iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It's ep 53 and @jamiewoodcock.com is still with us! We talk games: Jamie pines for Andor in Star Wars: Zero Company, Alex plays the now BDS-free South of Midnight, and Sofie insists the vinyl sound is warmer in Wax Heads. Star Wars and Marxism together at last! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

176

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Ep 52, and with Ed out abroad, we only have a special guest co-host - it's @jamiewoodcock.com! The author of Marx At The Arcade joins us for our news ep, where we talk game announcements, the @gameworkers.co.uk Rockstar tribunal and Blizzard's union contract. More Jamie next week! LINKS⬇️

144

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Boringly-numbered ep 51 is here, and GTA cannot be contained to news! Alex has replayed GTA5 to see how well it holds up. Has it been cancelled?! Meanwhile, Ed luxuriates in a half-tuck in Uncharted 2. Sofie silently judges us both, as is her right. News next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

153

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

It's only episode 50?!? A half-century? How is that possible?? Well, at any rate, it's still a news one, and we go hog-wild on GTA 6 - we watch the showcase, Alex talks GTA leaks, Sofie big-ups the @gameworkers.co.uk, and Ed gets into a different set of leaks. History is made! LINKS ⬇️⬇️⬇️

243

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

It's ep 49! 50 next, which means something? Anyway, Alex nationalises the railways in Denshattack!, Sofie halflings out in a round of D&D, and Ed wrings the last drops of goodness out of Dark Souls 2 with it's DLC. Lots of GTA chat next ep! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

153

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The gaming industry is a tool in normalising the idea of borders and violence. It's time for that to change ✊️ Our 2026 festival explores how racial + migrant justice and games can help us resist the systems that try and push our communities out. Get your tickets www.tickettailor.com/events/games...

050

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Ep 48! News! And most important, Kingdom Hearts news!! Will we get it memorised? Only one way to find out. Meanwhile, Ed talks Saber CEO, Sofie spills tea on Roblox and Alex delves further into the Id layoffs. You'd better believe we're keeping it Simple and Clean. LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

153

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Want a stall at Games Transformed Festival 2026? 🛍️ 🛒 Get in touch! If you have games, zines or books to sell, resources to share, work to showcase, or pitches you want to make, then we've got tables available at our upcoming festival. Fill out our interest form: tinyurl.com/4sxdke2t

021

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Welcome to episode 47, and Sofie's still back! We talk games - Sof's killing God in 33 Immortals, Alex has notes on the Victorian legal system in The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, and Ed falls in love with a sidekick in Jak and Daxter. News next week! LINKS ⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Have you got your tickets to Games Transformed festival yet? No? Well, what are you waiting for! 🕹️ Join us as we take over 3 venues across Bethnal Green, East London for three days of radical games and tell the far-right we are Here to Stay Here to Play 🎲 www.tickettailor.com/events/games...

tickettailor.com

Select tickets – Games Transformed Festival 2026

Games Transformed Festival 2026, Fri 30 Oct 2026 - Sun 1 Nov 2026 - Games Transformed Festival 2026 is coming. This year, we’re sending a direct message to the racists who keep coming for our neighbou...

020

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

It's ep 46 but who cares because Sofie's back!! Waaah! It's news so she's getting into Saudi Arabia buying EA, Ed talks network outages and Alex compares the Analogue 3D and the ModRetro M64 (not great for one of them). And did we say that Sofie's back?!! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

🎟️Games Transformed Festival 2026 tickets are live! Join us for three days of radical games, playtests, panels, talks, workshops, a dedicated youth and families’ programme, and answer the question: how can we kick the fash out of gaming: www.tickettailor.com/events/games...

