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Lewis Packwood

@lewispackwood.bsky.social
1.9K followers 862 following 1.2K posts

Features Editor for GamesIndustry.biz. Author of Curious Video Game Machines and The Art of Still Wakes the Deep. Previously freelancer for The Guardian, Edge, Retro Gamer, etc. Portfolio: lewispackwood.com

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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Finally, it’s time for the @gibiz.bsky.social HR Summit at The Royal Institution in London. LET’S GO!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
First reaction: Wow, that's cool! Second reaction, when sensible-parent mode kicks in: My god, that's going to be a flipping nightmare to clean.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The graphics of Super Stardust felt like witchcraft in 1994 - the 3D tunnel bits in particular. Predictable but nevertheless delightful that the studio would go on to greatness.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
With this and Librarian: Tidy Up The Arcane Library, 2026 seems to be the year of library-tidying games. And I am all for the emergence of this new genre. Dewey decimal system FTW.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Sad to say that as someone working in the field of written games media, I have picked a career path of "unrecoverable devastation". But hey, I'm an optimist! Who knows, maybe it'll pick up! (I hope to god it picks up, but lord knows how it will)
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Japanese indie game Full Belly Breakout looks absolutely wild. You’re trapped in a prison cell and have to carefully check your food for things like lethal spoons and sentient rice. It was Shuhei Yoshida’s top game from TGS, so that’s good enough for me. store.steampowered.com/app/4668010/...
store.steampowered.com
Full Belly Breakout on Steam
Navigate the hidden dangers lurking within a wide variety of dishes, savor every bite, fill your stomach, and escape from a terrifying cell. An overwhelming dining experience where eyeballs crawl out ...
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Keza MacDonald @mackeza.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Guardian is doing some major hiring right now! If you have 2-3 years' experience in journalism, media and/or content creation, you can apply for the Digital Journalism Scheme - full time roles including 20% training time, £48k pa workwithus.theguardian.com/digital-jour...
workwithus.theguardian.com
Digital Journalist Scheme
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
My talented wife Kitty Greenbrown is behind these poem fragments that have appeared on street furniture all over York. Look out for them! Combined, they form a love letter to the city, and you can read the full poem here: what-were-made-of.unitedbydesign.co
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Well this is a bloody brilliant idea. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
‘It bloody works’: why the world’s oldest cheddar-maker uses a ‘milk-source’ heat pump
Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers can draw enough heat from cows’ fresh milk to bring water close to the boil, slashing carbon emissions
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I absolutely cannot wait for Metroid Ravenous. January cannot come quickly enough. www.eurogamer.net/metroid-rave...
eurogamer.net
Metroid Ravenous announced, launches January 2027 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2
Metroid Ravenous is a sequel to Metroid Dread, coming in 2027.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
If you want to understand what state the games industry is in and where it’s going next, there was a quartet of brilliant articles on @gibiz.bsky.social this week. First was Amir Satvat’s excellent keynote from Gamescom Dev: www.gamesindustry.biz/the-big-pict... 1/4
gamesindustry.biz
The Big Picture: What you need to know about the ongoing games industry reset
Amir Satvat's talk at Gamescom Dev laid bare the reasons behind the catastrophic layoffs – and what needs to be done
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
If you want to understand what state the games industry is in and where it’s going next, there was a quartet of brilliant articles on @gibiz.bsky.social this week. First was Amir Satvat’s excellent keynote from Gamescom Dev: www.gamesindustry.biz/the-big-pict... 1/4
gamesindustry.biz
The Big Picture: What you need to know about the ongoing games industry reset
Amir Satvat's talk at Gamescom Dev laid bare the reasons behind the catastrophic layoffs – and what needs to be done
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
What a great looking museum, I’d love to go!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
It’s Gamescom, and you know what that means? Big tractors. 🚜
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Your fearless correspondent is braving Opening Night Live
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Just what is going on with Cologne’s Rube Goldberg pipe system?
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Just got to Frankfurt. Look at these condiment teats 👀
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I’m at Manchester Airport, ready to fly out to Gamescom. Busy week ahead! Say hi if you see me, would be great to chat :)
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
The selection of men’s underwear in Marks and Spencer was positively funereal. When did colour become a crime?
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Jesus, 40 years. I haven’t thought about this game in a long time…
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Tomas Sala @falconeerdev.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I had such a fun time with @lewispackwood.bsky.social on this. Best quote I forgot about: "I don't love the things most people love, but there's enough weirdos like me out there that love exactly what I love" Things that make the world bearable ;) #gamedev
gamesindustry.biz
"I don't see why people are scared of it" – ShipShaper developer Tomas Sala on why indies shouldn't be stressing about GTA6
"The media doesn't cover indies anyway"
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Here's the latest from me - a look at the making of Planet of Lana, which is currently being pitched as a Hollywood film. It's a quite extraordinary story of folks in their thirties with no background in video games making a leap of faith.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
If you ever wondered what it's like working in games media, this pretty much sums it up :)
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Oooh, I’m in this, writing about the amazing pop-up book Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski (and the CD-ROM game based on it). Classic childhood chills.
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Shaun Aitcheson @shaunaitcheson.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
If you enjoyed Hob's Barrow please consider posting a very quick little review on Steam, they really help to keep us afloat! 🙏💜 Incredibly much appreciated. store.steampowered.com/app/1182310/...
store.steampowered.com
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow on Steam
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a folk horror narrative-driven adventure. Explore the isolated moors of rural Victorian England as you uncover the mysteries of Hob's Barrow. The answers lie in the s...
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Ed Conway @edconway.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
✍️ The two things no one ever tells you about writing a book... My latest substack, on the weird world of "blurbs", the significance of preorders and... a rare, special limited-time offer! 👇 edconway.substack.com/p/at-least-o...
edconway.substack.com
At least one very good reason to pre-order Trade World
What no-one tells you about writing a book. And my shameless attempt to confront it...
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Damien McFerran @damienmcferran.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Sometimes, you write a feature for a select audience. In the case of this piece, I wrote it for myself and @simonbrew.bsky.social
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
It’s so heartening to see a UK studio come back from the brink. I talked with Fiona Sperry - who was the head of Burnout maker Criterion before she co-founded Three Fields Entertainment - about rallying to avoid redundancies.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
It’s so heartening to see a UK studio come back from the brink. I talked with Fiona Sperry - who was the head of Burnout maker Criterion before she co-founded Three Fields Entertainment - about rallying to avoid redundancies.
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Alasdair Beckett-King @misterabk.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I don't want to get a reputation for liking point and click games, but @joerichardson.bsky.social's trilogy is a constant delight and genuinely very funny. Not just funny for a game, but actually funny.
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GamesIndustry.biz @gibiz.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
"Across the industry, we don't think enough about how we match the scope to what we're making" – Mike Bithell on why the world needs an im-slim. bit.ly/4vPdYXz
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Big news here - John Hight is stepping down as head of Wizards of the Coast after just two years in the role. It comes after Hasbro announced the cancellation of several upcoming video game titles last week.
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Chris Kerr @kerrblimey.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Hello! I have a request that feels *weird* (but perhaps shouldn't)! I'm working on a portfolio project and would love to hear some feedback / thoughts from folks who've read my trade reporting. Feel free to reply here or fling me an email / DM. All insights and opinions are appreciated!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Great thread on an iconic game :)
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Pictured: Your tireless correspondent, hard at work.
Lewis Packwood, Martin Wein, Alan Wen and Pier Francesco Tortorelli at the GamesIndustry.biz Summer Party
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Man, they really don't do video game marketing like they used to.
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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The LOGO turtle (also called the BBC Buggy, I'm reading on the site I grabbed this photo from), was a computer controlled little robot which would draw with a felt tip pen along pre-programmed plotted directions. I have memories of seeing it once at my primary school and then never again.
A photo of a BBC Micro next to a big sheet of paper and plugged into the dome robot drawing a star
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Reminder that Curious Video Game Machines is just £14 at the moment, the cheapest it's ever been! Plus there are loads of other great gaming books for not much money in the Pen & Sword summer sale :) www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Curious-Vide...
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Reminder that Curious Video Game Machines is just £14 at the moment, the cheapest it's ever been! Plus there are loads of other great gaming books for not much money in the Pen & Sword summer sale :) www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Curious-Vide...
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Alasdair Beckett-King @misterabk.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
What do Moomins feel like? @eleanormorton.bsky.social and I read Comet in Moominland and asked the BIG questions. linktr.ee/readthat
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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 18/07/2026
I wrote a column about this in 2023 and still feel so strongly about it!!! in my opinion a truly civilised and successful society is one in which even slackers get to enjoy a decent enough life www.newstatesman.com/comment/2023...
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Mike Diver @mikediver.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
One of my favourite recent video game books is currently half price at its publisher. If you've an interest in gaming history - especially its weirdest corners - this is a must. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Curious-Vide...
pen-and-sword.co.uk
Curious Video Game Machines
The story of video games is often told as the successive rise of computers and consoles from famous names like Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, Sega, Sony…
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Alex Delamaire @alexdlmr.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Huge thanks @lewispackwood.bsky.social & @gibiz.bsky.social for shedding a light on how @bbigames.bsky.social is balancing work-for-hire and original IP ❤️ From Shipbreaker, Minecraft, and Homeworld to Starfield, Escape the Backrooms etc. Also gotta love that quote from @rorymcguire.bsky.social 😅
gamesindustry.biz
"If I work on that, my kids will think I'm Gandalf" – Blackbird Interactive on the highs and lows of external development
The Hardspace: Shipbreaker studio discusses balancing work-for-hire with making original games – and why Canada has got the sauce
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
There were some amazing scenes earlier today when @mikerose.bsky.social and @ramiismail.com played “game pitching DnD”. I have never laughed so hard in a Develop talk.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I’m at Develop in sunny Brighton! ☀️ Come say hi if you see me!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
If anyone is wondering - yes, the football will be showing at the GIbiz Summer Party. I have already fielded several enquiries to this effect!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
For everyone emailing me about Gamescom - I will reply eventually, I promise. Currently I am trying to prepare an entire week's worth of features in advance for while I'm away at Develop. Pray for me.
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
This looks brilliant!
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
One for the grey gamers :)
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Lewis Packwood @lewispackwood.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
@mrsambarlow.bsky.social Thought you might be cheered by this news... www.gamesindustry.biz/premium-mobi...
gamesindustry.biz
Premium mobile games are back, with releases up 77% in 2025
Exclusive: new data suggests growing interest in high-quality titles ported over from PC, as Apple and Netflix boost consumer demand
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