Edwin Evans-Thirlwell's Avatar

Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

@edwinet.bsky.social

News editor at RockPaperShotgun, previously seen at Eurogamer, The Guardian, Wired and Edge - writing about (video)games, art, culture, technology - PhD poetics with a focus on procedural and erasure-based verse. He & him.

1,105 Followers  |  48 Following  |  71 Posts  |  Joined: 25.07.2023  |  2.279

Latest posts by edwinet.bsky.social on Bluesky

I would shoot James Archer an email! www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/jame...

29.09.2025 13:55 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Nice to chat with these hooligans again. Also nice to rediscover Mass Effect, sort of, and inflict knowledge of the Krogans on Nate.

27.09.2025 06:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I should have specified the rates in my earlier post: Β£300-400, depending on the pitch!

18.09.2025 18:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hello - apologies for not specifying before. It would be Β£300-400, depending on the pitch.

18.09.2025 18:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Edwin Evans-Thirlwell PC gaming news, previews, reviews, opinion.

Email is in bio! www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/edwi...

17.09.2025 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Some quickfire examples: explaining "mechsploitation" in the context of AC6, or interviewing the LOTRO players who organise the Great Hobbit Run, or investigating why Valve haven't set up their own payment processor. I would particularly like to receive pitches from women and non-binary people.

17.09.2025 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Re. RPS freelance, I now have a budget for irregular (maybe 6-12 pieces a year) 2000-3000 wordish, more granular and specific reporting and investigative criticism that broaches a new topic or addresses a gap in knowledge regarding something familiar.

17.09.2025 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 108    πŸ” 62    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 3

We're shortstaffed on RPS and need some rad PC-minded freelancers for urgent review work. Specifically:
- Borderlands 4 (yes I know it's out already)
- Dying Light: The Beast
- Silent Hill f

Standard rate is Β£200 GBP per review, make yourselves known at james.archer@rockpapershotgun.com

15.09.2025 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 158    πŸ” 142    πŸ’¬ 20    πŸ“Œ 10
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I have been dreaming of labour in Easy Delivery Co Easy Delivery Co. is not quite reminiscent of Silent Hill and Animal Crossing, but it's not entirely unlike them either.
15.09.2025 14:13 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
collage of lava, mountains, a time diagram, a baby in the sky the word FATE and the text:
there is an absolute truth to all reality and it can be accessed through these means: A CORRECT MODE TO APPREHENDING REALITY AND ASCENDING TO INFINITE KNOWLEDGE

collage of lava, mountains, a time diagram, a baby in the sky the word FATE and the text: there is an absolute truth to all reality and it can be accessed through these means: A CORRECT MODE TO APPREHENDING REALITY AND ASCENDING TO INFINITE KNOWLEDGE

a diagram of an aerial view of a coastal town with a red ring around the bay.

Text: the true access zone. the long true reality - a young child has been born in a village in the mountains on the west coast of the peninsula. a card has been pulled from a deck and placed at its birth cot. but what can we know? a cordon has been set up around the area.

a diagram of an aerial view of a coastal town with a red ring around the bay. Text: the true access zone. the long true reality - a young child has been born in a village in the mountains on the west coast of the peninsula. a card has been pulled from a deck and placed at its birth cot. but what can we know? a cordon has been set up around the area.

collage of hand, fountain and ring on red glass with text The Year of Access

a while before this year begins a finger will be extracted from the stomach of a young woman, on its base a ring. at this point  a real belief is now being made it can be intensely perceived. look for a valley and a fountain. a red plane of glass, behind which there can be seen some kind of new being.

collage of hand, fountain and ring on red glass with text The Year of Access a while before this year begins a finger will be extracted from the stomach of a young woman, on its base a ring. at this point a real belief is now being made it can be intensely perceived. look for a valley and a fountain. a red plane of glass, behind which there can be seen some kind of new being.

diagram of pacific with a target and arrow and north sea with pacific and arrow and a crate of aluminium packages 

text: after the
arrival of the being. there was a cold fusion event and spontaneous cratering. wo long crates lowered into the earth that must be accessed simultaneously. 
this cannot be done alone and you are to create a group.

in the past there was a large collision, a sister collision with that in the sea. the silver pit. uncover these during a year of access.

diagram of pacific with a target and arrow and north sea with pacific and arrow and a crate of aluminium packages text: after the arrival of the being. there was a cold fusion event and spontaneous cratering. wo long crates lowered into the earth that must be accessed simultaneously. this cannot be done alone and you are to create a group. in the past there was a large collision, a sister collision with that in the sea. the silver pit. uncover these during a year of access.

TRUE ACCESS TO REALITY GUIDE

06.09.2025 14:03 β€” πŸ‘ 269    πŸ” 92    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

To be clear, I'm looking to commission a freelance journalist for a written investigative feature. (Thank you freelance artists for your enthusiastic but confused emails.)

08.09.2025 17:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm looking to commission a freelancer with knowledge of the Russian games industry and preferably some ability to read/speak Russian. If that's you, my email is in my bio: www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/edwi...

08.09.2025 12:52 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 1

Hello there - sorry about this. If you see it again, can you send me a screenshot? Email in bio: www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/edwi...

