Steven Messner
@stevenmessner.bsky.social
Director of Comms & Audiences at Blackbird Interactive | Narrative Designer on Neon Noodles | Previously @ Digital Extremes and PC Gamer | He/him
The vibes in Arc Raiders' solo queue are so chill. I haven't felt *this* enchanted by a multiplayer game since Classic WoW.
Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together.
Yes, I was terrified the whole time.
Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together.
Yes, I was terrified the whole time.
November 2, 2025 at 4:56 AM
The vibes in Arc Raiders' solo queue are so chill. I haven't felt *this* enchanted by a multiplayer game since Classic WoW.
Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together.
Yes, I was terrified the whole time.
Met a buddy and looted, then at extraction met two other players, exchanged pleasantries, and then caught the elevator down together.
Yes, I was terrified the whole time.
One last plug for @shipbreakergame.bsky.social before I sleep for a thousand years.
I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games.
Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...
I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games.
Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...
August 14, 2025 at 11:27 PM
One last plug for @shipbreakergame.bsky.social before I sleep for a thousand years.
I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games.
Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...
I'm *very* excited about the LYNX Pioneer Program, a new community initiative to get our players closer to development of the next Hardspace games.
Learn about it here: blackbirdinteractive.com/lynxpioneerp...
Got really worried when this random person messaged me on Chess dot com, only for it to turn into the most wonderful interaction.
I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹
I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹
June 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Got really worried when this random person messaged me on Chess dot com, only for it to turn into the most wonderful interaction.
I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹
I'm stunned (and humbled) that someone remembered my byline from @pcgamer.com all these years later 🥹
Very good fix in today's Stellaris patch notes:
May 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Very good fix in today's Stellaris patch notes:
Pretty sweet to go see a band you've never even heard before, they end up being one of the best live shows you've ever seen, and walk out being like yah okay I guess this is my new favorite artist.
(They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)
(They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)
April 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Pretty sweet to go see a band you've never even heard before, they end up being one of the best live shows you've ever seen, and walk out being like yah okay I guess this is my new favorite artist.
(They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)
(They're called Leprous and you should listen to them)
Only played an hour of Path of Exile 2 but, damn, the combat feels *so* good.
I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways.
Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...
I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways.
Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...
December 7, 2024 at 4:41 PM
Only played an hour of Path of Exile 2 but, damn, the combat feels *so* good.
I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways.
Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...
I love how difficult and intentional it is. Feels almost subversive to PoE1 in all the right ways.
Absolutely wild to me that people would complain that it's not just more PoE1... Like, dude, that exists already...
In primordial tunnels gnashed by stone teeth, I find it. An artifact.
Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose:
It is a metal folding chair.
---
Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.
Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose:
It is a metal folding chair.
---
Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.
December 7, 2024 at 4:35 AM
In primordial tunnels gnashed by stone teeth, I find it. An artifact.
Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose:
It is a metal folding chair.
---
Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.
Studying the black tubes of its frame, I become confident of its purpose:
It is a metal folding chair.
---
Peak moment in Caves of Qud tonight.
Caves of Qud is my goty - and it's not even close.
Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike.
Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides.
And the controller support is sublime!
Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike.
Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides.
And the controller support is sublime!
December 7, 2024 at 3:16 AM
Caves of Qud is my goty - and it's not even close.
Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike.
Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides.
And the controller support is sublime!
Absolutely astonishing open-world CRPG and old-skool roguelike.
Don't be intimidated by it. It's not that hard and there's plenty of good guides.
And the controller support is sublime!
Weekend project is painting the kids' rooms -- really proud of how this turned out...
...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃
...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃
November 23, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Weekend project is painting the kids' rooms -- really proud of how this turned out...
...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃
...Even if I've spent the whole time fantasizing about getting it done so I could play Stalker 2 🙃
Friday vibes are off the charts
November 22, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Friday vibes are off the charts
Actually, as good as that Oblivion screenshot is, the one that totally enchanted me was this pre-release forest. I stared at this thing for hours because I just couldn't comprehend graphics that realistic — the density of the forest, the lighting, the texture of the bark.
November 18, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Actually, as good as that Oblivion screenshot is, the one that totally enchanted me was this pre-release forest. I stared at this thing for hours because I just couldn't comprehend graphics that realistic — the density of the forest, the lighting, the texture of the bark.
This is driving me mad. This is definitely the same location but the screenshot I remember had only one NPC and he was looking off in the distance.
Screenshots like these were my Roman Empire as a teenager. Right up there with this Oblivion screenshot that STILL lives rent-free in my head.
Screenshots like these were my Roman Empire as a teenager. Right up there with this Oblivion screenshot that STILL lives rent-free in my head.
November 18, 2024 at 4:47 PM
This is driving me mad. This is definitely the same location but the screenshot I remember had only one NPC and he was looking off in the distance.
Screenshots like these were my Roman Empire as a teenager. Right up there with this Oblivion screenshot that STILL lives rent-free in my head.
Screenshots like these were my Roman Empire as a teenager. Right up there with this Oblivion screenshot that STILL lives rent-free in my head.
My wrapped is severely affected by my desperate need for specific vibes when I'm writing.
December 4, 2023 at 1:06 AM
My wrapped is severely affected by my desperate need for specific vibes when I'm writing.
The Hot Pot Hangover was worth it.
October 18, 2023 at 3:17 PM
The Hot Pot Hangover was worth it.
No one told me it was possible to be this happy 😊
Here's Tilly meeting baby Rowan for the first time...
Here's Tilly meeting baby Rowan for the first time...
August 25, 2023 at 2:39 PM
No one told me it was possible to be this happy 😊
Here's Tilly meeting baby Rowan for the first time...
Here's Tilly meeting baby Rowan for the first time...
Park days with bae
July 29, 2023 at 6:47 PM
Park days with bae
A fictional character you'd give an invite to.
July 9, 2023 at 5:43 PM
A fictional character you'd give an invite to.
My climb to grandmaster in Chess is going very well -- 600!
July 6, 2023 at 5:16 PM
My climb to grandmaster in Chess is going very well -- 600!