041

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

You asked, we listened: We’ve extended our Call for Proposals deadline to 7th August 📆 👀That’s a whole extra week to polish off your proposals: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

130

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Ep 44 arrives with a bumper All Bad News Special episode! Ed talks Xbox layoffs, and Alex chats ZA/UM layoffs (Sofie's back soon!). Soak up that creamy depression in our shortest ever episode. Games still next week though! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

153

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Volunteer at Games Transformed Festival 2026 📣 🙋‍♂️Our volunteers are a crucial part of making Games Transformed Festival the impactful, important and innovative space that it is. We’re looking for volunteers for a variety of roles so find out more and sign up now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

000

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

It's ep 43 - and with only Ed and Alex (Sofie back soon!) they go deep on their games. And they're 007: First Light and the OG Resident Evil remake! Is James Bond a true Marxist? The answer is definitely no, but we chat about him anyway. News next week! LINKS ⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Call for Proposals 🔊 Help us shape the Games Transformed Festival by submitting your proposals for the festival programme or exhibition area! The deadline for submissions is July 31st, 2026. Submit now: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

066

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Ep 42, and has there been any news in the last 2 weeks? Oh yeah: Xboxalypse, Playstation abandons disc and some good (!!) news about Rockstar trying to unionise! So this is a big boy episode, we've got a lot to chew on. Join us! (and games next week) ⬇️⬇️⬇️

153

Games Transformed @gamestransformed.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

📣 Games Transformed Festival is returning to East London on October 30th, October 31st 🎃 and November 1st 2026. Three days of radical games, playtests, panels, talks, workshops, a dedicated children and families’ programme and much more. Sign up for early ticket release: forms.gle/vpA1yRkZcExw...

01312

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Ep 41 is here, and we have gone all-out for Zero Parades, the sort-of followup to Disco Elysium! All three of us have played it - is it good? Is it bad? Does it live up to DE? Does it continue or betray its politics? Is life still worth living? All will be answered! LINKS⬇️

153

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

We're back! We did it! Our housing hassle is over (for now) and we're back on our podcast bullshit. And with a big one! It's news and Alex goes all in on Keighley's SGF, Ed maintains consistency with bad Xbox news, and Sofie has good (?!) news from Rockstar and the IWGB. Back! ⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

We're late! But here! And it's a big one - we finally talk about DISCO ELYSIUM! We're doing it! The spectre haunting the podcast has finally arrived! Also - Sofie examines hallway tiles in Exit 8, and Ed experiences "Twilight For Boys" in Dispatch. Big times! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Incredible scenes in ep 38 as we are joined by @gameworkers.co.uk's Chair, Spring McparlinJones! We talk corporate skullduggery, worker uprisings, and of course, ZA/UM. Also, Ed and Sofie hear Alex gripe about Starfox. Great for fans of tone shifts! And good podcasts! Games next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

165

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The rifts grow ever-wider in ep 37, live now! The co-hosts are at each others' throats - will all three somehow be purged?? Before they are, Sofie plays Tomodachi Life and Flock Around, Ed revisits Blue Prince, and Alex finds a Marxist werewolf in Resident Evil: Village! LINKS⬇️

132

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Episode 36 has arrived and the cracks are forming! Listen in to hear the beginnings of the invitable sectarian split. Also news! Sofie talks Xbox climbdowns, Ed relays a Build A Rocket Boy deep-dive and Alex explains Halo's recent link to fascism. Games next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Episode 35! It's here at last! Alex hangs outside of Whitechapel station to declare that London has fallen (to fascism tho) in Watch Dogs: Legion, Ed wakes with élan in Alan Wake, and Sofie nostalgiamaxxes in Retro Rewind. News next week! LINKS ⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Episode 34 ominously looms over us all - a clear sign that this is a news one! Ed updates us on Stop Killing Games, Sofie finds an unlikely ally against payment processors, and Alex has a big old rant about the Triple I Initiative. Join us! Games next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

It's episode 33! No Clobbers chat though unfortunately. Instead, Ed proves himself to be an insufferable hipster in Dark Souls 2, and Alex hangs around floozies in Mafia: Definitive Edition. Sofie's just taking it all in. News next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

