iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

NEW: In January, I was sent a threatening and absurd email by Bobby Kotick's lawyers It was unsettling I've wanted to tell readers about it, but didn't want to step on Mikhail's toes. Now that his report is out, here's my experience of standing up for my work www.gamefile.news/p/bobby-koti...

gamefile.news

Bobby Kotick’s lawyers sent me a bad email (and later apologized)

Part of a broader strategy by the former Activision CEO to shape press coverage

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 27/09/2026

Google finally updated some of its satellite images of Gaza and my god, it's horrific. The entirety of Rafah has been demolished. The majority of Khan Younis is in ruins. Entire towns completely leveled and erased of the map.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🧵Thread from one of the original reporters of the WSJ investigation here, again reiterating that their work was never corrected or altered, despite Kotick/Clare Locke pressuring other outlets to consider it "debunked".

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Rhiannon 🇵🇸 @rhithewitch.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Currently watching this but yeah all my Kotick coverage was taken down after a legal threat. Actually why I was looking into setting up my own archive the other day. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...

youtube.com

Inside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the Press

YouTube video by People Make Games

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Mikhail Klimentov @leadergrev.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

For nearly two years, I've been investigating a pattern of ominous legal letters sent to journalists by defamation counsel representing Bobby Kotick. That investigation is finally live. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...

youtube.com

Inside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the Press

YouTube video by People Make Games

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Alex Van Aken @itsvanaken.games · 24/09/2026

I traveled to Washington, D.C. to help People Make Games film this important investigation led by @leadergrev.bsky.social. Help fund more of their work: Patreon.com/PeopleMakeGames

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Carli Velocci 👽 @carlivelocci.com · 24/09/2026

So many journalists can tell you they received emails asking them to change how stories about ABK and Kotick were written.

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Ash Parrish, Kotaku's LeBron James @adashtra.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

oh hey yup uh huh..YUUUUP

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Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I’m really happy that @leadergrev.bsky.social and PMG are getting this story out and I urge you to watch it.

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Carolyn Petit @carolynmichelle.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

OMG OMG OMG someone finally reported on it! Thank god!

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

In recent years, the media has quietly begun to change the way in which it writes about Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard. PMG investigates how Kotick used the threat of defamation to reshape his legacy in the games business, one article at a time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...

youtube.com

Inside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the Press

YouTube video by People Make Games

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It's telling that most YouTubers I know have reacted to the idea of this with utter *exasperation* lol. We like having the option to A/B test titles and thumbnails after having spent so long on PMG videos, but this ceaseless push towards data-driven optimization makes me want to crumble into dust.

A social media post from the YouTube Creators account, detailing a new feature coming to the platform. It reads:

"stop guessing what hooks your audience 🎣 with video A/B testing, you can test up to 3 edits of a Short or video simultaneously. review the stats, pick the clear winner, and seamlessly lock it in as your video.

launching to select creators in 2027."

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Harper Jay @dreamcastaway.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

What is there even to say about this Xbox stuff? Incredibly grim, legendary fumbles all around. A complete untangling of the weave, nothing but tatters and loose thread.. "Activision will also be developing the next Halo title" sounds like a threat. lmao

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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

NEW: Nearly 300 more jobs cut at Microsoft's gaming team (part of 3,200 announced in July). Majority at Halo Studios, reduced to support Ninja Theory facing potential closure Halo to Activision (dev and publishing) Rare to Activision, too Obsidian to Bethesda www.gamefile.news/p/xbox-halo-...

gamefile.news

Microsoft makes big cuts at Halo Studios, shifts franchise to Activision

Deal to sell Ninja Theory falls through, dimming studio’s prospects

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IGN Creators Guild @ignunion.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We are tired of posting statements like these.

Today was an awful day at IGN. We were blindsided by the layoff of four union members and many more people across the organization who contributed years of their careers to making IGN an unparalleled voice in games and entertainment.

With each successive layoff, core parts of IGN’s operation continue to be stripped away. Today, IGN has decided to do away with many of our talented producers, editors, hosts, and other crucial roles, both within and out of the union. How many layoffs will occur before we no longer recognize the company we work for and the content that we make?

