Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026My TOEM 2 review: Really liked my time with it, loved snapping pictures once again - but was underwhelmed with the new mechanics and disappointed at how much it mimicked the original without carving out its own identity. A good thing is still good, just loses some of the magic a second time around. 000
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I had a really good time with TOEM 2, but as I walked away I couldn’t help but feel disappointed in just how closely it aped the original. Still heartily recommend it no doubt, but I was definitely hoping for more on my second photographic adventure. gamingtrend.com/reviews/toem...gamingtrend.comTOEM 2 reviewA lovely (if unremarkable) photocopy 001
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Pants have been shat. Sons and daughters of Helghan, the time has come. And it’s long overdue. Praying to all there is that this comes to fruition. 010
Reposted by Sam HeaneyTodd Oxtra @toddoxtra.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Check out @samheaney.bsky.social review gamingtrend.com/reviews/the-...gamingtrend.comThe Sinking City 2 reviewYes, you can teach an Old God new tricks 021
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Fast-tracking Horizon 3’s development is so obviously the correct play. I wasn’t on the hate train for Hunter’s Gathering, but it’s clear player interest isn’t really there and I don’t see that changing. Horizon 3 will sell, as the other two have. Hell, put out a Killzone remaster in the interim. 010
Reposted by Sam HeaneySave The Game Media @savethegamemedia.bsky.social · 17/08/2026gamingtrend.com/reviews/the-... Check out @samheaney.bsky.social’s first written review for @gamingtrend.comgamingtrend.comThe Sinking City 2 reviewYes, you can teach an Old God new tricks 021
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Ya boy got to write his first ever review for @gamingtrend.com covering The Sinking City 2. It’s far from perfect, but is a Lovecraft x Resident Evil romp that delivered in all the ways I care about in survival horror. Congrats to @frogwares-games.bsky.social! gamingtrend.com/reviews/the-...gamingtrend.comThe Sinking City 2 reviewYes, you can teach an Old God new tricks 022
Reposted by Sam HeaneyKotaku @kotaku.com · 17/07/2026This feels gross. kotaku.com/this-feels-gross-2000717…kotaku.comXbox Is Begging Us To Think About Fallout 5 Instead Of Layoffs'What matters the most is that the games are good' 131125404
Reposted by Sam HeaneyRebekah Valentine @duckvalentine.bsky.social · 10/07/2026static.klipy.comSure, Jan. (Brady Bunch Meme)Alt: Sure, Jan. (Brady Bunch Meme) 622723
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 10/07/2026The cruelest part of this Xbox bloodbath? More than 1,200 job cuts are still looming, and nobody knows when they will happen or who will be impacted. This week's column: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...bloomberg.comDelayed Xbox Layoffs Leave Employees Scared And NervousXbox cut 1,600 jobs this week and plans to cut another 1,600 over the next 12 months, leaving remaining staff on tenterhooks 651420291
Reposted by Sam HeaneySimon Cardy @cardy.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Xbox Is ‘Not Healthy’, But Losing All of This Talent Isn’t the Cure www.ign.com/articles/xbo...ign.comXbox Is ‘Not Healthy’, But Losing All of This Talent Isn’t the Cure – Arkane, Compulsion, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs Deserve Better.Xbox is ‘not healthy’, but losing all of this talent isn’t the cure. 0204
Reposted by Sam HeaneyMitch Dyer @mitchyd.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Astonished by the amount of instant Xbox apologia happening in the wake of the company gutting 20% of its staff — 3000+ people without jobs is not worthy of any silver-lining or celebrating of alleged executive honesty. Literacy in reading the room is essential, I’m begging you. 1142591
Reposted by Sam HeaneyMat Piscatella @matpiscatella.bsky.social · 06/07/2026"you do not, under any circumstances, "gotta hand it to them"" 11995184
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 06/07/2026BREAKING: Xbox will cut 3,200 jobs as part of a major reorganization, and divest from five studios: - Compulsion and Double Fine will go indie - Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will be sold - Arkane to enter consultation process Here's the full story: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comMicrosoft’s Xbox to Cut 3,200 Jobs, Divest Five Studios in Major OverhaulCompulsion and Double Fine studios will become independent; Undead Labs and Ninja Theory will be sold. Xbox will also look to sell or spin out Arkane Studios. 611639618
