John Walker - Industry Analcyst
@botherer.bsky.social
Co-creator of Rock Paper Shotgun, currently helping out at Kotaku, and still looking for a new long-term gig.
I write www.buried-treasure.org, unearthing excellent unknown indies. Please consider supporting!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/buriedtreasure
I write www.buried-treasure.org, unearthing excellent unknown indies. Please consider supporting!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/buriedtreasure
No fucking way, and now THIS?!
Ash is INCREDIBLE. Someone immediately employ her, to get yourself of the best voices in this whole industry.
Ash is INCREDIBLE. Someone immediately employ her, to get yourself of the best voices in this whole industry.
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
www.ashparrish.com
Ash Parrish
www.ashparrish.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:10 PM
No fucking way, and now THIS?!
Ash is INCREDIBLE. Someone immediately employ her, to get yourself of the best voices in this whole industry.
Ash is INCREDIBLE. Someone immediately employ her, to get yourself of the best voices in this whole industry.
Someone give me investment, and I will build you a personality-led profitable gaming site with a passionate, dedicated audience.
We started RPS with literally nothing but Kieron's over-confidence and built a site with 5 million dedicated monthly readers and an stellar reputation, with no SEO ever.
We started RPS with literally nothing but Kieron's over-confidence and built a site with 5 million dedicated monthly readers and an stellar reputation, with no SEO ever.
January 16, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Someone give me investment, and I will build you a personality-led profitable gaming site with a passionate, dedicated audience.
We started RPS with literally nothing but Kieron's over-confidence and built a site with 5 million dedicated monthly readers and an stellar reputation, with no SEO ever.
We started RPS with literally nothing but Kieron's over-confidence and built a site with 5 million dedicated monthly readers and an stellar reputation, with no SEO ever.
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
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.
January 16, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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.
I'm so angry at ALL these video game site failures. Each and every one of them is staffed by amazing people working so hard, being thwarted by moronic management that stifles any hope of growth.
This obsession with chasing drive-by SEO and refusing to build a dedicated audience is beyond idiotic.
This obsession with chasing drive-by SEO and refusing to build a dedicated audience is beyond idiotic.
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I'm so angry at ALL these video game site failures. Each and every one of them is staffed by amazing people working so hard, being thwarted by moronic management that stifles any hope of growth.
This obsession with chasing drive-by SEO and refusing to build a dedicated audience is beyond idiotic.
This obsession with chasing drive-by SEO and refusing to build a dedicated audience is beyond idiotic.
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
January 16, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Inverse has decided to "divest from gaming content" so I'm out of a job again!
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
This is almost certainly the end of my career in games media, and probably the end of my writing career. I'd love for that not to be the case, so I'd appreciate any leads but I'm honestly not hopeful for obvious reasons♥️
I don't use Twitter, completely deleted my 16k follower account last year, and think sadly of anyone still posting there. But booooyyyyyyyy do I enjoy it when it has technical difficulties.
January 16, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I don't use Twitter, completely deleted my 16k follower account last year, and think sadly of anyone still posting there. But booooyyyyyyyy do I enjoy it when it has technical difficulties.
I really do worry that people are forgetting the true meaning of Next Fest.
(This stupid comment brought to you by the PRs who are sending out press releases a month in advance of the nice fun thing where Steam hosts a bunch of demos for a week.)
(This stupid comment brought to you by the PRs who are sending out press releases a month in advance of the nice fun thing where Steam hosts a bunch of demos for a week.)
January 16, 2026 at 2:19 PM
I really do worry that people are forgetting the true meaning of Next Fest.
(This stupid comment brought to you by the PRs who are sending out press releases a month in advance of the nice fun thing where Steam hosts a bunch of demos for a week.)
(This stupid comment brought to you by the PRs who are sending out press releases a month in advance of the nice fun thing where Steam hosts a bunch of demos for a week.)
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
If you're also feeling angry and sad and distant and unsure how to help, and you have some means, maybe consider this, or other things like it.
Hey folks Calvary Food Shelf has been helping out people in Minneapolis for 30 years, and now they’re ramping up to meet the crisis, including doing home deliveries so people don’t have to risk going out.
They’re just over halfway to their current goal—let’s get them all the way, shall we?
They’re just over halfway to their current goal—let’s get them all the way, shall we?
Support Calvary Food Shelf: Emergency Response Fundraiser on GiveMN
Help us respond to urgent community needs
www.givemn.org
January 15, 2026 at 10:42 PM
If you're also feeling angry and sad and distant and unsure how to help, and you have some means, maybe consider this, or other things like it.