123

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Episode 32 has dawned, and despite the game industry's suspicious timing, we have no choice but to talk about the inappropriately glammed up DLSS 5. Also, Sofie tells us about PS5 price gouging and Ed mourns Fortnite layoffs. Games chat next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Episode 31 is here! We're talking about games we've played this time, and Sofie Kojimafies her life finishing Death Stranding, Alex is chased by hillbillies in Resident Evil 7 and Ed rebuilds Rome on Marxist principles in Assassins' Creed Broho. News next week! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

144

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Banger episode alert: we have Meghna Jayanth on as a guest! She's here to talk about her upcoming game All Will Rise, and their very cool decision to break a contract with Microsoft over BDS. More news too - new Xbox (don't buy it) and more Mindseye mysteries! LINKS⬇️⬇️⬇️

1146

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Hello again! Episode 29! It's a games one! Ed Crashes his Bandicoot, Sofie Strands her Death and Alex Counts his Donuts (in Donut County). It's good stuff! News next week - plus a special guest??!? LINKS BELOW⬇️⬇️⬇️

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

News episode! Ed delves into the corporate skullduggery (and all other forms of duggery) at Xbox. and Alex mourns the loss of Bluepoint. Plus Sofie too, don't worry! See you next week for the GAMES LINKS BELOW⬇️⬇️⬇️

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

The New Podcast Order continues, and we're back on games. Alex endorses regime change in Latin America in Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Ed visits Cyberville again in Journey of the Gods, and Sofie is wary of Kojima in Death Stranding. News next week! Links!⬇️⬇️⬇️

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Weekly podcasts continue - and we're back on news! Ed breaks down the AI-pocalypse, Sofie reads a maybe-obituary for service games, and of course Alex goes over the big PlayStation showcase. And we're back with games next week! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ LINKS

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The weekly revolution of Red Barrels continues! It's a dedicated games ep - and after Alex gets all NATOy in Battlefield 6, we move onto the main event: CLOBBERGEDDON. That's right, we've all finished it, so it's time for an Expedition 33 spoilercast! News next week! Links! ⬇️

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Incredible news comrades! RED BARRELS IS GOING WEEKLY! From now on, we will be splitting the podcast in half, making the games and news sections their own episodes, posted on alternate weeks. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

144

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Ep 23 is here! The Dead Rise (ing), Stardew Valleys and then the Factors io (kind of ran away from me there). Plus Anthem is maybe preserved, Runescape astonishingly continues and INCREDIBLE GTA VI SECRETS ARE REVEALED! They can't even sue us for this.

243

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

New year, new episode! Ep 22 is here with a rubbish terf game, a cool cowboy game, and an unexpectedly sensual Metroid game. Plus, some sad news, and some less sad news: the downfall of Xbox. 2026 is the year of the revolution! But, in like, games. ⬇️ Links!

153

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Ep 21 and it's time to award the most important trophy possible: Most Ideologically Correct Game of the Year 2025! Also we talk about the far less important and far more reactionary Keighleygasm Game Awards. ⬇️

1103

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

It's ep 20, and the 1-year anniversary of the podcast! To celebrate we went all-out and had a Friendslop special episode with the incredible @littlebear.bsky.social! We friend! We slop! And we even do the news as usual. Onwards to year two! Links! ⏬

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Sofie returns! For episode 19! And talks about vampires! And Alex finished Silksong! And Ed's played Stray! And we have solidarity with @gameworkers.co.uk's members being strikebroken at Rockstar! And even more news! Right now!

163

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Sofie's still out due to the plague but Ed and Alex manage a banger episode anyway! The eighteenth one! Ed revives a controversial ending with Mass Effect 3 and Alex roams feudal Japan again with Ghost of Yōtei. Plus news!

153

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

It's episode 17 baby! Ed gets obscure with Dark Souls, Alex faces choice paralysis with UFO 50 and Sofie gets a lot off her chest with The Sims. Meanwhile we talk EA getting snagged by the Saudis. Tokyo Game Show, and actually good news about the whole ZA/UM thing?? It's true!