Reposted by Sam HeaneyImran Khan @imrankhan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Wild that Obsidian was told over and over that they didn't need to make money, they just needed to make good games, and now they're being punished for it. 9717141
Reposted by Sam HeaneyRebekah Valentine @duckvalentine.bsky.social · 30/06/2026i would probably dispute the notion that there's any "good" way to upend the lives of hundreds if not thousands of workers, but i think we can all agree *this* is probably not the way to do it 222919
Reposted by Sam HeaneyBruno Dias @brunodias.dev · 15/06/2026The key thing to understand about this is that it is completely unnecessary. This is a corporation with basically infinite money. They don't have to destroy 30+ year studios to save their bottom line. They're doing this because they are evil. 8798276
Reposted by Sam HeaneyHayes Madsen @solfleet.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Remembering today the incredibly awkward clips where Matt Booty tries to convince everyone at Double Fine that things will stay the same (this article that feels like it could be written today is from 2024) www.vg247.com/xbox-shutter...vg247.comAs Xbox shutters studios, old documentary clips that highlight problems with how Microsoft handles its developers are resurfacingFollowing a week of foot-in-mouth c-suite moments at Xbox, some older ones are returning to the fore. 03615
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 15/06/2026BREAKING: Several Xbox studios, including Compulsion, Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are negotiating with Xbox as they try to avoid closure. Some or all could spin off. Lots still in flux as many studios remain unsure about what's happening. Here's the latest: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comStudios in Microsoft’s Xbox Division Brace for ClosuresThe studios, which include Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in active negotiations with Xbox and may be given the chance to go independent. 18038681322
Reposted by Sam HeaneyMatt Sowinski @mattsilversoul.bsky.social · 15/06/2026BuT ThEy cHaNGed tHe LoGo 142
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJeff Gerstmann @jeffgerstmann.com · 15/06/2026Shutting down Compulsion Games just says to me they don't care about managing a portfolio, they just want hits as fast as possible. I'm no studio head, but that sure seems like a bad way to actually make "hits." Especially as a platform holder with a content-devouring subscription service. 1440437
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJordan Middler @jordanmiddler.bsky.social · 15/06/2026I think anyone that expects Xbox to hold on to anything but the absolute blockbuster studios is in for a major shock. I hope these folk can stay together and make more interesting stuff. I fear that's a sentiment I'll be copying and pasting a few times in the near future. 1638
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 19/05/2026static.klipy.comJoe Exotic: Never Going to Financially RecoverALT: Joe Exotic: Never Going to Financially Recover 110
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJason Schreier @jasonschreier.bsky.social · 18/05/2026SCOOP: PlayStation studio business CEO Hermen Hulst told staff in a town hall Monday morning that the company's narrative single-player games will now be PlayStation exclusive, confirming Bloomberg's reporting from earlier this year. Original story from March: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...bloomberg.comSony Pulls Back From PlayStation Games on PCThe video-game publisher no longer plans to put out PC ports of PlayStation games such as ‘Ghost of Yotei’ 1611175221
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJosh Scherr @joshscherr.bsky.social · 11/05/2026"so what I'm thinking is, I think the game is an industry plant, it couldn't possibly be because the game appeals to some people and not to others, especially me, there must be a conspiracy behind all these good scores" 3939
Reposted by Sam HeaneySave The Game Media @savethegamemedia.bsky.social · 05/05/2026@samheaney.bsky.social has been playing Wax Heads! Tune in to Shared Save on Thursday for all his thoughts! 👀 032
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 27/04/2026#Saros Platinum trophy obtained right before early access launch 🔥 And I won’t be stopping playing any time soon. Been an absolute blast covering it. WHAT. A. GODDAMN. VIDEO. GAME. ☀️🔄 370
Reposted by Sam HeaneySave The Game Media @savethegamemedia.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Shoutout to @playstack.com for sending over a code for @raccoingame.bsky.social! @samheaney.bsky.social bringing you coverage soon! (If he can pull himself away from it) 122
Reposted by Sam HeaneyMike Bithell @mikebithell.bsky.social · 21/03/2026If you were someone pinging critics with ‘it’s just lighting cleanup’ a few days ago, I need you to use this as a jumping off point to thinking about your susceptibility to talking points and marketing rhetoric more generally. It was right there in front of all of our faces. 3948721226