Hytale is SUCH an odd thing. Ten years to make a one-to-one Minecraft clone that - in its current released state - adds not a single original idea.
kotaku.com/hytale-minec...
kotaku.com/hytale-minec...
Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack
It's a lot prettier, but really extraordinarily familiar
kotaku.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Hytale is SUCH an odd thing. Ten years to make a one-to-one Minecraft clone that - in its current released state - adds not a single original idea.
kotaku.com/hytale-minec...
kotaku.com/hytale-minec...
If I were Thailand I'd be pretty terrified right now.
Right here on this (1.1 million following) maga Christian facebook profile, posted yesterday
January 15, 2026 at 4:12 PM
If I were Thailand I'd be pretty terrified right now.
You know, if I were the news editor of a major gaming site, I'd occasionally consider crediting the sites from which I copy my stories.
January 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM
You know, if I were the news editor of a major gaming site, I'd occasionally consider crediting the sites from which I copy my stories.
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
SLEUTH SAGA: UNDER STARLESS SKIES has been featured on
@kotaku.com! kotaku.com/steam-detect...
Huge thanks to John Walker (@botherer.bsky.social) for including us in his list of 10 games with demos to check out in Detective Fest!
@kotaku.com! kotaku.com/steam-detect...
Huge thanks to John Walker (@botherer.bsky.social) for including us in his list of 10 games with demos to check out in Detective Fest!
10 Mysterious Games To Check Out In Steam's Detective Fest
Some coming soon, some out now, here are some investigative games you've yet to discover
kotaku.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
SLEUTH SAGA: UNDER STARLESS SKIES has been featured on
@kotaku.com! kotaku.com/steam-detect...
Huge thanks to John Walker (@botherer.bsky.social) for including us in his list of 10 games with demos to check out in Detective Fest!
@kotaku.com! kotaku.com/steam-detect...
Huge thanks to John Walker (@botherer.bsky.social) for including us in his list of 10 games with demos to check out in Detective Fest!
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
So happy to see The Detective's Apprentice be included among these great games!
Hey! Here are 10 splendid-looking investigative games you likely haven't heard of in Steam's Detective Fest:
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
10 Mysterious Games To Check Out In Steam's Detective Fest
Some coming soon, some out now, here are some investigative games you've yet to discover
kotaku.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:15 PM
So happy to see The Detective's Apprentice be included among these great games!
Hey! Here are 10 splendid-looking investigative games you likely haven't heard of in Steam's Detective Fest:
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
10 Mysterious Games To Check Out In Steam's Detective Fest
Some coming soon, some out now, here are some investigative games you've yet to discover
kotaku.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Hey! Here are 10 splendid-looking investigative games you likely haven't heard of in Steam's Detective Fest:
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
kotaku.com/steam-detect...
It must be so brilliant being married to me.
January 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM
It must be so brilliant being married to me.
Here's the article that required that scrolling. I've tried to summarise the last week of the Grok deepfake stories, as new stories broke twice during writing!
kotaku.com/elon-musk-gr...
kotaku.com/elon-musk-gr...
Grok Lies About Locking Its AI Porn Options Behind A Paywall
The generative-AI tool Grok has been found to be producing images of undressed minors
kotaku.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Here's the article that required that scrolling. I've tried to summarise the last week of the Grok deepfake stories, as new stories broke twice during writing!
kotaku.com/elon-musk-gr...
kotaku.com/elon-musk-gr...
So excited to see @midimyers.com's new project, Mothership!
www.mothership.blog/board-the-mo...
Also, if you're someone who writes about the intersection of gaming and gender/sexuality/identity, they're looking for writers!
www.mothership.blog/board-the-mo...
Also, if you're someone who writes about the intersection of gaming and gender/sexuality/identity, they're looking for writers!
Board the Mothership.
You're just in time.
A couple weeks from now, on January 26, 2026, we'll be launching the full version of our new gaming website, Mothership, which aims to analyze games specifically through the...
www.mothership.blog
January 9, 2026 at 6:04 PM
So excited to see @midimyers.com's new project, Mothership!
www.mothership.blog/board-the-mo...
Also, if you're someone who writes about the intersection of gaming and gender/sexuality/identity, they're looking for writers!
www.mothership.blog/board-the-mo...
Also, if you're someone who writes about the intersection of gaming and gender/sexuality/identity, they're looking for writers!
I scrolled through a week of Musk's X feed. I needed to find a specific post for work. I thought it would just be irritating.
