iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Jessica Cogswell 🌸 @jessicogs.bsky.social · 7h

I feel like I have so much I want to say but it’s just this incoherent ramble. But do you know how much it weighs on me to be the one woman on staff at GameSpot? To be one of VERY few women in the industry? To be one of ever fewer moms? To walk into press events and be the *sole* woman?

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Foucault's Pudendum @kaitave.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm telling you guys, you gotta put killcodes in the games you make now and hold them hostage. Day 0 patch set to automatically apply and delete everything if you aren't there to manually pause it. Go full Pandora Tomorrow. Your bosses don't know anything about coding, they can't fix it!

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A recent survey found that 92% of U.S. adults have delayed or avoided medical care due to high costs. Meanwhile, a new study from Yale estimates that Medicare for All would save over 114,000 lives and $1 trillion a year. If this country was truly “pro-life,” we would have universal healthcare.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I hope you deeply appreciate how much fun I had listening to Will talk about Onimusha, knowing exactly what I was going to say afterwards We have fun over at Skybox and you should join us

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Any journalist who doesn't record video anyway to inform the American people is no journalist

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 10/09/2026

If you want to hear how @brianbarnett.bsky.social conquered his fear of heights and enclosed spaces, or how KRIS BROKE HIS BACK Take a listen to this episode of The Skybox Podcast. We also talk about games. And anime. And a book. Enjoy!

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36 - I Definitely Would Not Know All About That (& Have More Details Coming Soon) | Skybox

TIMESTAMPS: How Brian Conquered His Claustrophobia & Fear Of Heights (& Kris Broke His Back) - 0:00 | Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls - 12:38 |

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 28/07/2026

The vanishing art of disability reporting by @supercrip1994.bsky.social "For seven years, I’ve watched us receive nothing but likes and shares across varying social media platforms. And I’ve watched as this industry quickly moves on to the next thing that jingles its keys" Read on:

skyboxcritics.com

The vanishing art of disability reporting

As the games industry contracts, disability reporting is facing an extinction-level crisis.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 06/07/2026

Play old games: They’re good and good for you by @marcnormandin.bsky.social "There are better ideas for weathering this particular storm than taking financial advice from a company that seemingly buys studios just to close them." Read on:

skyboxcritics.com

Play old games: They're good and good for you

With prices skyrocketing and more and more bad news about contemporary video games every day, here's a suggestion: play old games!

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Ben is Unionized and Writes Stuff @beewubs.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

No union employees at Blizzard were impacted by today’s bloodbath—and I sincerely doubt that was because the powers that be think that we’re all vital. Odds are, they wanted easy cuts. Status Quo makes you not easy. The best time to unionize was a year ago. The second best time to unionize is now.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

We all work hard to make Skybox possible, & that includes you! Our writers focus on writing, Will & Lucas edit, I record/stream/edit almost all of our shows, Kris handles the beast that is Skydive, & Will works hard to help bridge the financial gap between what we need & what Patreon provides.

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maddy 𖹭 @maddyjacksonn.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

IF BUYING ISN'T OWNING PIRACY ISN'T STEALING if piracy is the only way to preserve video games with this "inevitable", unsustainable all digital future so be it. let the companies burn themselves to the ground.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/07/2026

It's once again time for INTO THE SKYBOX! In this episode @brianbarnett.bsky.social sits down with @joerichardswrites.bsky.social to talk about playing Chrono Trigger for the first time in 2026 It's never too late to play! Enjoy www.patreon.com/SkyboxCritic...

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24 - It's Never Too Late To Play Chrono Trigger (with Joe Richards) | Skybox

24 - It's Never Too Late To Play Chrono Trigger (with Joe Richards) by Skybox on Patreon. Join Skybox's community for exclusive content and updates.

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Will Borger @edgarallanbro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The real question now is, if consoles are just going to be walled garden PCs with inferior hardware and no disc drive, why would you ever buy one? Games run worse and cost more on consoles. Backwards compatibility is iffy. No mods. You pay the manufacturer to use your own internet. So... why?

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Frank Cifaldi @frankcifaldi.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

As the director of a historical video game preservation institution, and someone who has dedicated his entire adult life to this cause, this is accurate. We have attempted to work with the industry's trade organization to find a legal path forward, but they refuse to offer a meaningful alternative.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/07/2026

Skybox is worker-owned and reader-supported! If you like pieces like this, support us at www.patreon.com/skyboxcritics and help us elevate games media.

