James Cunningham
@jamesac68.bsky.social
I've been writing for Hardcore Gamer since its first issue in 2005, which may be a long time to do anything but it hasn't gotten boring yet. james (at) hardcoregamer (dot) com
Any time the part of the gaming industry that does soulsbornes wants to follow in the footsteps of Enotria: The Last Song and turn the lights on, that would be fine by me. I only need so many games where shades of darkened color swim in a sea of black before dismissing them on the first screenshot.
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Any time the part of the gaming industry that does soulsbornes wants to follow in the footsteps of Enotria: The Last Song and turn the lights on, that would be fine by me. I only need so many games where shades of darkened color swim in a sea of black before dismissing them on the first screenshot.
Wouldn't say No to a Race the Sun semi-sequel at all! I'm in on the Kickstarter.
ANNOUNCEMENT!
(Sort of 😅)
I'm gauging interest in a Kickstarter to bring Race The Sun: Challenge Edition to PC, along with some major updates. Is that a thing you'd back? You can register your interest and read more here:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/fli...
(Sort of 😅)
I'm gauging interest in a Kickstarter to bring Race The Sun: Challenge Edition to PC, along with some major updates. Is that a thing you'd back? You can register your interest and read more here:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/fli...
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Wouldn't say No to a Race the Sun semi-sequel at all! I'm in on the Kickstarter.
Apparently it's treasonous to advise people in the military to disregard unlawful orders? I want in on that action!
If you're military and are given an order you know, or even suspect, to be unlawful, I'd strongly advise disregarding it.*
*Standard "I'm not a lawyer" disclaimer goes here.
If you're military and are given an order you know, or even suspect, to be unlawful, I'd strongly advise disregarding it.*
*Standard "I'm not a lawyer" disclaimer goes here.
November 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Apparently it's treasonous to advise people in the military to disregard unlawful orders? I want in on that action!
If you're military and are given an order you know, or even suspect, to be unlawful, I'd strongly advise disregarding it.*
*Standard "I'm not a lawyer" disclaimer goes here.
If you're military and are given an order you know, or even suspect, to be unlawful, I'd strongly advise disregarding it.*
*Standard "I'm not a lawyer" disclaimer goes here.
Steam Awards are up for nominations. Time to make some choices!
No promises these won't change as I think of other games I've played this year, but it feels like a good start.
No promises these won't change as I think of other games I've played this year, but it feels like a good start.
November 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Steam Awards are up for nominations. Time to make some choices!
No promises these won't change as I think of other games I've played this year, but it feels like a good start.
No promises these won't change as I think of other games I've played this year, but it feels like a good start.
The first @playgrime.bsky.social's Grime was a weird one and the demo for Grime II shows a game that's more than happy to stick with what worked. 2.5D metroidvania/soulsborne with a ton of flexibility in its combat and a difficulty level to match.
hardcoregamer.com/bludgeoning-...
hardcoregamer.com/bludgeoning-...
Bludgeoning Through a World of Paint and So Many Hands in Grime II Demo
The Grime II demo shows off a game that promises to live up to all aspects of its predecessor, whether by weirdness of tone or depth of gameplay.
hardcoregamer.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:27 AM
The first @playgrime.bsky.social's Grime was a weird one and the demo for Grime II shows a game that's more than happy to stick with what worked. 2.5D metroidvania/soulsborne with a ton of flexibility in its combat and a difficulty level to match.
hardcoregamer.com/bludgeoning-...
hardcoregamer.com/bludgeoning-...
Goodbye @ubisoft.com, it was nice knowing you for as long as it was nice knowing you, and then it wasn't nice knowing you any more.
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
Ubisoft boss believes generative AI is as big a revolution for games as the shift to 3D, as tech is embraced company-wide
Ubisoft boss believes generative AI is as big a revolution for games as the shift to 3D, as tech is embraced company-wide.
www.eurogamer.net
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Goodbye @ubisoft.com, it was nice knowing you for as long as it was nice knowing you, and then it wasn't nice knowing you any more.
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-boss...
Finally up to speed on Plur1bus but I'm still annoyed by the utterly trope-y scenario of the first episode- The romance writer who wants to be a serious novelist, complete with a bit of reading from the writer's novel so we know it's crap.
Got a friend who's a romance writer and yeah, no.
Got a friend who's a romance writer and yeah, no.
November 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Finally up to speed on Plur1bus but I'm still annoyed by the utterly trope-y scenario of the first episode- The romance writer who wants to be a serious novelist, complete with a bit of reading from the writer's novel so we know it's crap.
Got a friend who's a romance writer and yeah, no.
Got a friend who's a romance writer and yeah, no.
