iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Glad someone's taken the time to gather these all together - lots of incremental cuts add up, for all the obvious reasons. Thoughts to everyone involved and I hope people can find their feet somewhere that treats them better in the future.

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Connor Makar @connormakar.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I spoke to several sources working hard at The Coalition, who have experienced increased anxiety around layoffs and promised Metacritic bonuses since Xbox's Reset. The sudden cut of story director Juan Vaca only fueled these fears. Read it below!

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

An excellet report here from @connormakar.bsky.social on the brewing situation at Gears studio The Coalition, where - unsurprisingly - there seems to be rapidly vanishing trust between developers (who have been "crunching hard") and their parent company.

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Andy Robinson @andyrobinson.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Games media cuts have felt unending for a while, but the mood feels especially grim among indie outlets with the latest wave of layoffs. More than ever, if the game industry values its media, it needs to support them. Buy some advertising, sponsor content, purchase subs. It makes a big difference.

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garin | comms open @garin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The last few months haven't been easy on me financially, so if you need an artist on your project or would like to request a personal commission, now is the best time. My working schedule is empty rn so feel free to hit me up anytime!

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Started reading the Horus Heresy books for a bit of mindless non-screen time and they're great. Story's like the Star Wars prequels but if Lucas had just kept all the baddie names. Young Darth. Senator Sidious. I can't believe all these good dudes called, ahem, "Maloghurst the Twisted" might go bad!

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alexis @steppinlazer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

i reviewed control resonant and it was very video, very game

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

New statement here with more context on the crunch - including: "it was optional; four people opted out" but acknowledging "maybe the social pressure within a very tight-knit team might make those individuals feel less than great" Also a response to possible legal Q regarding social media screening

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Alex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 16/09/2026

Just learned that after being acquired, GameReactor has in several territories laid off its entire editorial team & is pivoting its content creation to gen AI. Apparently includes the UK as well. Another sorry end (and trust me, it will be an end) to a once proud games media brand

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Feel like I’ve written this paragraph at least 3 times now. There’s a separate feature in this, but I think PlayStation’s first-party fare has gone from a (relative) strength to a ticking time bomb. Keep remaking the same thing people liked 5-10 years ago and one day you’ll wake up as Xbox.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

My Wolverine review here. Big fan of this gentle, sensitive take on Wolverine the character, and likewise the rest of the cast's performances, but otherwise this was a disappointing one for me, lacking the invention or pizzazz that makes other more successful linear action games interesting.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

November news cycle where there’s just a couple incomprehensibly MASSIVE games and absolutely nothing else (no disrespect mr Godzilla) is going to be bizarre. It never works like this, I’m fascinated to see how that month actually goes.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Well that just looks absolutely wonderful

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Brilliant to get @alexspencerdale.bsky.social on Eurogamer with a sharp take on Orbitals, which looks absolutely glorious but seemingly doesn't quiiiiite back that up in the playing.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Shout out to @dompepin.bsky.social and @clert.bsky.social for turning around both the Onimusha review while travelling to (and getting stranded returning from) Gamescom, and the Dawnwalker review while covering both GTA/Gamescom live respectively. Heroic stuff hitting embargoes amid short staffing.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

FWIW I think this is also true! What Alex and I are saying can both be true at once, thought the nuances of how and why and how the business models differ are maybe a bit beyond what's possible to explain in public/a bluesky thread. One example: 12hrs of wall-to-wall GTA coverage is not a big risk.

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Kelsey @badkirbys.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I found another opportunity to write about Elden Ring for Eurogamer, and it won't be the last. Simply can't stop talking about this game years on, and glad I'm constantly being given new reasons to do so.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

If that one subscription could cover an entire writer’s salary, you gotta deal!

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Bonus Donlan article here. YOU'RE WELCOME.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Donlan with a stunner - you should read this article.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Initial thoughts from me, less on that astonishing gameplay, more on all the info that's trickled through, and the pieced-together picture we can finally start to form of the game: Rockstar's taking a big risk with the most winning formula in video games - and it should!

eurogamer.net

GTA 6's apparent shift towards awkward ultra-realism means Rockstar is taking a huge risk, but that's exactly why it's the right thing to do

GTA 6 sounds like it'll be less pick-up-and-play than any Grand Theft Auto game before it - a big gamble, but gambling is exactly what Rockstar should be doing.