While we recognize the challenges the media industry is facing as a whole, it is difficult to understand how laying off valuable employees better positions us to meet those challenges. In turn, remaining employees bear additional workloads worsened by anxiety over the ever-looming threat of another layoff.

We are devastated, angry, and heartbroken for our colleagues.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

First thing the Blizzcon attendees see as they join the queue for this year’s show.

The Blizzard union stall set up outside of Blizzcon 2026

A sign reading “Unionized Blizzard Gamemakers. We make the games!”

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Jerry's Map @jerrysmap.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Friday, September 11, 2026: Jerry's Map Section G.IX jerrysmap.com

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Picked a good weekend to mostly be standing outside the main entrance of Blizzcon 👍

Severe weather alert for California. It’s real hot!

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Damn, you've got to imagine Rockstar never envisioned a speech like this one happening when they fired those 34 workers, huh?

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This might be a good moment to also announce that PMG has been following the Blizzard unions through this process for nearly two years now and in early 2027 you’ll be able to watch our documentary on the fight that took place to get this historic contract over the line.

Chris standing outside the front gates of the Blizzard campus in Irvine, California.

Union members demonstrating in Irvine as part of a mass walkout last month.

The giant inflatable rat known as 'Scabby', standing outside the front gates to the Blizzard campus.

An aerial drone shot of the Blizzard campus.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

With caveats needed (this is too little, far too late & some of what Miliband said in the full speech was more disappointing)… I am so heartened to see a UK Foreign Secretary finally willing to make this case in Parliament. This may have felt impossible just weeks ago.

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"Rockstar has tried to get away with Grand Theft Employment Rights" - Final hearing in Rockstar vs. GTA 6 fired employees begins this week www.eurogamer.net/rockstar-nor...

Protestors with placards gather outside Rockstar North's studio in Scotland. A man with a megaphone addresses the crowd.

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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

SCOOP: A few weeks before the launch of Star Wars Zero Company, most of the developers at its studio were furloughed The studio says they hope to secure funds to restore their pay. Some are skeptical it'll happen I learned about this via a bitter lawsuit: www.gamefile.news/p/star-wars-...

gamefile.news

‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch

The details emerged amid a legal dispute between company founders. The lawsuit also provides an unexpected look into a studio behind one of the best-reviewed Star Wars games in years

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

That GTA VI reveal is the end result of just so much hard work and graft from so many, many people. Worth remembering that graft and those people as we enter September and see the union recognition discussions come to a head in the UK and of course, the employment tribunal finally gets underway 🌱

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The fired Rockstar workers are asking supporters not to boycott GTA 6, but instead, to directly support the union's legal costs as it approaches next month's employment tribunal.

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Will 🌱 @willmesilane.com · 12/08/2026

Today a big group of friends and former colleagues gathered outside of Rockstar North to give Lonnie some love, a farewell, and a good luck on her return journey home this weekend ❤️ My heart is full. I’m so grateful to have so many incredible people supporting us throughout all of this ☺️

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Well that was extremely cool. Loved seeing all the locals coming out to experience it together too 🌞

The solar eclipse creating some very cool shadows at a local kid’s park in Brighton.

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OneBGS - Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Today at HQ, we had special guests from Microsoft leadership. We refuse to let executives forget what game studios are actually made of: their workers. As welcome gift, we placed hundreds of flags outside, honoring all of the game workers who have been laid off by Microsoft in 2026 (so far).

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

We're so used to seeing these sorts of sky-high numbers relating to executive compensation that it's easy to become numbed to the reality of what the numbers actually mean. This chart (not the one shown in the preview) drills home the true absurdity of it all. Look upon it and despair.

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Jerry's Map @jerrysmap.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Monday, August 3, 2026: Jerry's Map Section H.VII jerrysmap.com

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Will 🌱 @willmesilane.com · 29/07/2026

I'm so very grateful for PeopleMakeGames giving me a platform to speak about the impact the dismissal from Rockstar has had on my family because it has been profound. We miss our dogs more than anything in the world and would do anything to have them both back. Unfortunately that cannot happen.

