George E. Osborn
@georgeosborn.bsky.social
1.8K followers 410 following 1.3K posts
“No, not that one”- Politico | Creator of Video Games Industry Memo | MD, Half-Space Consulting | Author of Power Play (Spring 2026) | Pun appreciator www.videogamesindustrymemo.com
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georgeosborn.bsky.social
If someone asks me if I have any professional advice about becoming a writer, I say no.

But if someone asks me for some unprofessional advice, I've got loads.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
Thinking about @tommy.aiandgames.com‘s talk about generative AI’s actual use in games, which is stuff like consolidating tickets in product management software and creating a more effective search engine for art assets, while looking at this
tk.gg
The easiest way to show your newsroom is actually thinking about AI isn't the 50th summarization tool or chatbot. It's automating the jobs people don't want to do.

Like, bluesky's favourite: alt text!

I wrote about how we built this at the FT, with an interactive demo: tk.gg/posts/ai-alt...
A screenshot of the FT's CMS showing an image component and a sparkled 'Alt text generator' button
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I have since been informed by both commenters and attendees that there is a decent chance that this is, in fact, the Russians.

As you were.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I'm attending a NATO conference today and someone has done the funniest thing possible with the name of their wi-fi network
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I'm attending a NATO conference today and someone has done the funniest thing possible with the name of their wi-fi network
georgeosborn.bsky.social
A totally normal day out for me: going to NATO’s Stratcomm conference to find out how video games are feeding the information environment shaping hybrid warfare.

More in @vgim.bsky.social tomorrow morning…
georgeosborn.bsky.social
Feed the data into Hinge…profit?
georgeosborn.bsky.social
And speaking of Irish tax credit, we might have some devil in the detail to explore. Time to get hunting 🫡
jenuinepanic.bsky.social
Look I'm happy there's an extension etc etc but, dare I say it, this is silly? Am I reading it wrong?
Expansion to post release content but only if the base game qualified for the original credit. There's currently low uptake because so few developers work qualifies for the original credit.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I’ll also be popping some more stuff about this into next Friday’s Playing Politics newsletter for @vgim.bsky.social, so keep your eyes out for that.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
News: Ireland’s video game tax credit has been given a boost. The Digital Games Tax Credit has been extended until 2031 and now allows post-release claims (crucial in the modern games biz).

Justin O’Connor of Story Toys, who is a board member for Irish trade body IMIRT, posted this earlier.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I don’t want to say I’m unprepared for this international trip. But I did search “what is Latvia’s currency” shortly after landing in Riga airport.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
This is why it pays to have a great PR with a background in media relations. It stops cock ups, while also letting you shape the story by scarpering through the gleeful subtleties of the system.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I chatted with a sports journalist recently who had to deal with a pissed off source because they’d chatted off the record about a story.

But the journo hadn’t quoted or referenced the source. They phoned up two other people, got the story on the record, and wrote it up.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
My only addition to Chris’s excellent work is to remember that if you speak to media in any context, they’re looking to write something up.

On the record will quote you directly. Background will list you as a source.

But off the record doesn’t = a secret. It means “find another source.”
georgeosborn.bsky.social
Read the piece. Understand the piece. Make sure you/your business follows the guidance within.
kerrblimey.bsky.social
Hello! I wrote this op-ed because I've fielded some awkward requests from devs and PR (who shall remain anonymous) this year and I think it's indicative of a wider issue in the game industry that stems from some folks not fully understanding the role of reporters.

THOUGHTS on Game Dev Dot Com:
gamedeveloper.bsky.social
Dear game developers, please remember what 'on the record' means
georgeosborn.bsky.social
Sure Xbox Game Pass is expensive, but I’ve just bought a lunch in Pret that struggled to stay south of £20 (!) in price.

Expectation: my bag is full of the entire shop’s contents.

Reality: one sandwich, a drink, and two snacks.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
When you get to the airport and realise you left your headphone case charging at home
georgeosborn.bsky.social
just imagine the post match press conferences
georgeosborn.bsky.social
The fact Paul Benson is also on the coaching staff is giving off prime “ten years into a Football Manager save“ vibes, in the best way possible
georgeosborn.bsky.social
We need a calm head in this crisis, so we’ve appointed the guy who once was disciplined by the club after injuring himself punching a wall.

Welcome back to the LTFC mayhem era 🫡
lutontown.co.uk
Luton Town Football Club has today parted company with manager Matt Bloomfield.
georgeosborn.bsky.social
I’m worried about the crumbs
Reposted by George E. Osborn
georgeosborn.bsky.social
The moment I realised that I’m a middle class parody of myself is when I opened my fridge and realised my definition of “nothing in it“ = two slices of smoked salmon and half a portion of home cooked mushroom risotto