Nathan Grayson
@nathangrayson.bsky.social
Co-founder and reporter @aftermath.site. Beats: labor, livestreaming. My book about Twitch, Stream Big, is available now. Formerly: The Washington Post. Send tips to nathan@aftermath.site or nathangrayson.666 on Signal
from the people who brought you pervert glasses comes a whole new way to still look like a weird pervert
The Verge@theverge.com · 16h agoMeta is launching new VR hardware: a pair of glasses. The new Meta VR Glasses sit on your ears like a typical pair of glasses instead of being strapped over your head, but they still have immersive displays. Read our hands-on impressions from @jaypeters.net:
I think you are not only seeing Sharma's managerial style in these moves, but also the clear influence of people who have been desperate to treat game development as a spreadsheet venture for years at Xbox and are finally getting their chance.
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayThere is no plan aftermath.site/microsoft-xbox...
"We keep thinking morale can't sink lower but the obvious incompetence of Xbox management somehow keeps driving it down worse."
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayThere is no plan aftermath.site/microsoft-xbox...
When industry-wide unionization finally gets established in the video game industry in the states, we need to be prepared to support a long strike that will delay some of your favorite games. Cuz' that's what it's going to take to make these companies start giving a shit about their workers.
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayThere is no plan aftermath.site/microsoft-xbox...
my cat says he will retain "kitchen counter privileges" despite being removed from the premises
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayBethesda president says Obsidian will retain "creative identity" despite becoming part of Bethesda aftermath.site/xbox-bethesda-...
"Nobody up top wants to entrust studios with either of those things anymore. Instead, all they know how to do is panic and pivot. The money is absolutely there, especially in Microsoft’s case, but not for the old-fashioned approach of teams pumping out good games at a manageable scale."
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayThere is no plan aftermath.site/microsoft-xbox...
in a week that saw microsoft give activision the reins to halo and bungie pivot back to destiny, one thing has become abundantly clear: the people in charge do not have a long-term, overriding plan. they’re just reacting. the result, when times are bad, is chaos
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayThere is no plan aftermath.site/microsoft-xbox...
as part of this week’s xbox restructuring, obsidian has been folded into bethesda, reinforcing layoff-borne fears that it’s been reduced to support studio status. in an internal email viewed by aftermath, bethesda’s president tried to downplay that idea
![In an email to employees viewed by Aftermath, Braff downplayed the significance of Obsidian’s new status, calling it “primarily a change in reporting structure.”
"The creative identity and strengths that make Obsidian distinct will remain at the core of their studio and work,” Braff wrote. "[CEO] Feargus [Urquhart] and the Obsidian leadership team will continue to lead Obsidian, with the studio reporting to me. Bethesda Game Studios will continue to lead the Fallout franchise. Together, the teams will build on their longstanding relationship and the early work already underway on a new Fallout project, with more to share in the months ahead. This structure supports the franchise-led model we've been strengthening while keeping accountability for both the studio and the franchise clear."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5gdejlhcswjbzraadoltdpps/bafkreihqkjnanr43gm7mdtsnrg5qjjgjv75jmaezquhwz44l25smw2vsd4)
Aftermath@aftermath.site · yesterdayBethesda president says Obsidian will retain "creative identity" despite becoming part of Bethesda aftermath.site/xbox-bethesda-...
Scoop: Meta's Muse AI can make phone calls. Internally, Meta has told employees that many of these calls will be made by human beings in a call center: www.404media.co/meta-tests-m...
Meta Tests Muse AI Agent Calls That Are Actually Made By Humans in a Call Center
"This has potential for so much negative PR. It could portray us as ‘their AI is not good enough so they still need humans’ kind of coverage for this launch."
404media.co
The phrase “continuing our reset” strains the metaphor, the whole point of a reset is you press a button and it happens. But Microsoft may be thinking about it like Windows 11 where you have to install a bunch of shitty updates and it restarts like 3 times.
Even though the Halo franchise has been gutted for failing to meet unrealistic expectations, at least Bungie, the original creators of Halo, have also been separately gutted for failing to meet unrealistic expectations
SCOOP: Right-wing livestreamer Clavicular has been charged with three criminal counts stemming from an alleged encounter with a minor, including rape and drugging. @willsommer.bsky.social has details from the previously unreported court documents. lnk.thebulwark.com/46VWLSl?utm_...
