iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Bo Moore @usebomswisely.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Instead of celebrating that success, I'm mourning the loss of my and many of my talented colleagues' jobs. Please hire them. Please hire me. And please still read and watch our work. Our Steam Frame review is sharp and smartly critical of an extremely interesting piece of technology.

ign.com

Valve's Steam Frame Is a Great All-in-One Wireless PCVR Headset, but Is It Worth the Cost?

The Steam Machine is probably one of the first VR headsets that can do everything right out of the box, from standalone gaming to streaming 2D games from your PC. But the high price, short battery lif...

831252

Reposted by Samuel Horti

kheehoon chan Still Needs Work @crapstacular.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

"We’re looking for ambitious, high-volume writers who are eager to publish frequently and maximize their reach. With our sessions-based pay model, higher output and stronger-performing content lead to higher earning potential." This is bullshit collider.applytojob.com/apply/TzVU1N...

collider.applytojob.com

Polygon High-Performance Writer (Entertainment & Gaming) - Collider - Career Page

Apply to Polygon High-Performance Writer (Entertainment & Gaming) at Collider in Remote.

1104

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Raj Patel @rajio.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

For most of the publicly traded companies with the most games job layoffs, their gross profit year over year has been increasing every year. The overall trend among most public companies doing layoffs is continued growth. This does not show a revenue consolidation causing the wider layoff trends.

parent companies known to have experienced layoffs for games industry jobs since 2020, sorted by most known total layoff headcount.

311935

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

If you missed it yesterday among the GTA kerfuffle, I wrote about Whiskerwood for Remap. It may end up being an all-time citybuilder when Early Access is through, but I'm not *fully* convinced by how it handles its historical themes. Have a read!

000

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Remap Radio @remapradio.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Whiskerwood is already a charming and engaging city-builder, but where it’s ultimately headed is what makes it fascinating. remapradio.com/articles/of-mice-and…

remapradio.com

Of Mice and Mercantilism: Whiskerwood’s Ambitious City-Building

A cat-and-mouse revolution.

1305

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Whiskerwood may end up being an all-timer citybuilder - but I have questions and doubts about the limits of its colonial themes. I put some of them to its creator for this @remapradio.bsky.social piece. Thanks as ever to @robzacny.bsky.social for wrangling my words. remapradio.com/articles/of-...

remapradio.com

Of Mice and Mercantilism: Whiskerwood’s Ambitious City-Building

A cat-and-mouse revolution.

120

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Huge thanks to Rob for letting me chat baseball and one of my favourite games ever - it made me realise that I'm still a better writer than speaker, but I had a lot of fun! Please have a listen and read the accompanying piece if you can. Even if you're not a baseball fan, SMB4 is incredible.

000

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Rob Zacny @robzacny.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Abused my position to make @samuelhorti.bsky.social talk to me about Super Mega Baseball 4, a game I'm currently obsessed with mostly because of his retrospective. remapradio.com/podcasts/epi...

remapradio.com

Samuel Horti on Super Mega Baseball

Samuel Horti joins Rob to talk about Super Mega Baseball. They discuss its brilliant “traits” system, never-to-be-beaten difficulty settings, delightfully sl...

4333

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Remap Radio @remapradio.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Bruno Dias makes the case for Destiny’s Crucible as one of the last great deathmatch games. remapradio.com/articles/let...

remapradio.com

Letting the Fires Die

On saying goodbye to Destiny’s Crucible

03610

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

For Remap I wrote about EA's double-edged influence on Super Mega Baseball, the best sports series of all time. It's the story of a giant swallowing a talented indie and what happened next, for better and worse. Please read (and subscribe!). Thx @robzacny.bsky.social remapradio.com/articles/sup...

remapradio.com

Super Mega Baseball 4 and the Quest for the Perfect Game

How Metalhead achieved the ideal form of the baseball sim-cade game, thanks to the double-edged influence of EA.

27019

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Remap Radio @remapradio.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

For an enjoyable Sunday read, here's @samuelhorti.bsky.social on what allowed Super Mega Baseball to so perfectly capture the essence of baseball… and why we won't see its like again. remapradio.com/articles/sup...

remapradio.com

Super Mega Baseball 4 and the Quest for the Perfect Game

How Metalhead achieved the ideal form of the baseball sim-cade game, thanks to the double-edged influence of EA.

1232

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Chris Schilling @schillingc.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Feels faintly archaic saying things like "the weekend crowd" in space year 2026, but on the off-chance that's still a thing, I'll reshare this piece about a really fascinating upcoming video game because people seemed to quite enjoy it. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/j...

theguardian.com

‘An anthem for the co-dependent’: Bad Magpie’s corvid carnage with a side of existential angst

Going by the mantra, if you want to make someone laugh, make them cry first, the game’s developers have created a lonely magpie who fills the void by wreaking havoc

1339

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Reporting on the R* firings has meant multiple trips to London, Edinburgh & Glasgow over the last several months in order to be on the ground as the story developed. It's been a different style of video for us, with more frequent updates, rather than one big doc right at the end of the process.