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Chris Schilling @schillingc.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Back on Eurogamer with a review of the new Plague Tale, which I largely enjoyed, though the grimness becomes wearing

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Heads up our Zero Company review’s coming a bit later - one too many games amongst the sea of stuff happening right now. I will say though that it is really really good.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Long shot but hoping we might see some third-person action games in a dark, corrupted world before the show's over

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Immediate thing missing from Rainbow 6 Tactics is the silliness. The secret to tactics games is that they're goofy!

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Snuck one last feature out for Optimism Week for the joy sickos. Huge thank you to everyone who responded for this, and to everyone out there in video games who makes cool stuff just because they can.

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Anna Megill @annamegill.com · 25/08/2026

I was delighted to be part of a happy conversation for a change

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Optimism Week: "Forget trodden down, I think our future sees a beautiful revolution" - The people of video games on what gives them cause for hope www.eurogamer.net/people-of-vi...

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Optimism Week is bleeding over just a smidge, as everything is BUSY, and here is one of my personal favourites of the week so far - a bit list of game devs and other video games people on reasons we still have to be optimistic for the medium's future. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed!

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

"The release date is inaccurate" - No, The Duskbloods isn't releasing on 24th September, according to Nintendo www.eurogamer.net/the-duskbloo...

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

$62m raised for charity, a sanctuary for marginalised gamers, and a platform for indies: Why @gamesdonequick.com is a beacon of hope for the gaming community www.eurogamer.net/games-done-q...

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Had some truly wonderful responses to this - a quick last call from me here for anyone else intersted in talking about something neat you've just felt like doing on the side!

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Optimism Week: Video game music, orchestral performances, and the sheer joy of a communal experience: how live concerts are helping us reconnect with gaming's good side www.eurogamer.net/video-game-m...

Three singers stand on stage in front of an orchestra, as the central singer raises their hand and belts out a presumably show-stopping note. The edges of the photo are blurred to give it a slightly surreal feel, and a happy, thumbs-upping globe has been overlaid in the bottom corner of the image.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Wonderful piece of writing here from Optimism Week from - who else - Christian Donlan:

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Optimism Week: Filling Big Walk with people who had no one to play with demonstrated how deceptively profound it can be www.eurogamer.net/big-walk-wit...

Many blobby people, who look a bit like upright walking ants, stand in a sandy area near a large rock as one of them holds a glowing orb aloft. Perhaps it is their chieftan. In the bottom right-hand corner, a smiling globe has been overlaid, and it's giving a thumbs up. Evidently, the world approves.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Hello! We're doing a theme week! This week is Optimism Week on Eurogamer, a week dedicated to mood-boosting features on the brighter side of video games. Here's me talking about why we're doing it. Short answer: things are bad. We're not hiding from that, but I *bet* you'd love a little break.

eurogamer.net

It's Optimism Week on Eurogamer! Here's why we're dedicating a week of mood-boosting features to the brighter side of video games

Video games are in a rough place, and it's been a long summer - and then some - of bleak news. Hopefully this gives you a bit of respite.

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Rebekah Valentine @duckvalentine.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I know PR folks reading this know this, but if it helps to pass on to the internal bosses at the companies you rep: please ask them to learn what "on background" means (short thread following)

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A bonafide "slams" and authentic "public spat" both deployed in a single week of gaming news. The spirit Fleet Street lives on.

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Hit Points by Nathan Brown @hitpoints.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Big Walk does not sound like My Thing at all but this review is *such* a piece of writing, man. Feels like the old days where you'd happily read about a game you didn't care about because the work was so good. Exquisite www.eurogamer.net/big-walk-rev...

eurogamer.net

With upcoming PS Plus game Big Walk, Untilted Goose Game developer House House's co-op puzzle quest takes the hangout game to a new peak - here's our review

The Untitled Goose Game team returns with a funny, exciting and deeply rewarding multiplayer adventure. Our Big Walk review.

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Eurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Getting Ill: Understanding the grossest horror game in development and how it takes more than a few cues from Valve's seminal shooter Half-Life 2 www.eurogamer.net/ill-horror-g...

A bald, hairless, topless, nightmare of a creature crawls towards the camera. They are male-looking with a grimacing face, greyish skin and a slightly mangled face. They don't friendly, in other words. I suggest you run.

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Chris Tapsell @christapsell.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Manchester United supporters everywhere suddenly touching their brow and wincing

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