Pinned
Sam W
@samwrite.bsky.social
· Jun 10
The life and death of Hideo Kojima
As Hideo Kojima prepares for the release of Death Stranding 2, the pioneering video game director continues to inject his iconoclastic vision into ever-more ambitious projects
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
In April, I made the rarest of pilgrimages: to Tokyo, and the top of a skyscraper, to meet Hideo Kojima. I went with one question: why still make games? At 61, he has made them for almost forty years. But he has seen his end.
My latest for GQ: www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/hide...
My latest for GQ: www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/hide...
Reposted by Sam W
Hi, I'm looking to speak to people who have left games journalism in the last few years and have gone onto do something else. DMs are open, or [email protected], thanks!
September 28, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Hi, I'm looking to speak to people who have left games journalism in the last few years and have gone onto do something else. DMs are open, or [email protected], thanks!
Reposted by Sam W
In recent years, the media has quietly begun to change the way in which it writes about Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard.
PMG investigates how Kotick used the threat of defamation to reshape his legacy in the games business, one article at a time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
PMG investigates how Kotick used the threat of defamation to reshape his legacy in the games business, one article at a time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
Inside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the Press
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2026 at 2:30 PM
In recent years, the media has quietly begun to change the way in which it writes about Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard.
PMG investigates how Kotick used the threat of defamation to reshape his legacy in the games business, one article at a time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
PMG investigates how Kotick used the threat of defamation to reshape his legacy in the games business, one article at a time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
Reposted by Sam W
Absolutely uncalled for
September 24, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Absolutely uncalled for
Reposted by Sam W
For nearly two years, I've been investigating a pattern of ominous legal letters sent to journalists by defamation counsel representing Bobby Kotick.
That investigation is finally live.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
That investigation is finally live.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
Inside Bobby Kotick's Campaign Against the Press
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2026 at 4:03 PM
For nearly two years, I've been investigating a pattern of ominous legal letters sent to journalists by defamation counsel representing Bobby Kotick.
That investigation is finally live.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
That investigation is finally live.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwp...
I just do not get how a company of many hundreds spends a decade on the “WHAT on earth do we DO with this faceless ICON in SICK ARMOUR who SHOOTS COOL GUNS at aliens and DRIVES BIG TANKS and FLIES ALIEN SHIPS” problem
September 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM
I just do not get how a company of many hundreds spends a decade on the “WHAT on earth do we DO with this faceless ICON in SICK ARMOUR who SHOOTS COOL GUNS at aliens and DRIVES BIG TANKS and FLIES ALIEN SHIPS” problem
Ocarina? I hardly knew her.
September 8, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Ocarina? I hardly knew her.
Reposted by Sam W
Last month I went to Japan and spent an hour with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, in an attempt to understand why he makes games the way he does. He also told me he doesn’t have a foot fetish. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/s...
‘Ruin and decay bring a chance of rebirth’: Hidetaka Miyazaki on uniting players in a damaged world
As FromSoftware’s new multiplayer game The Duskbloods nears release, the legendary game director behind Dark Souls talks connection, pessimism and of course, feet
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Last month I went to Japan and spent an hour with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki, in an attempt to understand why he makes games the way he does. He also told me he doesn’t have a foot fetish. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/s...
If your take on Grand Theft Auto 6 is that a series about cars and guns is “still just driving and shooting” then I have no other option than to think you’re stupid.
August 28, 2026 at 12:06 PM
If your take on Grand Theft Auto 6 is that a series about cars and guns is “still just driving and shooting” then I have no other option than to think you’re stupid.
Rumour has it that he’s going to play The Witcher 3 for a seventh time.
August 25, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Rumour has it that he’s going to play The Witcher 3 for a seventh time.
A movie about Bourdain before Lloyd Grossman? Ainsley? The wrong people are making the decisions.
August 24, 2026 at 3:40 PM
A movie about Bourdain before Lloyd Grossman? Ainsley? The wrong people are making the decisions.
Reposted by Sam W
Just make them illegal. They're a menace. We are fine without them.