Chris interviewing Rachel Crawford, one of the fired Rockstar workers, during a demonstration outside Rockstar North.

Chris attaching a lavalier microphone to the shirt of Nestor Uriarte, ahead of their interview about his role as union rep at Rockstar Games.

Chris reporting to camera outside the Glasgow Tribunals Centre during the preliminary hearing between Rockstar Games and its fired workers.

The fired Rockstar workers and their supported protesting outside the entrance to the Rockstar North offices.

237659

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Need a weekend longread? Here are several thousand words on Super Mega Baseball: why I think it's the best sports series ever, plus original reporting on what changed at developer Metalhead after EA bought it. Thanks @robzacny.bsky.social for giving me time + space! remapradio.com/articles/sup...

remapradio.com

Super Mega Baseball 4 and the Quest for the Perfect Game

How Metalhead achieved the ideal form of the baseball sim-cade game, thanks to the double-edged influence of EA.

010

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who shared this so far - if you worked on the series, or were part of the deal from the EA side, my DMs open and email is sphorti@gmail.com

000

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Dave Jackson | Tales from the Backlog @realdavejackson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This was a great read and it made me want to play more Super Mega Baseball. Hell yeah.

121

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Chris Bratt @chrisbratt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Back in October, Rockstar Games fired 34 employees for alleged gross misconduct. The severity of these firings could have spelled the end for a burgeoning union effort that was underway, but it didn't. In fact, the union is now *bigger* than it's ever been before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym4z...

youtube.com

Rockstar Fired 34 People, but the Union Is Bigger than Ever

YouTube video by People Make Games

3919357

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

I absolutely loved putting this together. Writing for Remap is an absolute delight - please do read and support!

020

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

remapradio.com

Super Mega Baseball 4 and the Quest for the Perfect Game

How Metalhead achieved the ideal form of the baseball sim-cade game, thanks to the double-edged influence of EA.

27019

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Tom O @vgtomo.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Big 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.net

Welcome to Respec: A word from the Editors | Respec

Welcome to our new little corner of the internet. Why a new video game website, and why now? Allow us to explain...

2221192

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Luke Plunkett @lukeplunkett.com · 06/07/2026

i think everybody involved in the creation and introduction of VAR should be tried in the hague

21039

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Tamoor Hussain @tamoorh.com · 03/07/2026

Incredible moment where Fox News puts up a graphic with all the reasons it opposes the DSA and why people should be afraid of them

765259747161

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

If you ever played ISS64, the best sports game on N64, then please do read my piece revisiting it for IGN, and then bask in the nostalgia of @andreas.killie-grenasberg.no's soundboard commentary tool, in the quoted post below ("There's a fight for aerial domination!") www.ign.com/articles/int...

ign.com

Three Decades and Eight World Cups Later, International Superstar Soccer 64 Remains a Timeless Joy With an Unforgettable Commentator

It may be almost 30 years old, but with its unforgettable commentator and brilliant gameplay, International Superstar Soccer 64 is completely timeless.

030

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Samuel and Matthew's discussion is, as always, excellent. Worth listening to their GTA episodes in order if you can, they're all fantastic

041

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Matthew Castle @mrbasilpesto.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

You can really hear that the first half was recorded at 7am and the second half during peak sweating hours at 5pm. I'm going to tell people we were trying to mimic the tonal shift from Franklin to Trevor. I've loved revisiting these games over the last year - some of our more energetic chats.

0223

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

@gate.itch.io hey, I had a press question about Derelict Star, what's the best email for you? Thanks

100

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Jeremy Peel @jeremypeel.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

For GamesRadar: “It's the first-person shooter equivalent of getting up at 3am for a wee, and trusting that you can remember the obstacles along the way: the corners of the bed, the next door handle, a flight of stairs you'd rather not tumble down sideways.” www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/ma...

gamesradar.com

Marathon Season 2 is testing my map knowledge in the most terrifying way: by turning the lights off

Now Playing | I played nearly 150 hours of Marathon's first season and it's just as well, because now I can't see a sodding thing

0153

Reposted by Samuel Horti

dash. @dashiellwood.com · 12/06/2026

The first of our Best of Summer Game Fest 2026 award write-ups is live now, with a deep dive into @klanggames.bsky.social' incredibly advanced life simulator Seed!

techradar.com

Seed is shaping up to be the most revolutionary life simulator since The Sims

We go hands-on with the staggeringly advanced life simulator Seed at Summer Game Fest 2026.

062

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

More on 007 First Light for @ign.com - why I don't think TacSim, sold as an endgame with a long roadmap, has anywhere near the same potential as Hitman. It's got exactly one brilliant mission. Most of the others are duds and some of the design decisions are baffling. www.ign.com/articles/007...

ign.com

007 First Light’s Tactical Simulation Mode Is Barebones and Fidly, Making It a Mere Shadow of Hitman’s Brilliant Endgame

With few missions, an awkward structure and no sprawling sandbox, 007 First Light's TacSim mode stands little chance of matching Hitman's brilliant postgame.

