iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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lumpley @lumpley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As a game thinker, personally, I'm not interested in distinguishing games clearly from other kinds of behaviors and activities. I'm interested in finding and learning from the games that are hiding, unidentified, unrecognized, unacknowledged in the other things we do.

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

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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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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We hope everyone is as excited as we are for BlizzCon this weekend! Keep an eye out for these limited run union pins. Each one representing a different organized CWA unit within Blizzard. Good luck collecting them all! Thank you @tsepish.bsky.social for helping us make these real!

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The contract locks in: - Hybrid Work Policy - Pay increases for our most vulnerable members of up to 34% - "Just Cause" Protections - Protections Against Outsourcing - Remote Work and Disability Accommodations - AI Bargaining Requirements - Industry First Recall Rights - And more!

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

We are proud to announce the ratification of a historic contract covering nearly 1,900 workers at Blizzard Entertainment, including represented workers on the World of Warcraft team. Today we stand as One Blizzard United. cwa-union.org/news/release...

cwa-union.org

Blizzard Entertainment Workers Ratify Historic Video Game Contracts with CWA

Blizzard Entertainment workers represented by CWA voted to ratify historic union contracts with the Microsoft-owned company, securing an unprecedented victory for the video game industry following the...

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CWA @cwaunion.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Alongside wage increases, grievance procedures, a three-day in-office hybrid workweek, just cause protections, remote work & disability accommodations, the contracts now require Blizzard to discuss, evaluate, and bargain over the usage of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

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Aftermath @aftermath.site · 09/09/2026

After years of company stalling, Blizzard workers win mega-contract that applies to all unionized teams aftermath.site/blizzard-union...

the famous orc statue outside blizzard's HQ in irvine, california

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Teal Bald @tealgamemaster.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Happy 30th Birthday, Crash!

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Mel the Honeybee @melthehoneybee.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Happy #SpyroCommunityDay everyone!!! This franchise continues to be my greatest inspiration when it comes to my art (as you can see from some of my stuff over the years). I am so eager to see Spyro begin a new era of games soon!! #art

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Gabe @cwgabriel.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The game industry is so incredibly fucked up right now.

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Colin McInerney @colin.how · 18/08/2026

great turnout btw, join your local union

an image of a large group gathered near the zenimax sign outside their corporate hq

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Erin Fitzgerald @erinfitzbadass.com · 18/08/2026

Lately I've been seeing actors who feel lost and disconnected from the love of the craft. My job is to reconnect them with that love. I'm the perfect person to see if that's where you are.

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CWA @cwaunion.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

On Tuesday, Aug 18, we're holding rallies across the US and Canada to call out layoffs and corporate greed in the gaming industry, and to demand fair first contracts across Microsoft’s gaming studios. Find an event near you: CWA.org/SaveOurDevsRally

A graphic with fists. One is holding a game controller. Text on the graphic says, "Save Our Devs. August 18. Rallies Across US & Canada."

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I keep having these experiences where I tell a cashier or retail worker to have a good day or similar, and they assume I'm messing with them. I always want to go hug them and tell them they're great and they don't deserve whatever made them assume that. Be nice to them! Their job already sucks!

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Murderblonde @murderblonde.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Also I MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT be planning a Season Two of FrieNDA and looking for possible guests and even maybe Justify the Mechanic ideas, just putting that out there! youtube.com/@frienda_pod...

youtube.com

FrieNDA: The Game Development Podcast

A (visual?) podcast where two game developer people talk to another guest game developer person about game development stuff!! + WHAT GAME DEVELOPER PEOPLE ARE YOU? Annie "Murderblonde" VanderMeer a...

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Murderblonde @murderblonde.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

It's a bit schticky, maybe, but having to find the GOOD in something instead of just going "UGH I HATE THIS" I think has not only made for great discussions but I think it's made me a better designer. Like I still don't love item degradation, but I definitely UNDERSTAND its use far better!

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Murderblonde @murderblonde.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

One of the best ideas that wandered into my brain was what became the impetus for half of FrieNDA (my podcast with the awesome Mike Stout) - "Justify the Mechanic" - taking a disliked element of game design and actually try to approach it positively, thinking WHY it's used, how it's useful.

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I got a spoiler alert about some game companies.

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United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

We'll be there. Will you? ✊

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

WoWGG-CWA’s #whatwefightfor campaign is a series focused on our workers pushing for a more equitable Blizzard behind the scenes. To learn more about what we are fighting for, and to keep updated with us and our campaign, please follow WoWGG-CWA on all social media platforms -- Link is in our bio!

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Xbox claims that their most recent layoffs were to cut down on “as many as fourteen layers of management” in some areas, but many workers impacted in July’s layoffs were artists, engineers, producers, and designers— the workers making the games that drive record-breaking profits to Xbox.

