Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 3hGod, this. I’ve been shopping an interview with a huge name, tied to a viral subject that’s getting millions of views on social, and I can’t sell it anywhere. A couple of years ago it would have been the easiest pitch of my life. 2131
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026I’d love to know the context here. I’ve been snuffling and there’s nothing anywhere. 270
Reposted by Kirk McKeandMikhail Klimentov @leadergrev.bsky.social · 24/09/2026For 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.comInside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the PressYouTube video by People Make Games 221174437
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Silent Hill: Townfall is one of the best games of the year. www.thebiglead.com/silent-hill-...thebiglead.comSilent Hill: Townfall review – an instant horror classicSilent Hill isn’t just a town anymore, it’s an idea that wriggles in your mind like writhing maggots on a mouldy steak, forcing you to reckon with the rotting meat of your past, wherever you are. In S... 25812
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Silent Hill: Townfall is one of the best games of the year. www.thebiglead.com/silent-hill-...thebiglead.comSilent Hill: Townfall review – an instant horror classicSilent Hill isn’t just a town anymore, it’s an idea that wriggles in your mind like writhing maggots on a mouldy steak, forcing you to reckon with the rotting meat of your past, wherever you are. In S... 25812
Reposted by Kirk McKeandJosh Mathews @vandalheart.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Never thought I’d have to do something like this so I apologise in advance. Some of you might know my uncle went into cardiac arrest recently and was rushed to hospital - we have been told he will have lasting brain damage. We are heartbroken. Please take a second to read: gofund.me/20dfa1ce9gofund.meDonate to Support for our Uncle after his Cardiac arrest., organized by Joshua MathewsOur family has recently been faced with something we never expected. … Joshua Mathews needs your support for Support for our Uncle after his Cardiac arrest. 21017
Reposted by Kirk McKeandMike Bithell @mikebithell.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Kirk got me talking about some of the bad experiences I had early on in games, which… yeah, I tend not to do that. Bloody game journalists. 0474
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 13/09/2026I forgot to share this when it was posted, but the final interview for Firezide was with the lovely @mikebithell.bsky.social www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Mike BithellBefore indie success, the Thomas Was Alone creator faced workplace bullies. 0227
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Here’s my Dawnwalker review. report.wand.com/reviews/the-...report.wand.comThe Blood of Dawnwalker Review - The Wand ReportFormer Witcher 3 developers drop the best RPG of the year. 040
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 05/09/2026I’ve compiled so many goddamn shaders these past few weeks. 0100
Reposted by Kirk McKeandAndy Robinson @andyrobinson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Kirk and I chuckled about this anecdote in the From Software toilets… not realising Miyazaki-San was in the cubicle 1153
Reposted by Kirk McKeandRespec @respec.net · 04/09/2026Podcast time! This week: Sony's disappointing State of Play, reviewing Onimusha, Dawnwalker, & Orbitals, plus Kirk's game preview trip that involved a toilet chaperone: www.respec.net/podcast/189-sonys-di… 0134
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 04/09/2026A bunch of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 actors are teaming up to make a found-footage horror movie. www.thebiglead.com/kcd-2s-hans-...thebiglead.comKCD 2’s Hans Capon and Stalker 2’s Skiff actors to star in found-footage horror movieLuke Dale and Alex Montyro – who play major characters in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Stalker 2, respectively – are set to star in a found footage horror movie about “a group of four estranged fri... 093
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Last month I went to Japan and spent an hour with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, in an attempt to understand why he makes games the way he does. He also told me he doesn’t have a foot fetish. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/s...theguardian.com‘Ruin and decay bring a chance of rebirth’: Hidetaka Miyazaki on uniting players in a damaged worldAs FromSoftware’s new multiplayer game The Duskbloods nears release, the legendary game director behind Dark Souls talks connection, pessimism and of course, feet 1322949
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 03/09/2026The Miyazaki piece also includes some insight from this lovely man. 070
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKeza MacDonald @mackeza.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Sent @mckkirk.bsky.social to Tokyo to interview Hidetaka Miyazaki. He asked the tough questions. (Read the whole thing, it's a banger) www.theguardian.com/games/2026/s... 0243