120

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

This review by @joshuawolens.bsky.social captured a lot of what I feel about 007 First Light. I've loved parts of it (bluff system, tone, characters) and I'm more positive than Joshua is on it, but quite a lot of it feels clumsy. Worth a read!

000

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Wrote this for IGN on First Light's 'bluff' mechanic, which i'm convinced is the best thing in the game

020

Reposted by Samuel Horti

IGN @ign.com · 30/05/2026

007 First Light's genius bluff system turns Bond's ability to BS into his greatest weapon. bit.ly/4fbwdlh

0485

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Barry Petchesky @barryp.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Freelancing is hard enough already, and inflation sucks. Defector is raising our base freelance rates by 20 percent. Great time to pitch us. Email me or pitches@defector.com

331662437

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Matthew Reynolds @mattreyn.games · 28/05/2026

Some news - I’ve joined the Nintendo Life team as Acting Deputy Editor! I'm covering for Alana while she's out on maternity leave, and looking forward to helping out across the site over the year ahead (including tinkering away at guides as always 😍)

4322310

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Dia Lacina @dialacina.com · 19/05/2026

SO to @remapradio.bsky.social for letting me go extremely long and self-indulgently about ZERO PARADES FOR DEAD SPIES, a game that knocked me fully on my ass again and again. 100/100 👉🏽🐬s Go read it!!! 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽 remapradio.com/articles/zer...

remapradio.com

Zero Parades and a Bleak Espionage Triumph

This spy will self-destruct in ten seconds.

12335114

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Game devs: have you ever worked, in any capacity, on the Super Mega Baseball series? One of my favourite sports series of all time and I'd love to speak to you for an article I'm working on. Any shares appreciated! #gamedev #indiegame

22118

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

22118

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Joshua Rivera @jmrivera.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

going to do a thread where I keep all my columns in THE WORK (an @aftermath.site joint) together as they publish. First is the introduction: aftermath.site/oscars-revol...

aftermath.site

This Year's Oscar Nominees Have Real Fight In Them, Even If Hollywood Doesn't

An introduction to The Work, a column about resistance in fiction

1436

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

For @pcgamer.com I interviewed James Ohlen, veteran BioWare developer and founder of Archetype Studios, which is making Exodus. He spoke about burning out at Archetype (he left last year), feeling useless at BioWare, and a failed plan to reboot The Old Republic MMO www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/it...

pcgamer.com

'It nearly killed me': Why studio head James Ohlen left sci-fi RPG Exodus mid-development—and why EA crushing his Star Wars: The Old Republic reboot was the 'beginning of the end' at BioWare

"I just needed to step away."

1186

Reposted by Samuel Horti

meghna jayanth @meghna.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

A wonderful interview and write-up of @allwillrise.bsky.social - really captures so much of the mechanical complexity, narrative richness, political intensity and outright silliness, absurdity + humour, that we’re trying to capture in the game 🔥 www.pcgamer.com/games/advent...

pcgamer.com

'We're doing something a bit more interesting': All Will Rise dev says its progressive deck-builder shouldn't be dumped in the 'woke, liberal bucket'

A river god has been murdered, and it's up to you to hold the rich and powerful to account.

24825

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Joost Vervoort @joostvervoort.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

We're in PC Gamer! with @allwillrise.bsky.social![.] we want to model a type of agency, or a way of looking at or being in the world more than anything else. The world is interesting and it's worth getting amongst it and trying to be in it."

1186

Samuel Horti @samuelhorti.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

All Will Rise is taking some big swings: mechanically, narratively, politically. I waded through its dense three-hour demo and spoke to @meghna.bsky.social and @hugobille.bsky.social about why they think it shouldn't be dumped in the "woke, liberal bucket". www.pcgamer.com/games/advent...

pcgamer.com

'We're doing something a bit more interesting': All Will Rise dev says its progressive deck-builder shouldn't be dumped in the 'woke, liberal bucket'

A river god has been murdered, and it's up to you to hold the rich and powerful to account.

0147

Reposted by Samuel Horti

jasmine james 🔜 Barcelona Game Fest @jasmo.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Happy May! Here's another thread of freelance writing, full-time and mock review job opportunities for games, tech, and entertainment 💛 Please share it with your pals 👍🏾

22523

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Dr. Emily Price @emilyprice.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

just saying the number of indie games coming out this spring is intense and you can have excellent website-elevating criticism on them with one simple trick (hiring me and my friends to write freelance articles for you)

15622

Reposted by Samuel Horti

Samantha Mackenzie Greer @sammgreer.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Chapter Three of IT EATS PLANETS begins... TODAY! Debris's plan to escape the inescapable Quod-Quell unfolds alongside the circumstances of the past that lead her there. But can Debris pull the people she needs together? You can check out the first pages now! iteatsplanets.com/page/79

A collage of the recent IT EATS PLANETS posters, with each quadrant of the text having a different colour background and a different face laid inside the text

13419