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Get more from Skybox on Patreon

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/07/2026

It’s Never Too Late To Play… Stardew Valley by @joerichardswrites.bsky.social "Worse than not understanding it, Stardew Valley stresses me out. It stresses me out in ways I can’t explain without oversharing." Read on:

skyboxcritics.com

It’s Never Too Late To Play… Stardew Valley

After avoiding it on purpose for years, Joe dives into why Stardew Valley feels like the opposite of cozy.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

my wife went out to shop with my daughter they came home and then i, the family cook, found this in my cabinet

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Hayes Madsen @solfleet.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Worth noting that the last two studios shut down by Xbox were coming off of prestigious award wins. 2024 - Tango Gameworks shut down after winnning BAFTA for Best Animation 2026 - Compulsion shut down after winnning Peabody Award Probably the two biggest awards Xbox-owned studios have earned.

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Natalie @heartimecia.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

there is a special place in hell for that leadership team. they scooped up several studios wanting to tell diverse, progressive, and unique stories only to discard them regardless of how hard the devs worked, how much they succeeded. a fucking Peabody award winner, man!!

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

If you serve me ads in a game I spent money on I will never buy your stuff again If you serve me ads in a game I didn't spend money on I will strongly consider never downloading your stuff again Sell me a game, then let me enjoy it

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Scorsese: Marvel movies aren't cinema Also Scorsese: Plagiarized art, not even made by humans, is cinema Man, you got some dumbass takes

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 02/06/2026

A brand new episode of The Skybox Podcast is live! In it, @brianbarnett.bsky.social @hokutolucas.bsky.social and @kriscornelisse.bsky.social talk about the new Guilty Gear character; Jam. They also talk about Starfox (and Zero), pre-release bugs, & more Enjoy! open.spotify.com/episode/7w60...

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28 - BEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!

The Skybox Podcast · Episode

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

What's The Red Skull's favorite Nazi soft drink? ... ... ... ... ... Arnim Cola

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Ryan North @ryannorth.ca · 28/05/2026

Part of being an AI user in creative works is convincing yourself that everyone ELSE uses it too, because otherwise you have to confront the reality that you're a faker and a fraud

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Joe Richards -> bed @joerichardswrites.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

We talk Super Metroid! The weirdness of emulation, and all kinds of other stuff! I also get interrupted by my father, AGAIN! Will we ever get through one of these without me being interrupted? Tune in to find out!

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Will Borger @edgarallanbro.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Skybox is now $7 a month away from hitting this goal, which means a week of themed pieces from our writers and a column from me. For a nominal fee, you can read some great work and make sure I suffer more and sleep less. $1 a month helps, but $5 gets you into our Discord, and $10 gets you Skydive.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/05/2026

The State of the Art: Celebrating one year of Skybox and reflecting on the business by @edgarallanbro.bsky.social Skybox launched one year ago today. Here are some words from our Editor-in-Chief about the state of the site, the space, and what's next. Thanks for the support so far, and read on:

skyboxcritics.com

The State of the Art: Celebrating one year of Skybox and reflecting on the business

Skybox has been around for a year! Here's a word from our EiC on how things have gone and what's next.

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I Travel Like Sound Dog @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 01/05/2026

People should consider that a consensus around treating diversity as “bullshit” contributed to an environment in which the court is comfortable doing this politically. Maybe.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/05/2026

It's finally here. Part one of our Xenogears Skydive, in which we go beat by beat (and beyond) through one of the most absurdly dense RPGs ever made, is ready for our subscribers. Check out the pre-flight check from @kriscornelisse.bsky.social to get started:

skyboxcritics.com

Skydive Pre-Flight Check - Xenogears

Skydive continues with part one of a massive, three part Xenogears deep dive. Here's your starting point.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Join us at Skybox. We are a worker-owned site, and we love our writers. ❤️

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

(to the tune of The Piano Man) "twas an ominous feat of which I'll be discreet when I stole the other mans bones"

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

these sorts of moves are always STATED to be to save money but if you know what it takes to find good people who know what they're doing, train them up, & get them experience, you'll know EXACTLY why 'talent retention' is ALWAYS better for your bottom line in the long run 'shortsighted' is dead on

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Marvel WHAAAAAAAT are you doing with that chain... accessory... placement???

