James Batchelor
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jamesbatchelor.bsky.social
James Batchelor
@jamesbatchelor.bsky.social
Comms Manager at @digitalbandidos.bsky.social. Runs Non-Violent Game of the Day (@nvgotd.bsky.social). Former journalist

Author (The Best Non-Violent Video Games, Wandless, Blow The House Down) www.jamesbatchelor.me

Father. Gamer. Soundtrack Nerd
Pinned
Important News: You can now pre-order The History of the Pokémon Games from @penandswordbooks.bsky.social!

💻The making of Gen 1-9
🎮Over 150+ games
🎙️Foreword by @theveronicat.bsky.social, the original Ash Ketchum

Also available via Amazon, Waterstones, etc

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-History-...
Finally watching The Witcher

Jaskier when a knight says he won't Yennefer in her tent for fear of degrading her honour:
"That ship has sailed, been wrecked, and sunk to the bottom of the ocean"

I need Joey Batey as a companion in The Witcher 4. Make it happen @cdprojektred.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
THE BERLIN APARTMENT

As a father and daughter renovate an old apartment in Berlin, they discover the stories of those who lived there

[ 2025 / @bluebackpack.bsky.social ]

PC: store.steampowered.com/app/2280430/...
PS5: store.playstation.com/en-gb/concep...
XSX: www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/...
November 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
💰 Save 30% on Soulstone Survivors & Supporter Pack in the Xbox Black Friday sale
⚔️ Take on the Lords of the Void in the million-selling action-roguelike
😈 Unleash your dark side with the corrupted skins for all 22 Void Hunters

Your journey to godhood begins!

➡️ www.xbox.com/en-US/games/...
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
TINY LANDS 2

Explore 3D dioramas as you try to find all the differences, and collect hidden jigsaw pieces to unlock secrets

[ PC, Switch / 2025 / Hyper 3 Studio ]

Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/2213330/...
Switch: www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/...
November 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
⬛ Xbox's Black Friday Sale has begun ⬛
🤑 Get 30% off the Soulstone Survivors + Supporter Pack.

Take on the Lords of the Void today (and try out the corrupted skins while you're at it)

➡️ www.xbox.com/en-US/games/...
Buy Soulstone Survivors & Supporter Pack | Xbox
Soulstone Survivors is a fast-paced action roguelite where you slay hordes of enemies, battle titanic bosses, and forge unique builds. Craft powerful weapons, master runes, and rise to unstoppable…
www.xbox.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Metroid Prime discussions have me once again trying to work out why I'm not as enamoured with 2D Metroids. From the sounds of it, I should try Super Metroid or Hollow Knight - which would you lot recommend?
November 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I wonder if this is because the Valhalla didn't do anything other than sitting at the back of Q Branch looking stupid in No Time To Die
007 First Light – Aston Martin Valhalla Reveal
YouTube video by IO Interactive
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
It is very cold outside. I hereby declare this a Skyrim soundtrack sort of Friday.
November 21, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Indie Fan Fest was so much fun to work on the first time round - and here we go again!
Indie Fan Fest is back! Got an unreleased indie game with a demo in February's Steam Next Fest? Submit now at www.indiefanfest.com for your chance to be part of the showcase. We'll be sharing new game reveals, exclusive trailers, and more earlier next year!
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
6-7!
(Are we doing this right?)

#letthemcomeonslaught #sixseven #downwiththekids
November 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Just has a sponsored LinkedIn message about a freelance writing opportunity... to train an AI. Writing content solely for the purpose of improving an AI designed to replace the writer.
a woman says i just threw up in my mouth a little bit in a black and white photo
ALT: a woman says i just threw up in my mouth a little bit in a black and white photo
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by James Batchelor
BABBLING BROOK

Relaxing game in which you sculpt the landscape to create and guide streams through lush forests and sprawling meadows, helping a flock of rubber ducks escape to the sea

[ PC / 2025 / @srd-ramon.bsky.social ]

store.steampowered.com/app/3672300/...
November 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
"Whatever pixie dust Poncle sprinkled over Vampire Survivors to make it more addictive, there was some left over for Let Them Come: Onslaught" - TheXboxHub

Buy now!

Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/2050800/...
PlayStation: store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
Xbox: www.xbox.com/en-us/games/...
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
GALLERIA

Cosy anthropomorphic art gallery simulator that runs along the bottom of your screen. Hire artists, create paintings, and grow your gallery while you work or study

[ PC / 2025 / Maru Studio ]

store.steampowered.com/app/3920630/...
November 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Sadly, I'm not the Bandido. Need to up my game if I'm going to catch up to his kill count.
It's been one week since Let Them Come: Onslaught blasted onto PC and consoles. One Bandido has already racked up over 120,000 kills, defeated all bosses on Hard Mode, and clearly refuses to branch out from his beloved Autogun

What's your kill count? What's been your best moment so far?

#LTCOkills
November 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Got into a weird argument with my kids this morning: Is Fast Travel the same as teleportation?

They insist a character 'pops' (their words, not mine) from one place to another. But Geralt doesn't materialise in Novigrad - we just don't watch him walking/riding for hours. Right?
November 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by James Batchelor
👽 Never-ending alien swarms
🪐 A planet trying to kill you
🤕 You're injured and alone
⌛ 20 minutes until a nuclear strike

It's going to be one of *those* Mondays...

Let Them Come: Onslaught is now available for PC and consoles: digitalbandidos.com/games/let-th...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XvE...
Let Them Come: Onslaught | Launch Trailer
Brace yourself for a relentless alien assault in Let Them Come: Onslaught — a bullet heaven roguelike where retro sci-fi chaos meets modern carnage. Launches November 11, 2025 on PC, PlayStation,…
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Hilarious watching this old news footage of Pokémon's arrival in the UK - primarily covered as a toy phenomenon with just a brief mention of the computer games (thankfully, I know of an upcoming book that could set them straight!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsfA...
UK Pokemon Hype In 1999.
YouTube video by This Week In Gaming
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
ILA: A FROSTY GLIDE

In this mini open world adventure, you play a young witch-in-training using her skatebroom to search a magical island for her lost cat

[ PC, PS5, XSX, Switch / 2025 / @magicrainstudios.bsky.social ]

www.magicrainstudios.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
LETTERS TO ARRALLA

In this cozy adventure, you are a turnip delivering mail to fellow vegetables and other colourful characters on an Australian island

[ PC / 2025 / Little Pink Clouds ]

www.littlepinkclouds.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
While we're on the subject, are there any indie-developed Metroid Prime-style games? And if not, why not?
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I've been wondering/worrying about why Nintendo hasn't shown much of Metroid Prime 4 even a month away from launch. This might be why.

Metroid thrives on its atmosphere of isolation and discovering things at your own pace - not wise-cracking sidekicks and voices in your ear throughout.
November 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by James Batchelor
New characters, weapons, difficulty modes, and missions - this week's launch was just the beginning for Let Them Come: Onslaught.

Find out more below, or here: store.steampowered.com/news/app/205...

Let Them Come: Onslaught is now available for PC & Consoles: digitalbandidos.com/games/let-th...
November 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Thoroughly deserved. Throughout our work together on bringing Soulstone Survivors to more platforms, the needs of the community always came first.
Congratulations to our friends at Game Smithing on being nominated for Community Management in this year's @indiegameawards.gg!

Void Hunters, please show your support by voting for them here: forms.gle/nNbnkCWFVFBi...

More info on the awards and nominees can be found at www.indiegameawards.gg
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Initially, my answer was no. But I got gud - and you can too!
Stranded on a hostile alien world where even the planet is trying to kill you. Do you have what it takes?

Let The Come: Onslaught is available now

Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/2050800/...
PlayStation Store: store.playstation.com/en-us/concep...
Xbox Store: www.xbox.com/en-us/games/...
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM