Read more on our blog!
🔗 https://jbgm.es/3JSCVid
Join our guests Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Ify Nwadiwe, Bill Amend, Kris Straub, Jasmine Bhullar, Anna Prosser, Kate Welch, and Sam Winkler as they play Party Pack 11!
Read more on our blog!
🔗 https://jbgm.es/3JSCVid
August 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
We're going to PAX West!
Join our guests Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Ify Nwadiwe, Bill Amend, Kris Straub, Jasmine Bhullar, Anna Prosser, Kate Welch, and Sam Winkler as they play Party Pack 11!
Read more on our blog!
🔗 https://jbgm.es/3JSCVid
Join our guests Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik, Ify Nwadiwe, Bill Amend, Kris Straub, Jasmine Bhullar, Anna Prosser, Kate Welch, and Sam Winkler as they play Party Pack 11!
Read more on our blog!
🔗 https://jbgm.es/3JSCVid
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Another unpaid writing test in the games industry
Alex Garland wrote a 160-page draft and made 40 pages of imagery to pitch his live-action ‘ELDEN RING’ movie.
He then flew to Japan to pitch it directly to creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and seal the deal.
(Source: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...)
He then flew to Japan to pitch it directly to creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and seal the deal.
(Source: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...)
August 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Another unpaid writing test in the games industry
People of the PAX West persuasion! I will be around the show all (long) weekend, so say hi and come check out the Borderlands 4 booth on the show floor! My panel schedule can be found below:
August 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
People of the PAX West persuasion! I will be around the show all (long) weekend, so say hi and come check out the Borderlands 4 booth on the show floor! My panel schedule can be found below:
They give us media training every time but you’d never believe it
August 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
They give us media training every time but you’d never believe it
Reposted by Sam Winkler
I interviewed the narrative team at @gearboxofficial.bsky.social to learn more about Borderlands 4 and its more grounded story. There are so, so many details in here that I think Borderlands fans will love combing through.
My story for @ign.com -
My story for @ign.com -
Gearbox is ready to right the wrongs of Borderlands 3 with a more grounded story, an interesting villain, and fewer memes in Borderlands 4.
'On Borderlands 3, in Our Worst Hours, It Sometimes Felt Like Parody' — Gearbox Explains Borderlands 4's More Grounded Story
Gearbox is ready to right the wrongs of Borderlands 3 with a more grounded story, an interesting villain, and fewer memes in Borderlands 4.
bit.ly
August 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I interviewed the narrative team at @gearboxofficial.bsky.social to learn more about Borderlands 4 and its more grounded story. There are so, so many details in here that I think Borderlands fans will love combing through.
My story for @ign.com -
My story for @ign.com -
Reposted by Sam Winkler
Join us on Twitch.tv/PAXarena from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time (2-5p Eastern -4 GMT) on Saturday, August 30th or watch live from PAX West! @atticus.haus @speakinglion @samwinkler
August 23, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Join us on Twitch.tv/PAXarena from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time (2-5p Eastern -4 GMT) on Saturday, August 30th or watch live from PAX West! @atticus.haus @speakinglion @samwinkler
JOB ALERT: Gearbox is hiring a full-time Senior Writer role. job-boards.greenhouse.io/2k/jobs/6676...
Rédacteur.trice senior- Senior Writer
Quebec, Canada
job-boards.greenhouse.io
August 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
JOB ALERT: Gearbox is hiring a full-time Senior Writer role. job-boards.greenhouse.io/2k/jobs/6676...
Huge honor at the Hugo Awards (I am an usher)
August 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Huge honor at the Hugo Awards (I am an usher)
Reposted by Sam Winkler
you should all know that I was drinking the panera death lemonade for the entirety of my time working on Borderlands 4. every line I wrote was fueled by Lemonade That Kills You
August 11, 2025 at 10:01 PM
you should all know that I was drinking the panera death lemonade for the entirety of my time working on Borderlands 4. every line I wrote was fueled by Lemonade That Kills You
Reposted by Sam Winkler
No refunds. No survivors. 💜
See how Vex – one of our new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 – got her Siren powers in the Purple Friday short. 🧠✨
youtu.be/BzgZvUMgtSs?...
See how Vex – one of our new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 – got her Siren powers in the Purple Friday short. 🧠✨
youtu.be/BzgZvUMgtSs?...
July 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
No refunds. No survivors. 💜
See how Vex – one of our new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 – got her Siren powers in the Purple Friday short. 🧠✨
youtu.be/BzgZvUMgtSs?...
See how Vex – one of our new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4 – got her Siren powers in the Purple Friday short. 🧠✨
youtu.be/BzgZvUMgtSs?...
I must be cheating at Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater the way I’ve unlocked infinite grind
May 19, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I must be cheating at Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater the way I’ve unlocked infinite grind