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

“This cadence of layoffs at Microsoft cannot continue. Every day we dedicate our passion and our skills to building games that players love. We deserve a stable foundation in return!” -- Gabi Overberg, UI Artist and WoWGG-CWA organizer #whatwefightfor

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Xalavier Nelson Jr. @writnelson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

perfect appetizer for GTA 6 is WILD work

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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Exactly 3 months from today is the most important midterm election in our lifetime. Our opportunity to hold him accountable. Register to vote here: Iwillvote.com The stakes have never been higher. Show the world the majority of Americans are good, decent, honest people. #VoteBlue🗳️ #RejectMAGA 👎

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lumpley @lumpley.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Something randomly reminded me to share this! lumpley.games/2019/10/21/g...

A simple graph showing two parallel skill acquisition lines. As you practice a skill, you don't improve steadily, you improve in steps: a sudden improvement, a long plateau, a sudden improvement, a long plateau...
This chart shows "creative skills" and "critical skills" improving out of step with one another, leapfrogging: your creative skills suddenly improve while your critical skills plateau, then your critical skills improve while your creative skills plateau. Creative skills: design, development, production; critical skills: analysis, interpretation, vision.

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The One JP Monge @loko08.jpmonge.com · 31/07/2026

1/3 of the game industry has been laid off. We are offering a helping hand. Grab 100+ games in the Game Industry Hardship Fund on itch.io and help support impacted devs. 🔗 itch.io/b/3802/game-... #gamedev #indiegames #costarica #gameindustry #videogames

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Mike Stout @mikedodgerstout.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Some people put together an itch.io game bundle to help folks impacted by the massive industry layoffs. itch.io/b/3802/game-...

itch.io

Game industry hardship fund by Necrosoft Games and 109 others

Game industry hardship fund: 127 items for $10.00

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Xalavier Nelson Jr. @writnelson.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Lovely review for Truck-kun from The Gamer!!

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Mike Stout @mikedodgerstout.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The efficacy of pro wrestling moves is partly based on physical proximity to historic events. This is beyond dispute. Read more in my book: “The Sharpshooter Hurts More in Canada.”

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

The median sale price of a home near Irvine, CA is $1.3m. (Source: www.redfin.com/county/332/C...) Mandated RTO policies uproot families that own homes in affordable areas and force them to move to areas where owning a home is not financially possible for the majority of workers in that area.

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Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 22/07/2026

Time between ruthlessly laying off the person who did the work & Xbox claiming that work as a forward-looking team victory: 14 days. www.gamespot.com/articles/xbo...

gamespot.com

Xbox Layoffs Included 37-Year Veteran Who Designed One Of Xbox's Best Features Ever

The Xbox cuts will affect more than 3,000 people.

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OneBGS - Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Bethesda Games Studios’ Montreal workers are being treated especially poorly by XBOX and we won’t stand for it. Here are the details. If this upsets you let Microsoft know: feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/ide...

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Teal Bald @tealgamemaster.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Does ANYONE know who voices Maggie, the CGI host from the PlayStation Underground PS1/2 demos? Producer Gary Barth is listed as a narrator in the credits of a couple discs, as is Chris Colon, but Maggie's actress is NEVER listed in any of them. Someone must know who it is, surely...

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Mike Stout @mikedodgerstout.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I know not to read the comments, but man… reading gamer comments on the layoffs is a real mixed bag huh? Everything from “this is a slap in the face to all who love game” to “good, maybe now we’ll get Fallout 5.” My dudes. You won’t get it any time soon.

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John Allison @badmachinery.com · 18/07/2026

It's a year since I published Savage Sword of Susan. Still all up to read for free scarygoround.com/savagesword/...

scarygoround.com

Scary Go Round Comics: SAVAGE SWORD OF SUSAN

A fantasy aside

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Skylanders Giants shipped in 9 MONTHS. Because we didn't have TIME to fuck around.

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Prime8 @prime8.games · 12/07/2026

WE HAVE A BUILD! We've been battling the fact that Ryan's computer (the one we use to do the builds) went on holiday for two months. Anyway, we've gotten things sorted and we're back! Time for WIP patch notes!

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Teal Bald @tealgamemaster.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Let's get the rest of the Retroachievements for Spyro Year of the Dragon! :D www.twitch.tv/tealgamemaster

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World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild - CWA @wowgg-cwa.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A Statement from WoWGG-CWA on Today's Layoffs at Microsoft.

Full text:

As the gaming industry shrinks, Microsoft Gaming is uniquely positioned to take responsibility for the pressures it created and agree to much-needed job security measures for game workers.

Disappointingly, leadership has instead decided once again that their mistakes should be paid for by the workers.

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online Studios, and all other affected studios today.

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Xalavier Nelson Jr. @writnelson.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

YUP. It's a job, like anything else! Sometimes you're working at an artisan coffee house. Sometimes you're brewing Nespresso in the sub-basement of an office. You're still the same skilled barista, just in wildly different circumstances depending on... what's happening in the world.

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

www.emberdione.com/emotional-ro... Once more posting for those who might want a little help in riding the Layoff Coaster.

emberdione.com

Emotional Roller Coasters | Kim Acuff Steiner

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Kim Acuff Steiner @emberdione.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Here's a piece of Skylanders history. On the first one, we didn't have toys, so we tested using just tags. All of these were made at work. There's likely a cheat minion in here as well. XD

A green plastic tiki cup filled with small blue disks with Skylanders pictures on them.

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