03.09.2025 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Cheers Ed!

01.09.2025 12:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I want to explain a few things and then it might be clearer why UK trans people are upset.
In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia.
In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)

29.08.2025 11:56 β€” πŸ‘ 5508    πŸ” 3312    πŸ’¬ 65    πŸ“Œ 489
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Edwin Evans-Thirlwell PC gaming news, previews, reviews, opinion.

Hello! I am, and while we're open to pitches about boardgames that have a solid PC gaming angle, we're also a bit between-the-houses right now in terms of freelance, so I can't guarantee a response. Feel free to email but I would prioritise other outlets. www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/edwi...

27.08.2025 18:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH IGN CREATORS GUILD IS GOING TO... DO OUR JOB!

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IGN MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH LAYING OFF OUR COWORKERS OVER AND OVER. MEANWHILE, MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE LEFT THE COMPANY IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO BUYOUTS, OVERWORK, AND FEELING UNSUPPORTED, EACH TIME, THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO BACKFILL MANY ESSENTIAL ROLES, CLAIMING WE'RE ON A HIRING FREEZE, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO LESS WORK THIS TIME.

AS A RESULT, IGNCG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE ON MORE OF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES' WORKLOADS. MANY OF US NOW WORK LONGER HOURS THAN WE USED TO. A LOT OF US RARELY TAKE LUNCH BREAKS. SOME OF US DO NOT TAKE ADEQUATE TIME OFF DUE TO THERE BEING NO ONE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. OTHERS OF US ARE STUCK DOING WORK WE WERE NEVER HIRED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE ALL ACCEPTED THIS AS NORMAL, BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IGN AND THE WORK WE DO. BUT WITH SO MANY OF US STRUGGLING MORE AND MORE AS EACH NEW WAVE OF OUR COWORKERS ARE DEPRIVED OF A LIVELIHOOD, THIS CYCLE CAN'T CONTINUE. MANAGEMENT IS UNWILLING TO STOP IT, SO IT FALLS TO US.
WITH THE LAYOFFS OF EIGHT OF OUR COWORKERS, IGNCG HAS NEGOTIATED A SIX-MONTH RECALL LIST. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, IF IGN WANTS TO FILL ANY OF THOSE ELIMINATED ROLES AGAIN, THEY MUST REHIRE OUR LAID-OFF COLLEAGUES. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK IF THEY WANT THEM, AND IF NOT, WE WANT THOSE ROLES BACKFILLED TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE REST OF US.
SO STARTING TODAY, LENCE MEMBERS ARE COMMITTING TO DO OUR JOBS. NO MORE, NO LESS. WELL SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME AND LEAVE ON TIME. WE'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR LUNCH TIME, EVERY DAY.
IF WE WORK LATE, WE WILL FIRMLY ASK FOR OUR RIGHTFULLY EARNED COMP TIME. AND IF IGN WANTS OUR LAID-OFF COWORKERS' WORK TO GET DONE, THEY'LL HAVE TO REHIRE THEM TO DO IT INSTEAD OF FOISTING IT UPON US.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT IGNCG IN ALL THIS?
SHARE THIS POST, AND TELL IGN MANAGEMENT THAT Y…

FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY 13TH IGN CREATORS GUILD IS GOING TO... DO OUR JOB! OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IGN MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH LAYING OFF OUR COWORKERS OVER AND OVER. MEANWHILE, MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE LEFT THE COMPANY IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO BUYOUTS, OVERWORK, AND FEELING UNSUPPORTED, EACH TIME, THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO BACKFILL MANY ESSENTIAL ROLES, CLAIMING WE'RE ON A HIRING FREEZE, IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, OR THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO LESS WORK THIS TIME. AS A RESULT, IGNCG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE ON MORE OF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES' WORKLOADS. MANY OF US NOW WORK LONGER HOURS THAN WE USED TO. A LOT OF US RARELY TAKE LUNCH BREAKS. SOME OF US DO NOT TAKE ADEQUATE TIME OFF DUE TO THERE BEING NO ONE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. OTHERS OF US ARE STUCK DOING WORK WE WERE NEVER HIRED TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE. UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE ALL ACCEPTED THIS AS NORMAL, BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT IGN AND THE WORK WE DO. BUT WITH SO MANY OF US STRUGGLING MORE AND MORE AS EACH NEW WAVE OF OUR COWORKERS ARE DEPRIVED OF A LIVELIHOOD, THIS CYCLE CAN'T CONTINUE. MANAGEMENT IS UNWILLING TO STOP IT, SO IT FALLS TO US. WITH THE LAYOFFS OF EIGHT OF OUR COWORKERS, IGNCG HAS NEGOTIATED A SIX-MONTH RECALL LIST. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, IF IGN WANTS TO FILL ANY OF THOSE ELIMINATED ROLES AGAIN, THEY MUST REHIRE OUR LAID-OFF COLLEAGUES. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK IF THEY WANT THEM, AND IF NOT, WE WANT THOSE ROLES BACKFILLED TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE REST OF US. SO STARTING TODAY, LENCE MEMBERS ARE COMMITTING TO DO OUR JOBS. NO MORE, NO LESS. WELL SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME AND LEAVE ON TIME. WE'RE TAKING ALL OF OUR LUNCH TIME, EVERY DAY. IF WE WORK LATE, WE WILL FIRMLY ASK FOR OUR RIGHTFULLY EARNED COMP TIME. AND IF IGN WANTS OUR LAID-OFF COWORKERS' WORK TO GET DONE, THEY'LL HAVE TO REHIRE THEM TO DO IT INSTEAD OF FOISTING IT UPON US. HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT IGNCG IN ALL THIS? SHARE THIS POST, AND TELL IGN MANAGEMENT THAT Y…