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Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Order of the Sinking Star is a complex puzzle game that updates and combines older puzzle games (with permission) Last year, the source games' developers criticized the lead dev of the new game How might those creators be credited in OotSS? It's been changing www.gamefile.news/p/a-complica...

gamefile.news

A complicated game

Who gets credit for Order of the Sinking Star? Where should the names appear for the creators of its source material? And would you notice if a great game designer sat next to you?

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Reporting on the R* firings has meant multiple trips to London, Edinburgh & Glasgow over the last several months in order to be on the ground as the story developed. It's been a different style of video for us, with more frequent updates, rather than one big doc right at the end of the process.

Chris interviewing Rachel Crawford, one of the fired Rockstar workers, during a demonstration outside Rockstar North.

Chris attaching a lavalier microphone to the shirt of Nestor Uriarte, ahead of their interview about his role as union rep at Rockstar Games.

Chris reporting to camera outside the Glasgow Tribunals Centre during the preliminary hearing between Rockstar Games and its fired workers.

The fired Rockstar workers and their supported protesting outside the entrance to the Rockstar North offices.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Back in October, Rockstar Games fired 34 employees for alleged gross misconduct. The severity of these firings could have spelled the end for a burgeoning union effort that was underway, but it didn't. In fact, the union is now *bigger* than it's ever been before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym4z...

youtube.com

Rockstar Fired 34 People, but the Union Is Bigger than Ever

YouTube video by People Make Games

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Will 🌱 @willmesilane.com · 24/07/2026

In October last year I was fired by Rockstar Games in what we believe was a union busting move. We lost our home. We lost 2 jobs with my partner being forced to resign. We lost a community. Most importantly however we had to leave our two dogs behind, one of which will never return.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

youtube.com

Rockstar Fired 34 People, but the Union Is Bigger than Ever

YouTube video by People Make Games

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Robert Yang @radiatoryang.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

new game idea

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I know this feeling is unlikely to survive first contact with the cabinet positions being announced later today, but damn, hearing a British Prime Minister commit to end rough sleeping in his first speech is really great.

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Sam @sunlightafterdark.com · 20/07/2026

The whole design team are on the chopping block. I worked with all those being let go and they are an incredible people and skilled artists. Anyone looking for any designers?

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Rubén Rincón @rubenrincon.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Sadly, the entire audio team at ZA/UM is being made redundant as part of the layoffs. If you're looking (or expect to be looking) for Sound Designers or Tech Sound Designers, please don't hesitate in reaching out to @eliforster.bsky.social, @missgameaudio.bsky.social and @soundbear.bsky.social

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Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 19/07/2026

Scrap the Romesh thing just clip Wayne Rooney saying he thought the half time show was crap and the licence fee QR code

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Axel حسن Taiari @shevek.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I'm one of the folks affected. *Many* on the list are gifted; their work was crucial to the weird little miracle that is ZP. Please, consider hiring them. Dust is still settling on my end, but my inbox is open.

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Game workers protested outside the Build A Rocket Boy offices on Saturday, as the studio hosted a playtesting event for fans. BARB has laid off 250-300 employees over the last 13 months & has been accused of installing surveillance software on workers' PCs to root out "saboteurs" within the company

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Emma Kent @goneefk.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Making two Northern European teams play knockout football in the Miami heat counts as cruel and unusual punishment imo

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Tom O @vgtomo.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Big news! @apzonerunner.com and I have launched a new video games website. @respec.net is our attempt to create a highly curated multi-format site that has that club feel you used to get from the best magazines (and frankly, my beloved VideoGamer back in the day) www.respec.net/feature/87-w...

respec.net

Welcome to Respec: A word from the Editors | Respec

Welcome to our new little corner of the internet. Why a new video game website, and why now? Allow us to explain...

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Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I'd managed to avoid listening to Farage recently, so hadn't realized he was now at "men can't wear watches in our capitol city" territory lol

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 06/07/2026

The majority of chatter today will be about the fate of studios who build the games we love. But we cannot forget that these cuts will include hundreds of less visible folk w top expertise in a variety of supporting departments. No studios close today, but the loss personal & professional is immense

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