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Bolt451. He's Our Bastard ❤️ @bolt451.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

This quote from Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell has been in my head the last few days

You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, ‘Look at that, you son of a bitch

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Will Borger @edgarallanbro.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

There's several fighting games coming out soon, so it's time to remind everyone that I run Golden Wiiklies, a fighting game Discord that hosts tournaments and leagues for press and friends, and it's a great way to learn and meet chill people. If I know you and you would like to join, let me know.

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 01/04/2026

PAX travel day means no podcast stream tonight! Have a great evening, everyone 💟 We've got some killer stuff in the works right now, including the addition of formerly-Patreon-exclusive Skydive videos on our YouTube channel, starting tomorrow! www.youtube.com/@SkyboxCritics

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Skybox

Skybox was started to be a video game site for everything we could think of, and all the stuff we writers couldn’t do elsewhere. A place where good work, whether that meant criticism, blogs, reporting...

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Joe Richards -> bed @joerichardswrites.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Brian and I had a fantastic chat on this episode, about MGS2 and about "It's Never Too Late To Play" in general! Incredibly affirming. You can also hear me get interrupted by my Dad within the first few minutes of this podcast - so you should subscribe for that. (For real though)

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

I don't know much about Xena, so I sat down with the delightful & incredibly talented @trudiegraham.bsky.social to learn about the long-beloved fantasy series Come for the Xena queer representation, stay for the Trudie ARCHERY ACCIDENT?! More on Skybox: skyboxcritics.com/2026/03/13/i...

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Into The Skybox Ep. 20 - I Watched Xena: Warrior Princess For The First Time In 2025 & Loved It (with Trudie Graham) | Skybox

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

While I'm talking about the shows I make at @skyboxcritics.com... I had a fantastic discussion about Metal Gear Solid 2 with @joerichardswrites.bsky.social on Into The Skybox! Check it out and back us to gain access to our unhinged Discord for $5 a month at patreon.com/skyboxcritics

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ItS 17 - It's Never Too Late To Play... Metal Gear Solid 2 (with Joe Richards) | Skybox

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 26/03/2026

Toxic influences keep hollowing out important gaming spaces. Listen to Into The Skybox to hear @brianbarnett.bsky.social and @edgarallanbro.bsky.social discuss the Saudi acquisition of EVO. Read more about it on Skybox: skyboxcritics.com/2026/02/24/s... skyboxcritics.com/2025/05/16/i...

skyboxcritics.com

Saudi Arabia bought EVO. We can still fight for the FGC's soul

On what the new change of ownership means for EVO and the Fighting Game Community, and what we can do about it.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

I had a fantastic conversation with @edgarallanbro.bsky.social about the Saudi Arabian acquisition of EVO, what it means for the FGC, and how we must move differently in a world where hostile presences invade inclusive spaces You can gain access to it & our Discord at Patreon.com/SkyboxCritics

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Into The Skybox Ep. 21 - Saudi Arabia Bought EVO, But It's Not Too Late To Fight For EVOs Soul (with Will Borger) | Skybox

Get more from Skybox on Patreon

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Skybox @skyboxcritics.com · 25/03/2026

Join us right now on Twitch.tv/SkyboxCritics for Episode 25 of The Skybox Podcast! Tonights hosts: @brianbarnett.bsky.social and @kriscornelisse.bsky.social

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Will Borger @edgarallanbro.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Ladies, gentlemen, beloved they/thems, we sit at $214. For a mere $36 extra dollars a month, you can have Even More Skybox. Sounds like a good deal to me.

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Brian Barnett | Ribnax @brianbarnett.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Behold my 'average KOs / final hits per 10 minutes' and weep, knowing you will never beat it

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Harper Jay @dreamcastaway.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

I think it's weird for people who are nominally journalists to say things like "We should have waited to see what people think." The issue isn't that you lost the coin flip of public opinion; the issue was that you gave into astonishment. The problem is that the keyjingling got you at all!

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Odie @odiezilla305.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

It is impossible to carry on normally during this administration if you're Hispanic or non-white doing anything in public spaces. There's a seething level of existential dread that rears up every time you see a beat cop or police car in the rear view, beyond the usual 'cops suck' attitude. It sucks.

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