Ziff Davis and IGN routinely decide that work done by our laid off colleagues is not important. But inevitably, that crucial work falls onto those who remain.

Not this time. Not anymore.

25.08.2025 21:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1385    πŸ” 726    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 68

Ah, thanks John!

21.08.2025 19:54 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ah thank you!

18.08.2025 10:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I am delighted and relieved to see that the Maw has devoured Eurogamer. RPS is skin and bones at this stage - I've been reduced to feeding it middle-aged anecdotes about blackberrying.

(I am only joking - very interested to see how the daily report pans out.)

13.08.2025 21:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Cheers! Explainer notwithstanding, I am always keen to interview more loudmouthed upset art school teachers (derogatory)

09.08.2025 19:30 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Times understands that the guidance is still being finalised and it will not decree that services have to provide single-sex spaces, but that if they do - for example if a lavatory is intended for women - transgender women would be excluded from using it. To allow someone of the opposite sex to use the facilities would be very likely to amount to unlawful discrimination.
It will also make clear that it will not be deemed as discrimination to exclude trans people from those facilities and that services will be allowed to request birth certificates to ensure single-sex services are protected.

The Times understands that the guidance is still being finalised and it will not decree that services have to provide single-sex spaces, but that if they do - for example if a lavatory is intended for women - transgender women would be excluded from using it. To allow someone of the opposite sex to use the facilities would be very likely to amount to unlawful discrimination. It will also make clear that it will not be deemed as discrimination to exclude trans people from those facilities and that services will be allowed to request birth certificates to ensure single-sex services are protected.

It read: "A legitimate aim for excluding a trans person from a separate or single-sex service for their own biological sex might be to prevent alarm or distress for other service
users.
"A trans man might be excluded from the women-only service if the service provider decides that, because he presents as a man, other service users could reasonably object to his presence, and it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim to exclude him".

It read: "A legitimate aim for excluding a trans person from a separate or single-sex service for their own biological sex might be to prevent alarm or distress for other service users. "A trans man might be excluded from the women-only service if the service provider decides that, because he presents as a man, other service users could reasonably object to his presence, and it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim to exclude him".

EHRC now saying that not only should trans people be excluded from sex segregated spaces, but ALSO those matching birth sex:

β€œA legitimate aim for excluding a trans person from … service for their own biological sex …to prevent alarm or distress for other service users.”
archive.ph/2025.08.07-2...

08.08.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 959    πŸ” 337    πŸ’¬ 46    πŸ“Œ 119

Glad the game catches your fancy!

05.08.2025 07:29 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If you work at Microsoft and are participating in No Azure for Apartheid, I'd love to interview you as an anonymous source. My email is in my bio: www.rockpapershotgun.com/authors/edwin-evans-thirlwell

03.08.2025 17:16 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!

02.08.2025 20:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Graham Smith is leaving RPS, come say goodbye Graham Smith is leaving Rock Paper Shotgun after years of editorial direction. Come say goodbye.
01.08.2025 16:36 β€” πŸ‘ 57    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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We need to reclaim software's wishing well from the cruelty of generative AI A personal essay on the poetics and psychology of generative AI "companions" such as ChatGPT and Copilot.

I wrote about Big GenAI and the scaresome poetics of generators, in what is also a "show of human disparity and ugliness straining against smooth synthesis". www.rockpapershotgun.com/we-need-to-r...

30.07.2025 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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metal & flesh

British? (ew) follow this one easy trick to access the sexual horny robot cum games of metal + flesh metalflesh.neocities.org

29.07.2025 15:13 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Sunday Papers The Sunday Papers is our weekly roundup of great writing about (mostly) videogames from across the web.

We're finally getting rid of the miserable old bastard, with his funny ideas about "not preordering" and being "honest about your feelings". www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-sunday-p...

27.07.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Your Guide on How to Support Mutual Aid Groups in Palestine as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens As we speak, up to two million people in Gaza are being threatened with starvation, as the state of Israel, backed by the US government, continues to blockade humanitarian aid into Gaza, attack basic ...

Two million people are being threatened with forced starvation in #Palestine, as the US government continues to support ongoing ethnic-cleansing.

We've created a list of on-the-ground mutual aid groups in #Gaza that you can support, amplify, and follow. itsgoingdown.org/your-guide-o...

25.07.2025 18:52 β€” πŸ‘ 479    πŸ” 432    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 167

@edwinet is following 20 prominent accounts