We got rid of the goose that lays our golden eggs to save money on feed costs... why are we not producing more golden eggs???? - Bungie
Aftermath@aftermath.site · 3d agoAfter laying off most of the Destiny team, Bungie decides that Destiny is "foundational" to its future: aftermath.site/destiny-conten...
there is no true justice in the ufc (all the fighters are ideologically awful or at the very least stupid and easily propagandized, the company is set up to make billions regardless of who receives the most brain damage, etc), but this is about as close as it gets
The Naked Gambler@nakedgambling.bsky.social · 5d agoI'm ascending. Incredible.
I'd say I don't want to rain on your parade but my worst quality is I'm passionate about marketing so I am actually all too happy to talk about brand guidelines and why it actually sucks that Roxas is dabbing
Fortnite Is Selling Your Favorite Characters Back To You As Husks
Fortnite's latest crossover season is a weird branding exercise that's bad for both companies and fans
aftermath.site
new @aftermath.site column! in the latest installment of THE WORK I wrote about Furious, what it really takes to bring the bastards down, and how our institutions aren't up to the task aftermath.site/hulu-furious...
Hulu's Queasy Thriller Furious Wants Our Hands At Abusers' Throats
The hit crime thriller rages against the powerful men who use their power to build staggering empires of abuse, and what it might take to bring them down.
aftermath.site
We’re only a few days away from our big to school charity stream! I’ve been working hard with my fellow @nyvgcc.bsky.social members to make it special! Livestream kicks off 1pm ET / 10am PT this Saturday, September 19! Twitch.tv/nyvgcc
NYVGCC - Twitch
The NYVGCC, a nonprofit promoting awareness of, and education for, video games, writing and journalism in the New York City area, hosts the annual award program to celebrate the industry and its creat...
twitch.tv
alyssa mercante@alyssamerc.bsky.social · 2w agoOur INCREDIBLE class for the @nyvgcc.bsky.social back to school charity stream ! Cliffy B, Abu Salim, Control Resonant and Dishonored level designers, speedrunners, & more. All to help provide classes, internships, and scholarships for underserved NYC kids. SEPTEMBER 19, WRITE IT DOWN.
I played half-life alyx six years ago, and my brain sometimes still believes it can do this IRL
Chris Person@papapishu.bsky.social · 7d agoWhile reviewing the Steam Frame, I replayed all of Half Life: Alyx. It's still a singular game, and on the new hardware it sings. But to play it now is to be confronted with the possibility that nobody will be allowed to make a VR game of that scope ever again. aftermath.site/half-life-al...
Over at @aftermath.site today, I'm talking Trails, side quests community service, policing, and finding inspiration in art. I don't necessarily think art or games can change the world but they show us better possibilities. They help us imagine. So! Anyone want to start a Bracer's Guild?
Screw It, I'm Starting A Bracer Guild
The Trails in the Sky series has always understood that the big heroics aren’t the only thing that make a hero.
aftermath.site
you are error, our podcast that debunks gaming’s greatest misconceptions, is back!
Aftermath@aftermath.site · last wk.What really caused the video game crash of 1983? aftermath.site/podcasts/you-a...
Got to write about the SpongeBob x Final Fantasy x Kingdom Hearts x MPreg rave (SBFFKHMPreg rave for short) for @aftermath.site! Went in thinking it’d all be a joke, came out wishing I was cool enough to be part of this community
Aftermath@aftermath.site · last wk.At Brooklyn's MPreg SpongeBob rave, 'shitposting is catharsis' aftermath.site/weeb-adjacent-...
Howard Scott Warshaw innocent! (Seriously though, I always like to see pushback against the narrative that E.T. "caused" the crash, which is absurd.)
Aftermath@aftermath.site · last wk.Contrary to popular belief, the video game industry didn’t crash in 1983 because of E.T. and a glut of bad games. The real reason is both simpler and more complicated. @theycreateworlds.bsky.social explains:
One of my fave gaming history stories (even if the story that’s been passed down about the mass Atari graveyard is more fiction than fact)!
Aftermath@aftermath.site · last wk.What really caused the video game crash of 1983? aftermath.site/podcasts/you-a...