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

A super-special episode because 1) Sofie's back (thank god) and 2) we've all played Silksong! It's a Silkstravaganza! And after we're all silked out, it's onto the news, with Nintendo chat, loud-shirted knobheads, and some nonsense going on in America. They call it: Episode 16

133

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

We're back, but not all of us! Unfortunately Sofie is off swanning in South Africa, so we've got a duo episode with just Alex and Ed. But when the cat's away, the mice will play - and so we've got a full Nintendo episode about Majora's Mask and DK Bananza! Plus news!

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

The deep state defeated! Fresh from hospital, the gang are back to discuss Expedition 33, Dave the Diver and to Unleash the Force on us all. PLUS! Another Keighleygasm, and less fun news about censorship and opposition to genocide. The grave failed to claim us!

143

Reposted by Games Transformed

Red Barrels Podcast @redbarrelspodcast.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Where's the new episode? Unfortunately, the deep state rose again and whisked Alex into A&E and trapped him in hospital for a week. He's fine, but also too lazy to record and edit a podcast from a hospital bed. So, a class traitor. Next episode (🤞hopefully!) on 25 Aug as usual!

022

Reposted by Games Transformed

IGN Creators Guild @ignunion.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Today, IGN laid off eight extremely valuable members of our union and workforce via directive from our parent company, Ziff Davis. This, after two incredibly successful live events IGN Live and SDCC, and yet another corporate acquisition. Please take a moment to read and share our full statement:

Today, IGN Entertainment announced that it would be laying off eight members of the IGN Creators Guild.

This is 12% of our bargaining unit, and comes just days after our sister union, the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, underwent similar layoffs impacting 15% of their members. It also comes just months after our multibillion-dollar parent company, Ziff Davis, instituted a company-wide buyout that shrunk our unit numbers, with the express intent of avoiding future layoffs. And it comes just a little over one year after three of our members were laid off almost immediately after our union went public.

The company has told us that the reason for this layoff stems from a Ziff Davis-mandate to cut costs despite several quarters in a row of year-over-year revenue increases, to which IGN Entertainment responded by coming for our members' jobs. This is perplexing to us, as we are told again and again that IGN Entertainment has had a tremendously successful year thus far thanks to their hard work. In just the last few months, our members have been absolutely essential to major events and livestreams, including San Diego ComicCon, Summer of Gaming, and IGN Live. Every single person impacted today was involved in and critical to the success of those events.

Meanwhile, IGN Entertainment continues to spend money on costly acquisitions, only to turn around and gut those companies in the same way it is cutting away at IGN itself. For instance, last year, it acquired Gamer Network, and almost immediately laid off a number of staff critical to making those sites successful. The company has not responded to the union's questions about whether its budget for future acquisitions is being reconsidered as a cost-saving measure alongside these other apparently necessary personnel cuts.

At a time when it is more necessary than ever to support its creators, IGN Entertainment is choosing to eliminate the individuals who ensure IGN remains competitive as generative AI

threatens our reach. We have been told that expert opinion pieces, original interviews, and work that leverages our staff's deep knowledge of gaming, tech, and entertainment are all essential to combating AI summarization and regurgitation of our work. Management has responded by cutting several individuals who do that exact work, as well as others whose job it is to ensure that these written and video pieces are published in a speedy manner — another component of combating AI we're told is critical.

This continued cycle of repeated, aggressive cuts to our staff and being asked to do more with less, only for management to continue to spend on new business it isn't interested in sustaining cannot continue. We will enforce our interim agreement that guarantees better severance and other protections to laid off members, as well as demand additional support for those impacted. We will continue to bargain over our first contract with the aim of enshrining even better protections against further layoffs, working conditions continuously degraded by understaffing, and the encroachment of generative AI. And we won't stop fighting to ensure IGN remains the best destination for trustworthy, original, exciting, and creative work covering video games, entertainment, and tech.

While IGN Entertainment management may not value us, we value one another and the incredible work we can do together. Behind the articles, videos, social posts, playlists, and maps of IGN are human beings, not just numbers on a spreadsheet to be pushed around when some number at the top isn't big enough. Without us, there is no IGN.

111216565