Dr Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Ryu walking into the sunset in the ending of Street Fighter II. The caption reads: "Already seeking the next challenge, ceremony means nothing to him."

Personal news: I'm leaving my Editor-at-large role at Eurogamer & Gamer Network as part of new cuts. I last year approached my move to Eurogamer & VG247's skeletonization with reluctance, but I ultimately greatly enjoyed giving EG a go. But now after 10yrs & in difficult conditions, it's time to go.

Well then. After 9 years my role of Editorial Director at Eurogamer/IGNE has been made redundant. If you’re reading this and feel I have a lot of valuable experience (I do), I’m keen to explore any opportunities (full time, consulting, other) in the games industry. I am great.

2025 Critical Distance Status Once again, it’s time to check in on the finances for Critical Distance.   Last year, I said the finances were on the brink of stability. We never actually achieved that stability: we are unli…

Particularly appreciative of Critical Distance's archive of criticism and reporting right now, given the rate of turnover in the games media lately. critical-distance.com/2026/02/25/2...

Rainsins Assbow Cry (hope you are well, aside from being exposed to my bad jokes)

Much of my youth revolved around the website ZineLibrary. It went down around Occupy in a massive loss for a movement whose ideas and knowledge mostly doesn't circulate online but in person.

Anyway I've put it back online with a *thousand* anarchist zines:

zinelibrary.org

Fallson On Baby Steps I've been picturing him as he might appear if ever glimpsed from far below. Cresting the tree line, coming into and out of focus through some documentarian's telescopic lens, where the ...

On Baby Steps: www.arcadence.com/fallson/

I've done some work with Tarot, and this is definitely in that bracket, but I'd like to get beyond it in some respects.

Indeed!

"Esoteric" is definitely a good research keyword in this context - thanks.

Cheers, I will look into that!

I want to make a thing in which the deck functions like a half-built, half-remembered machine.

I'm looking for examples of solo card games (digital or physical) in which rules or patterns are created and/or identified through play. You have simple rules to start with and the process 'thickens' according to some hidden logic or principle intuited from the cards.

If you've played any games that do interesting things with healing, disease and fighting disease, would love to hear about them - also any writing that explores games of this nature.

"A whole literary fiction of the festival grew up around the plague... But there was also a political dream of the plague, which was exactly its reverse... not masks that were put on and taken off, but the assignment to each individual of his 'true' name, his 'true' place..." Foucault, tr Sheridan

A new website about PC games, from me, @brendyc.bsky.social and @jonhicks.com.

Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.

⚠️ BREAKING:

UK Loses Measles Elimination Status After Nearly 3,000 Cases Reported in England and Wales

The World Health Organization says the UK has lost its measles elimination status after nearly 3,000 cases were reported in England and Wales in 2024.

The New National Health Service Your new National Health Service begins on 5th July. What is it? How do you get it? “It will provide you with all medical, dental and nursing care. Everyone-rich or poor, man, woman or child – can use it or any part of it. There are no charges, except for a few special items. There are no insurance qualifications. But it is not a “charity”. You are all paying for it, mainly as taxpayers, and it will relieve your money worries in time of illness.”

One of the most beautiful documents ever created: the leaflet that everyone received when Britain's NHS was launched (1948)

"Everyone—rich or poor, man, woman or child—can use it... There are no charges, except for a few special items...it will relieve your money worries in time of illness”

How game developers worldwide are reliving Y2K Japan, from Jet Set Radio to Dance Dance Revolution The people behind Unbeatable, Hyperyuki and Denshattack discuss their Japanese influences, from trains and Digimon to music and the Dreamcast.

Hello! Over the weekend, my article on some cool games reliving the spirit of Y2K went up on RPS! Feat @rj.dcellgames.com @davidjaumandreu.bsky.social
www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-game-dev...

We’re sorry for Tomb Raider, thank you for buying. Start up the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (2024, Aspyr, pub. Crystal Dynamics, Embracer) and you’re met with a curious message. Tomb Raider I-III (2024, dev. Aspyr, pub. Crystal Dynamics, of …

wrote about Tomb Raider I-III Remastered's apology message for all the racism it contains, and how its claims of presenting the original games "unaltered" to learn from harm are undermined by not actually doing that, and by taking your money in the meantime glitchout.blog/2026/01/12/w...

I'm writing a Dark Souls 2 article for RPS and I'm looking for a few quotes from game devs / designers to contextualize its reputation... is Dark Souls 2 the best or worst designed? good-weird or bad-weird? why? replies open

Echoing James, we have a small amount of budget for more specific longform investigations and criticism, if you're interested. bsky.app/profile/edwi... Pieces like this one: www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-sanitisa...

Inverse's Gaming section is being shut down as the company "divests" from gaming content. I'm out of a job along with my wonderful co-writers. I've put my heart and soul into this job for four years. Gonna need to take time to process, but I'm now completely open for work - and boy do I need it.

Breaks my heart to share this, but today is my last day at The Verge and I am looking for work! I'd really like to stay in video games, preferably in some kind of journalistic capacity but I can do PR/Marketing and maybe even a lil Narrative Design. Please get in touch!
www.ashparrish.com

hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D

Thank you all for your patience! Without further ado, it's This Year In Videogame Blogging 2025, complete with a bonus This Week In Videogame Blogging, December 28, 2025!

critical-distance.com/2026/01/01/t...

Some background: www.972mag.com/microsoft-cl...

www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-culture-of...

nogamesforgenocide.com

There are many reasons to divest from MS besides their links to the Israeli military – they have absurd market power (which they are using to brute-force genAI uptake) and plenty other defence partnerships. Other VG companies may deserve similar action, such as EA if the PIF-led buyout goes ahead.

I’m joining the BDS boycott of Microsoft in a qualified personal capacity. I won’t write previews, reviews, reveal or release day coverage for Microsoft-published works for the foreseeable. I will continue to edit work about MS games and write about the company itself (layoff news, etc).

A picture of a white and pale blue sunset above a dark red rocky landscape, taken by NASA's Spirit robot rover while exploring the Gusev crater.

The sun from Gusev crater on Mars, taken by NASA's Spirit rover. Happy winter solstice.