Lewis Gordon
@lewisgordon.bsky.social
Culture on computers, mostly | ✍ The Verge, FT, The Ringer, The Nation, ArtReview, The Guardian, Vulture | ✉️ lewisjohngordon~at~gmail~dot~com | he/him
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Promoting stuff, uh, probably goes better when I remember to actually link the piece! www.avclub.com/game-theory-...
Baby Steps is one of the best single-player multiplayer games ever made
Baby Steps is one of the best single-player multiplayer games ever made
www.avclub.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Promoting stuff, uh, probably goes better when I remember to actually link the piece! www.avclub.com/game-theory-...
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
In honor of finishing Baby Steps, I wrote a little post-mortem about why it's a perfect streaming game - and why that enhances, not diminishes, what's so great about it.
November 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
In honor of finishing Baby Steps, I wrote a little post-mortem about why it's a perfect streaming game - and why that enhances, not diminishes, what's so great about it.
just so grim. galaxy brain levels of grim
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
just so grim. galaxy brain levels of grim
this is, quite frankly, staggering and disgraceful: the care Roblox Corp purports to have for your children is lip service. imagine if your kid's nursery or school was, like, 'we're introducing prediction markets, i.e. gambling.'
you'd try to get it shut down
you'd try to get it shut down
Is not fully against the idea of a kind of Polymarket-for-kids on Roblox. Says it'd need to be money-free.
November 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
this is, quite frankly, staggering and disgraceful: the care Roblox Corp purports to have for your children is lip service. imagine if your kid's nursery or school was, like, 'we're introducing prediction markets, i.e. gambling.'
you'd try to get it shut down
you'd try to get it shut down
bears repeating
November 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
bears repeating
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Hot off the podcast presses: Brand-new Button Mash with @zackzwiezen.com & @clairejackson.bsky.social of @kotaku.com, in which we A) adjudicate The Game Awards nomination drama and B) evaluate ARC Raiders, Battlefield 6, and CoD: Black Ops 7. Very fun and efficient!
open.spotify.com/episode/5id8...
open.spotify.com/episode/5id8...
The Online Shooters Shoot-Out: ‘Battlefield’ vs. ‘Call of Duty’ vs. ‘ARC Raiders’ | Button Mash
open.spotify.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Hot off the podcast presses: Brand-new Button Mash with @zackzwiezen.com & @clairejackson.bsky.social of @kotaku.com, in which we A) adjudicate The Game Awards nomination drama and B) evaluate ARC Raiders, Battlefield 6, and CoD: Black Ops 7. Very fun and efficient!
open.spotify.com/episode/5id8...
open.spotify.com/episode/5id8...
crushing so hard on mctominay rn
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
crushing so hard on mctominay rn
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
NEW: Subnautica 2 studio cofounders allege in a new filing that Krafton only moved to take over the studio after they refused to budge in negotiations on bonus payouts for them and the team.
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 PM
NEW: Subnautica 2 studio cofounders allege in a new filing that Krafton only moved to take over the studio after they refused to budge in negotiations on bonus payouts for them and the team.
thank you Nicholas Quah for spelling out exactly what makes these interviews so inane. also, on SFV you're only ever catching 90 seconds of an exchange, TOPS -- so you end up with what are effectively disembodied soundbites, cut off from context. it stinks!
www.vulture.com/article/dumb...
www.vulture.com/article/dumb...
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
thank you Nicholas Quah for spelling out exactly what makes these interviews so inane. also, on SFV you're only ever catching 90 seconds of an exchange, TOPS -- so you end up with what are effectively disembodied soundbites, cut off from context. it stinks!
www.vulture.com/article/dumb...
www.vulture.com/article/dumb...
occassionally, a video game preview can be poetry — and this is one such time. lovely work @ashleybardhan.bsky.social
the new metroid prime is like alice in wonderland, i think 🐰 i spent my time with it in a fantasy forest, but not alone…
www.gamesradar.com/games/metroi...
www.gamesradar.com/games/metroi...
After 18 years, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a surprisingly magical return to Nintendo’s legendary series, and I’m all in on psychic abilities and the power of friendship
Hands-on | My 80 minutes blasting away on the Nintendo Switch 2 left me feeling one thing: good for her
www.gamesradar.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
occassionally, a video game preview can be poetry — and this is one such time. lovely work @ashleybardhan.bsky.social
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
And good luck to each and every Ubisoft employee.
November 13, 2025 at 6:49 PM
And good luck to each and every Ubisoft employee.
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
people are focusing on the scary part ("AI-generated") but why, why on Earth, would I want content "from users"
Bob Iger says Disney+ will soon have AI-generated short form content from users
(via THR)
(via THR)
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
people are focusing on the scary part ("AI-generated") but why, why on Earth, would I want content "from users"
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
I wonder if Rockstar leadership envisaged this kind of response when they decided to fire 30+ workers in a union?
Video game giant Rockstar has sacked more than 30 workers across the UK, including my constituents working at their Edinburgh office. I urged Ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs, and stop this from happening again.
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I wonder if Rockstar leadership envisaged this kind of response when they decided to fire 30+ workers in a union?
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Mom, I'm in the magazine!
The Unlikely ‘Father’ of Let’s Plays 🎮🎥
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
November 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Mom, I'm in the magazine!
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
NEW: the IWGB has filed formal legal claims against Rockstar after it says the company refused to meet to discuss bringing back fired developers.
"Rockstar has declined to meet with the IWGB, leading the union and barristers to issue formal legal claims on behalf of the Claimants."
"Rockstar has declined to meet with the IWGB, leading the union and barristers to issue formal legal claims on behalf of the Claimants."
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
NEW: the IWGB has filed formal legal claims against Rockstar after it says the company refused to meet to discuss bringing back fired developers.
"Rockstar has declined to meet with the IWGB, leading the union and barristers to issue formal legal claims on behalf of the Claimants."
"Rockstar has declined to meet with the IWGB, leading the union and barristers to issue formal legal claims on behalf of the Claimants."
Writing my games-of-the-year list. Here's what I got so far 😈
10. Donkey Kong Bananza
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Baby Steps
10. Donkey Kong Bananza
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Baby Steps
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Writing my games-of-the-year list. Here's what I got so far 😈
10. Donkey Kong Bananza
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Baby Steps
10. Donkey Kong Bananza
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. Baby Steps
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Larson’s gunning for that Samus gig lol
November 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Larson’s gunning for that Samus gig lol
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
This was my favorite piece in APOT5, and that's saying a lot.
"I see the game as the guest. I want to make sure I do everything I can to show off every part of this guest."
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
The Unlikely ‘Father’ of Let’s Plays 🎮🎥
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This was my favorite piece in APOT5, and that's saying a lot.
"I see the game as the guest. I want to make sure I do everything I can to show off every part of this guest."
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
The Unlikely ‘Father’ of Let’s Plays 🎮🎥
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
Japanese national treasure Shinya Arino has been the host of GameCenter CX for more than 20 years.
@lewisgordon.bsky.social meets with the comedian, host and game industry’s original ‘Let’s Player’ to discuss what makes the show so beloved to this day.
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
"I see the game as the guest. I want to make sure I do everything I can to show off every part of this guest."
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
I spoke with Shinya Arino, host and faithful "employee" of GameCenter CX about his philosophy, career highlights, and the secrets behind the trailblazing show. He was a delight.
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Or to put it another way, if scored video game reviews only ever illuminate the inadequacy of scores when they foreground a progressive ideology, that would describe an inherent conservative bias in reviewing.
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Or to put it another way, if scored video game reviews only ever illuminate the inadequacy of scores when they foreground a progressive ideology, that would describe an inherent conservative bias in reviewing.
Possibly unpopular opinion: I like review scores!
I like how clear-cut they can be. I like how numerical valuations often force the writer and editorial team to sharpen focus — that a publication has to *really* commit.
I like how clear-cut they can be. I like how numerical valuations often force the writer and editorial team to sharpen focus — that a publication has to *really* commit.
Arc Raiders has produced twenty years of "why game reviews shouldn't have numeric scores" evidence in two weeks
November 11, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Possibly unpopular opinion: I like review scores!
I like how clear-cut they can be. I like how numerical valuations often force the writer and editorial team to sharpen focus — that a publication has to *really* commit.
I like how clear-cut they can be. I like how numerical valuations often force the writer and editorial team to sharpen focus — that a publication has to *really* commit.
Goodnight Universe, from @nicedreamgames.com, is a treat: funny, beautifully observed, gently profound. And by frequently tasking you to close your eyes, it is a rare video game that soothes rather than scorches the retinas.
www.ft.com/content/a3f4...
www.ft.com/content/a3f4...
November 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Goodnight Universe, from @nicedreamgames.com, is a treat: funny, beautifully observed, gently profound. And by frequently tasking you to close your eyes, it is a rare video game that soothes rather than scorches the retinas.
www.ft.com/content/a3f4...
www.ft.com/content/a3f4...
Reposted by Lewis Gordon
Interesting thread! Paet of why Balatro is cool is because it demonstrates that poker is a much more fun "game" once you give players tools to break free of chance as a determining factor - i.e., what makes the game lucrative as a gambling operation. Which I don't think most of its imitators get.
Feels very weird how some devs seem to now look at direct implementation of mechanics that simulate real gambling as being fine so long as they aren't the mechanism that directly siphons takes real money from you. I'm not sure I really agree with that principle personally.
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Interesting thread! Paet of why Balatro is cool is because it demonstrates that poker is a much more fun "game" once you give players tools to break free of chance as a determining factor - i.e., what makes the game lucrative as a gambling operation. Which I don't think most of its imitators get.