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Last month I went to Japan and spent an hour with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, in an attempt to understand why he makes games the way he does. He also told me he doesn’t have a foot fetish. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/s...theguardian.com‘Ruin and decay bring a chance of rebirth’: Hidetaka Miyazaki on uniting players in a damaged worldAs FromSoftware’s new multiplayer game The Duskbloods nears release, the legendary game director behind Dark Souls talks connection, pessimism and of course, feet 1322949
Reposted by Kirk McKeandAbbey @abbeyarletto.bsky.social · 02/09/2026This is what living next door to a 30 megawatt data center sounds like. 61273004264
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 02/09/2026You can tell a lot about GTA 6 by its roads. www.thebiglead.com/gta-6-fricti...thebiglead.comVice City’s roads tell you everything you need to know about GTA 6In GTA 5’s Los Santos, the already wide roads of Los Angeles were stretched to accommodate a car zipping through traffic. You could split lanes like a motorbike, even if you were driving a bus. GTA 6’... 182
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 01/09/2026I feel like anyone who wrote any variation of “sink your teeth into” in their Blood of Dawnwalker review should lose their review license. At least say it in a new way. Mash your mandibles into it or something. 1120
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026I went to Tokyo and played The Duskbloods for two days. I kept winning and the content creators kept clapping me, and it felt like when the servers at a restaurant bring out a cake and sing “happy birthday” to you. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/a...theguardian.comThe Duskbloods: the best of FromSoftware fights in a frantic multiplayer battlegroundThe Elden Ring creator is known for epic single-player RPGs, but its new action game is all about multiplayer interactions: fighting, chasing, befriending, even … proposing? 37512
Reposted by Kirk McKeandEdmond Tran @edmondtran.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Between obtaining comments from Saber's CEO and breaking news of mass layoffs at the Invincible Vs studio, we had an *astounding* amount of attention on TWIV last week. Our news reporting is free. The majority of our work is free. None of it happens without reader support. Our sale ends tomorrow. 28931
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Blood of the Dawnwalker is shaping up to be a winner. It’s the most refreshing approach to western RPG design we’ve seen in a while. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/a...theguardian.comThe Blood of Dawnwalker – save your family while becoming what you hateHuman by day, vampire by night, Coen has difficult choices to make – beginning here in the 1300s, his adventure could span centuries in upcoming sequels 0197
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 18/08/2026It’s because they use CrowdTangle and other tools that measure virality on Facebook and suggest trending topics. It’s the same shit Gaming Bible use. They do these headlines to force anger/curiosity clicks from social media platforms. It’s cancer. 2339
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Why are all these cunts also pushing some mobile slot machine? Which company is funding this “content”? 070
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026I’m still proud of these interviews so have a read of my latest — it’s Tom Keegan, cutscene director on Wolfenstein and loads more. He’s responsible for Troy Baker as Indy. Might as well share them while I work my notice. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Tom KeeganA chat about one of the rarest jobs in video games, directing performance capture. 02110
Reposted by Kirk McKeandChris Kerr @kerrblimey.bsky.social · 13/08/2026If any developers have thoughts on this situation and specifically the below predicament I'd love to hear them! DMs open. Email in bio. Signal (kerrblimey.43). 317878
Reposted by Kirk McKeandNate Purkeypile: Solo Indie Dev🤘🏹🔪 @npurkeypile.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Hire Kirk! He’s great, he did some writing for me on The Axis Unseen. 033
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 13/08/2026It’s my turn now! The newsletter didn’t take off so I’ve been laid off. If you’re looking for someone with 15 years of experience as a writer and editor, please get in touch. I’ve also written dozens of mock reviews and my clients say they’re good. 36221126
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 13/08/2026It’s my turn now! The newsletter didn’t take off so I’ve been laid off. If you’re looking for someone with 15 years of experience as a writer and editor, please get in touch. I’ve also written dozens of mock reviews and my clients say they’re good. 36221126
Reposted by Kirk McKeandNazih Fares 🔜 Spawn! Angoulême @nazihfares.com · 09/08/2026You know what kills me about all these Valnet publications, is that they're owned by a group founded and run by two Lebanese Canadian brothers from the Youssef family known for their exploitative values www.thewrap.com/valnet-labor...thewrap.comValnet Blues: How Online Porn Pioneer Hassan Youssef Built a Digital Media 'Sweatshop'The owner of entertainment websites Screen Rant, Collider, CBR and MovieWeb faces a lawsuit over exploitative work conditions. 1185
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Me trying to think of an insult for the European journalist who keeps asking for hard stats in the roundtable interview. 080
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Sorry for the self promo but I literally won’t have a job by the end of the year if enough people don’t subscribe. I think we’re doing good stuff! 02014
Reposted by Kirk McKeandChris Schilling @schillingc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Happy Big Walk day to one and all! 1257
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I had a chat with @harvey1966.bsky.social about growing up poor, dealing with the deaths of his parents, and how those things shaped his outlook on work and life. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Harvey SmithA chat about deaths of his parents, growing up in poverty, and how those things shaped his outlook on life. 25923
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I had a chat with @harvey1966.bsky.social about growing up poor, dealing with the deaths of his parents, and how those things shaped his outlook on work and life. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Harvey SmithA chat about deaths of his parents, growing up in poverty, and how those things shaped his outlook on life. 25923
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 18/07/2026Wheeling out Todd Howard’s head in a jar to distract from laying off 3,000 people. 0261
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 17/07/2026This week’s Firezide Chat interview is with @benstarr.bsky.social. We spoke about social anxiety, growing up as a drama kid, and why he’s in his villain era. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Ben StarrA chat about social anxieties, what it was like wanting to be an actor as a teenager, and why he’s been a bit angry with baristas lately. 0174
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 17/07/2026This week’s Firezide Chat interview is with @benstarr.bsky.social. We spoke about social anxiety, growing up as a drama kid, and why he’s in his villain era. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...gaming.firezidechat.comFirezide Chat with Ben StarrA chat about social anxieties, what it was like wanting to be an actor as a teenager, and why he’s been a bit angry with baristas lately. 0174
Reposted by Kirk McKeandKirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 12/07/2026They say he’s back in his features writing era. I spoke to @harvey1966.bsky.social and @lizardengland.bsky.social and then wrote 1300 words about video game ladders, for Eurogamer. www.eurogamer.net/the-descent-...eurogamer.netThe Descent - how game devs learned to love laddersThe ups and downs of everyone's favourite bit of video game connective tissue. 26415
Reposted by Kirk McKeandEurogamer @eurogamer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026The Descent - how game devs learned to love ladders www.eurogamer.net/the-descent-...eurogamer.netThe Descent - how game devs learned to love laddersThe ups and downs of everyone's favourite bit of video game connective tissue. 2545
Kirk McKeand @mckkirk.bsky.social · 12/07/2026They say he’s back in his features writing era. I spoke to @harvey1966.bsky.social and @lizardengland.bsky.social and then wrote 1300 words about video game ladders, for Eurogamer. www.eurogamer.net/the-descent-...eurogamer.netThe Descent - how game devs learned to love laddersThe ups and downs of everyone's favourite bit of video game connective tissue. 26415
Reposted by Kirk McKeandUnited Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Proud to announce our HARDSHIP FUND: uvw-cwa.org/hardship-fun... If you've been recently laid off and need support, we got you. 1717581355
Reposted by Kirk McKeandAlex Donaldson @apzonerunner.com · 10/07/2026This week's Respec podcast is out. We talk the Xbox layoffs, launching the site, the fight to keep discs, some retro nostalgia, and as two eras of VG247 collide, it all naturally ends in bullying: www.respec.net/podcast/95-r... 36214
Reposted by Kirk McKeandTom O @vgtomo.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Big 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.netWelcome to Respec: A word from the Editors | RespecWelcome to our new little corner of the internet. Why a new video game website, and why now? Allow us to explain... 2221192
Reposted by Kirk McKeandJeremy Peel @jeremypeel.bsky.social · 09/07/2026I wrote this for Wall Week. Enjoy! 03610
Reposted by Kirk McKeandJim Trinca @jimtrinca.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Indie studios and solo devs are constantly talking about how impossible it is for them in this climate, they also need investment, they also need the industry generally to be healthy. So this "who cares about AAA anyway?" crap I keep seeing is as clueless as it is crass. 526589