The reason I don't get involved in Game of the Year discussions is because 2024 would have been Phantom Spark and 2025 is probably Sektori. Enshrouded has a pretty good shot at 2026, though, so it's not guaranteed to be small, tightly-focused games.
November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The reason I don't get involved in Game of the Year discussions is because 2024 would have been Phantom Spark and 2025 is probably Sektori. Enshrouded has a pretty good shot at 2026, though, so it's not guaranteed to be small, tightly-focused games.
Do you really need me to tell you that @gimblll.com's Sektori is absolutely excellent? Probably not, but I did anyway.
hardcoregamer.com/review-sekto...
hardcoregamer.com/review-sekto...
Review: Sektori
Sektori is a twin-stick arcade shooter that's all gameplay and audiovisual spectacle, completely overwhelming any need for plot.
hardcoregamer.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Do you really need me to tell you that @gimblll.com's Sektori is absolutely excellent? Probably not, but I did anyway.
hardcoregamer.com/review-sekto...
hardcoregamer.com/review-sekto...
I'm pretty happy to see @hypixelstudios.bsky.social's Hytale coming back to life. Every time I see the 2019 trailer I want the game it promises to be just a little bit more.
hardcoregamer.com/hytale-un-ca...
hardcoregamer.com/hytale-un-ca...
Hytale Un-Cancels Itself as Original Developers Reacquire Code and Assets
Hytale's long and twisty road takes another turn, with the promise of release finally being just around the corner.
hardcoregamer.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I'm pretty happy to see @hypixelstudios.bsky.social's Hytale coming back to life. Every time I see the 2019 trailer I want the game it promises to be just a little bit more.
hardcoregamer.com/hytale-un-ca...
hardcoregamer.com/hytale-un-ca...
Congratulations! I check in on Hytale about once a year or so and was sad to see it fold a few months back. When the game is ready to be played, I'm ready to play it!
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Congratulations! I check in on Hytale about once a year or so and was sad to see it fold a few months back. When the game is ready to be played, I'm ready to play it!
I had no idea Vampire Survivors came out with a VR version. Am I actually going to dust off my headset for this? It's very possible!
November 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I had no idea Vampire Survivors came out with a VR version. Am I actually going to dust off my headset for this? It's very possible!
Kinda feeling relieved today that I bounced off the Metroid Prime series with the first one on Gamecube. Which reminds me, I still need to get to Metroid Dread.
November 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Kinda feeling relieved today that I bounced off the Metroid Prime series with the first one on Gamecube. Which reminds me, I still need to get to Metroid Dread.
Really looking forward to Factory Town 2. @easmussen.bsky.social's first Factory Town was a bit rough in the UI department but still a lot of fun once you got used to it, and I can't wait to do it all again with new automation toys in a tropical setting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEcR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEcR...
Factory Town 2: Paradise [Official Trailer]
YouTube video by 82apps
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Really looking forward to Factory Town 2. @easmussen.bsky.social's first Factory Town was a bit rough in the UI department but still a lot of fun once you got used to it, and I can't wait to do it all again with new automation toys in a tropical setting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEcR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEcR...
Embargoed trailer so I'm not going to grumble about the game but I can say that any time I see this type of run animation I die on the inside. Stop it, it's stupid! Let your character have some dignity rather than being defined by a trope refined beyond the point of anything any human has ever done.
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Embargoed trailer so I'm not going to grumble about the game but I can say that any time I see this type of run animation I die on the inside. Stop it, it's stupid! Let your character have some dignity rather than being defined by a trope refined beyond the point of anything any human has ever done.
Someday I'm going to make a list of "I love everything about this game except playing it" games.
This thought brought to you by seeing mention of The Outer Wilds, which I'm sure I'll give a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th chance later on.
This thought brought to you by seeing mention of The Outer Wilds, which I'm sure I'll give a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th chance later on.
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Someday I'm going to make a list of "I love everything about this game except playing it" games.
This thought brought to you by seeing mention of The Outer Wilds, which I'm sure I'll give a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th chance later on.
This thought brought to you by seeing mention of The Outer Wilds, which I'm sure I'll give a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th chance later on.
I know this review is taking some heat but to me it looks perfectly reasonable. Arc Raiders used AI? Ok, 2-star penalty. Everything is great but it uses AI is like a Michelin 3-star meal with just a bit of dogshit on the plate. It tinges everything. The correct amount of dogshit is zero.
For Arc Raiders to ride the wave of human sociability all the way to the bank, while also being so contemptuous of the thing that makes us social animals in its own workflow demonstrates a lack of artistic integrity that I find impossible to ignore.