I have seen reams of the nastiest, most spiteful, most dishonest, upsetting bullshit. I'm left feeling this deep sense of horror. I feel like crying.
I have seen reams of the nastiest, most spiteful, most dishonest, upsetting bullshit. I'm left feeling this deep sense of horror. I feel like crying.
January 9, 2026 at 5:53 PM
I scrolled through a week of Musk's X feed. I needed to find a specific post for work. I thought it would just be irritating.
I have seen reams of the nastiest, most spiteful, most dishonest, upsetting bullshit. I'm left feeling this deep sense of horror. I feel like crying.
I have seen reams of the nastiest, most spiteful, most dishonest, upsetting bullshit. I'm left feeling this deep sense of horror. I feel like crying.
Goddammit Time Magazine, it really is something to find the text for your article about the immediate dangers of AI being obscured by your fucking AI bot.
January 9, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Goddammit Time Magazine, it really is something to find the text for your article about the immediate dangers of AI being obscured by your fucking AI bot.
I think we've been making a mistake with our criticism of gen-AI slop videos. Mocking them for their embarrassing failures is a misdirection from the real issues, made more stark as the tech rapidly improves.
I'm trying to course-correct my approach:
kotaku.com/the-legend-o...
I'm trying to course-correct my approach:
kotaku.com/the-legend-o...
Viral Zelda Movie Trailer Shows The Soulless Limits Of AI Slop
It's technically a trailer for nothing at all, given no one involved could make a movie
kotaku.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:20 PM
I think we've been making a mistake with our criticism of gen-AI slop videos. Mocking them for their embarrassing failures is a misdirection from the real issues, made more stark as the tech rapidly improves.
I'm trying to course-correct my approach:
kotaku.com/the-legend-o...
I'm trying to course-correct my approach:
kotaku.com/the-legend-o...
A fantastic article from @patrickklepek.bsky.social about the disgraceful uselessness of Roblox's parental controls:
www.crossplay.news/p/its-too-ea...
www.crossplay.news/p/its-too-ea...
It's Irresponsible How Easy Children Can Make New Accounts on Roblox
What is the point of parental controls if they can just sign out and bypass them?
www.crossplay.news
January 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM
A fantastic article from @patrickklepek.bsky.social about the disgraceful uselessness of Roblox's parental controls:
www.crossplay.news/p/its-too-ea...
www.crossplay.news/p/its-too-ea...
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
I was forced through threats and money to review visual novel Spare Parts Chapter 1 by @emily64.bsky.social. I didn't entirely love it.
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
January 8, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I was forced through threats and money to review visual novel Spare Parts Chapter 1 by @emily64.bsky.social. I didn't entirely love it.
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
I was forced through threats and money to review visual novel Spare Parts Chapter 1 by @emily64.bsky.social. I didn't entirely love it.
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
January 8, 2026 at 12:15 PM
I was forced through threats and money to review visual novel Spare Parts Chapter 1 by @emily64.bsky.social. I didn't entirely love it.
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
buried-treasure.org/2026/01/back...
If you want to force me to review a game, support the Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/buriedtrea...
Reposted by John Walker - Industry Analcyst
New: DHS is lying to you.
At least four videos show what really happened when ICE shot a woman in Minneapolis. Shots clearly fired while vehicle already turning away from the officer. But DHS lied. Trump lied. Noem lied. Even judges have catalogued DHS' serial lying
www.404media.co/dhs-is-lying...
At least four videos show what really happened when ICE shot a woman in Minneapolis. Shots clearly fired while vehicle already turning away from the officer. But DHS lied. Trump lied. Noem lied. Even judges have catalogued DHS' serial lying
www.404media.co/dhs-is-lying...
DHS Is Lying To You About ICE Shooting a Woman
At least four videos show what really happened when ICE shot a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday. DHS has established itself as an agency that cannot be trusted to live in or present reality.
www.404media.co
January 7, 2026 at 10:27 PM
New: DHS is lying to you.
At least four videos show what really happened when ICE shot a woman in Minneapolis. Shots clearly fired while vehicle already turning away from the officer. But DHS lied. Trump lied. Noem lied. Even judges have catalogued DHS' serial lying
www.404media.co/dhs-is-lying...
At least four videos show what really happened when ICE shot a woman in Minneapolis. Shots clearly fired while vehicle already turning away from the officer. But DHS lied. Trump lied. Noem lied. Even judges have catalogued DHS' serial lying
www.404media.co/dhs-is-lying...