UK cinemas consider ban on Meta glasses
Pubs, theatres and even the courts have been mulling how to react to the AI-powered technology.
news.sky.com
August 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Just make them illegal. They're a menace. We are fine without them.
Duped by AI. Like a midweight chimpanzee.
August 18, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Duped by AI. Like a midweight chimpanzee.
Reposted by Sam W
It’s my turn now! The newsletter didn’t take off so I’ve been laid off. If you’re looking for someone with 15 years of experience as a writer and editor, please get in touch. I’ve also written dozens of mock reviews and my clients say they’re good.
August 13, 2026 at 8:31 AM
It’s my turn now! The newsletter didn’t take off so I’ve been laid off. If you’re looking for someone with 15 years of experience as a writer and editor, please get in touch. I’ve also written dozens of mock reviews and my clients say they’re good.
Reposted by Sam W
Big Walk does not sound like My Thing at all but this review is *such* a piece of writing, man. Feels like the old days where you'd happily read about a game you didn't care about because the work was so good. Exquisite www.eurogamer.net/big-walk-rev...
With upcoming PS Plus game Big Walk, Untilted Goose Game developer House House's co-op puzzle quest takes the hangout game to a new peak - here's our review
The Untitled Goose Game team returns with a funny, exciting and deeply rewarding multiplayer adventure. Our Big Walk review.
www.eurogamer.net
August 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Big Walk does not sound like My Thing at all but this review is *such* a piece of writing, man. Feels like the old days where you'd happily read about a game you didn't care about because the work was so good. Exquisite www.eurogamer.net/big-walk-rev...
Reposted by Sam W
Sorry for the self promo but I literally won’t have a job by the end of the year if enough people don’t subscribe. I think we’re doing good stuff!
Belatedly caught up with this (the other Firezide Chats are well worth checking out, btw) and man, it's impressive how Kirk gets his interviewees to really open up. That's not as easy as you might think; there's an art to it.
I had a chat with @harvey1966.bsky.social about growing up poor, dealing with the deaths of his parents, and how those things shaped his outlook on work and life. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...
August 4, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Sorry for the self promo but I literally won’t have a job by the end of the year if enough people don’t subscribe. I think we’re doing good stuff!
Reposted by Sam W
“I asked ChatGPT, I asked Grok”
Yeah well I asked a Halo 3 lobby and they all said you’re a dumb bitch
Yeah well I asked a Halo 3 lobby and they all said you’re a dumb bitch
August 4, 2026 at 6:58 PM
“I asked ChatGPT, I asked Grok”
Yeah well I asked a Halo 3 lobby and they all said you’re a dumb bitch
Yeah well I asked a Halo 3 lobby and they all said you’re a dumb bitch
Reposted by Sam W
I had a chat with @harvey1966.bsky.social about growing up poor, dealing with the deaths of his parents, and how those things shaped his outlook on work and life. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...
Firezide Chat with Harvey Smith
A chat about deaths of his parents, growing up in poverty, and how those things shaped his outlook on life.
www.gaming.firezidechat.com
July 31, 2026 at 3:39 PM
I had a chat with @harvey1966.bsky.social about growing up poor, dealing with the deaths of his parents, and how those things shaped his outlook on work and life. www.gaming.firezidechat.com/p/firezide-c...
GQ profiles take a lot of work and planning and coordination and Sam is genuinely up there as one of the best PRs I’ve ever worked with. Totally gets both sides of the game, preempts issues, and delivers accordingly. Basically, you should hire him.
Yesterday was sadly my last at Bethesda amid the current changes – cheers to all the journos and creators I worked with there, it was good while it lasted. Gonna do freelance for a bit as I figure out the next thing.
Press can ping my old ZeniMax contractor email for an updated contact.
Press can ping my old ZeniMax contractor email for an updated contact.
July 25, 2026 at 9:23 AM
GQ profiles take a lot of work and planning and coordination and Sam is genuinely up there as one of the best PRs I’ve ever worked with. Totally gets both sides of the game, preempts issues, and delivers accordingly. Basically, you should hire him.