Our review: https://bit.ly/49bVn01
Our review: https://bit.ly/49bVn01
November 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I know this review is taking some heat but to me it looks perfectly reasonable. Arc Raiders used AI? Ok, 2-star penalty. Everything is great but it uses AI is like a Michelin 3-star meal with just a bit of dogshit on the plate. It tinges everything. The correct amount of dogshit is zero.
I hate that I'm pleasantly surprised by the news the Supreme Court has upheld gay marriage, but also I'm very happy the Supreme Court has upheld gay marriage. It shouldn't feel like a victory but somehow it does.
apnews.com/article/supr...
apnews.com/article/supr...
Supreme Court rejects call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
apnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I hate that I'm pleasantly surprised by the news the Supreme Court has upheld gay marriage, but also I'm very happy the Supreme Court has upheld gay marriage. It shouldn't feel like a victory but somehow it does.
apnews.com/article/supr...
apnews.com/article/supr...
It's finally time for water in @keengamesstudio.bsky.social's Enshrouded! The major update, Wake of Water, has landed bringing in water as a physical in-game object, plus a new biome featuring plenty of watery exploration. And a complete rework of all weapons, too!
hardcoregamer.com/swimming-in-...
hardcoregamer.com/swimming-in-...
Swimming In the Depths as Enshrouded's Wake of Water Releases
The big feature for Enshrouded's Wake of Water update is exactly what the title states, which is an all-new biome with a tropical water theme.
hardcoregamer.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It's finally time for water in @keengamesstudio.bsky.social's Enshrouded! The major update, Wake of Water, has landed bringing in water as a physical in-game object, plus a new biome featuring plenty of watery exploration. And a complete rework of all weapons, too!
hardcoregamer.com/swimming-in-...
hardcoregamer.com/swimming-in-...
Mmmm…. Dangerous!
November 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Mmmm…. Dangerous!
A couple of weeks back I had the chance to go to Los Angeles or San Francisco for a two separate November press events. I was tempted to do both, honestly, because it's been a long while since the last one. Then I realized that might be a bad idea with the government shutdown and decided against it.
November 8, 2025 at 4:11 AM
A couple of weeks back I had the chance to go to Los Angeles or San Francisco for a two separate November press events. I was tempted to do both, honestly, because it's been a long while since the last one. Then I realized that might be a bad idea with the government shutdown and decided against it.
If GTA had kept on with the San Andreas style I might care that GTAVI is delayed. GTAIV and GTAV both made it very clear I'm not needed there any more so it was nice while it lasted.
Also, union busting Take 2 can fuck aaaaaaaaaaaaall the way off.
Also, union busting Take 2 can fuck aaaaaaaaaaaaall the way off.
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 AM
If GTA had kept on with the San Andreas style I might care that GTAVI is delayed. GTAIV and GTAV both made it very clear I'm not needed there any more so it was nice while it lasted.
Also, union busting Take 2 can fuck aaaaaaaaaaaaall the way off.
Also, union busting Take 2 can fuck aaaaaaaaaaaaall the way off.
There we go! Can't wait to find out more.
🥁 Feel the beat. Own the stage.
CRKD Drums - Coming 2026.
👉 Sign up to be notified: https://go.crkd.gg/drums
CRKD Drums - Coming 2026.
👉 Sign up to be notified: https://go.crkd.gg/drums
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
There we go! Can't wait to find out more.
Election day, but thanks to early voting I don't have anything else I need to do. Only two questions on my ballot and one of them was a voter restriction measure that would have limited my early-voting ability, so that was a big old No.
November 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Election day, but thanks to early voting I don't have anything else I need to do. Only two questions on my ballot and one of them was a voter restriction measure that would have limited my early-voting ability, so that was a big old No.
Well that went well/poorly. Good for the Vectrex and I still need one, but I was there 2 minutes after the Kickstarter went live and the Kickstarter back-end was overwhelmed. No Founders/Early Bird for me, it just got stuck loading forever. Thanks, Kickstarter. Big help there.
🕹️ VECTREX MINI KICKSTARTER 🕹️
Vectrex Mini Kickstarter is live!! The legendary vector console is back, now in a mini size!
Support the project 👉
www.kickstarter.com/projects/185...
Vectrex Mini Kickstarter is live!! The legendary vector console is back, now in a mini size!
Support the project 👉
www.kickstarter.com/projects/185...
Vectrex Mini
The best vector console is back!
www.kickstarter.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Well that went well/poorly. Good for the Vectrex and I still need one, but I was there 2 minutes after the Kickstarter went live and the Kickstarter back-end was overwhelmed. No Founders/Early Bird for me, it just got stuck loading forever. Thanks, Kickstarter. Big help there.