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 04/03/2026While anything can happen long term & I’m open to this backfiring on Sony, I currently believe this is 1000% the correct move. Without the hardware & latent revenue, PlayStation is basically dead. I’m willingly to support pivots like this that keep the hardware platform as healthy as possible. 000
Reposted by Sam HeaneyAlex Van Aken @itsvanaken.games · 23/02/2026Re: Xbox — all I can think about is the Double Fine PsychOdyssey documentary scene where Matt Booty essentially tells all creatives on the team that their ideas are property of Microsoft even if their game idea isn’t green-lit You can see the creativity stifled in real time 16650126
Reposted by Sam HeaneyArthur Gies (he/him) @aegies.bsky.social · 23/02/2026there's obviously very useful reporting here from @tomwarren.co.uk, but it's hard for me to read this and not feel like bond is being thrown under the bus for the failure of a strategy that was dictated more or less from the top of MS to Xbox. www.theverge.com/tech/883015/...theverge.comInside Microsoft’s big Xbox leadership shake-upMicrosoft has a new gaming CEO 88218
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 23/02/2026Anyone who believes that Xbox will either: 1. Stand a meaningful chance of regaining mindshare in the console space at this point. 2. Return to exclusivity without it blowing up in their studios faces. 3. Commit to their "plans" for longer than 12 months. Hit me up, I need some of that good stuffmedia.tenor.coma man laying on a bed with a t-shirt that says zombieunderdog on itALT: a man laying on a bed with a t-shirt that says zombieunderdog on it 370
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 21/02/2026So crazy that Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond have been removed from GamePass without any forewarning. What the hell Xbox - they were top of the backlog smh 240
Reposted by Sam HeaneyJordan Middler @jordanmiddler.bsky.social · 19/02/2026I simply don’t understand how you can’t find something for Bluepoint to do, especially when you’re swimming in IP. Unbelievably talented studio. Horrible news. 4969
Reposted by Sam HeaneyFrank Cifaldi @frankcifaldi.bsky.social · 19/02/2026I don't normally comment on stuff like this because I've given up on understanding this business, but I'd have to think the remasters Bluepoint was known for are maybe the closest thing we had left to a predictable business model?? I get that everything is volatile but that part feels pretty safe??? 1239961
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 19/02/2026What in the actual fuck. Seriously just losing the will at this point 010
Reposted by Sam Heaneysunset visitor 斜陽過客 | Prove You're Human - Wishlist Now! @sunsetvisitor.studio · 29/01/2026✊ 2251111
Reposted by Sam Heaneysunset visitor 斜陽過客 | Prove You're Human - Wishlist Now! @sunsetvisitor.studio · 03/12/2025SISTERS, ATTENTION TO THE SKY PLEASE 🗣️ We have been nominated at the 2025 PS Blog Game of the Year Awards for: ✨ Best Story ✨ Best Art Direction ✨ Best Independent Game If you loved 1000xRESIST, please do vote for us as it'd mean a lot to our small studio! 💙 blog.playstation.com/2025/12/01/p...blog.playstation.comPS Blog Game of the Year Awards 2025: polls are now liveVote for your favorite games from the past year across 19 categories. 1117467
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 15/10/2025I can see this winding up a more borked and confusing hardware launch than Xbox One. Supposedly an insight to the “future of Xbox” where “everything is an Xbox” & you can “Play Anywhere”. Yet this is the furthest thing from an Xbox they’ve ever made, & Xbox aren’t correcting errors. 020
Sam Heaney @samheaney.bsky.social · 15/10/2025So does this mean it can be my 2025 GOTY as well? Long overdue and couldn't be happier I get an excuse to experience it all over againmedia.tenor.coma cartoon toad with his mouth wide openALT: a cartoon toad with his mouth wide open 131
Reposted by Sam Heaneysunset visitor 斜陽過客 | Prove You're Human - Wishlist Now! @sunsetvisitor.studio · 08/10/2025We have some upcoming news that we are VERY excited to share next week. Thank you for making the future of 1000xRESIST so bright. Hekki grace. 💙 In the meantime, here's a little sneak preview of what's to come... 1123547
Reposted by Sam HeaneyRyan McCaffrey @dmc-ryan.bsky.social · 06/10/2025The difference between THIS bad-news cycle for Xbox compared to others is that it's more about the brand itself now, which seems not as fixable as their previous lack-of-great-games problems. The damage now – exacerbated by retailers cutting bait on Xbox – feels unrecoverable. (1/2) 10617