I went to the UK’s biggest fantasy LARP and spent three days as a novice mage learning the ropes of a complex fantasy world. 4000 people gathered, each playing a role in a huge, immersive fiction built in real time. Read my long-read for @financialtimes.com weekend here. www.ft.com/content/4442...

How to become a wizard for the weekend

Thousands turned a Cambridgeshire field off the A10 into the capital city of a sprawling, boozy, bloody fantasy empire

ft.com

🚨 Escaping containment 🚨 in further evidence that our hobby is piquing more mainstream interests, here is @tomfaber91.bsky.social excellent article on LARPing in the @financialtimes.com Weekend. #LARP #rpg share.google/EvXN1l0GR24p...

How to become a wizard for the weekend

Thousands turned a Cambridgeshire field off the A10 into the capital city of a sprawling, boozy, bloody fantasy empire

share.google

The death of physical games — and why it matters—Anger with Sony isn’t just about liking boxes on your shelves, it’s a response to what Sony’s announcement represents: an utter disregard… www.ft.com/content/2f40... @tomfaber91.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

The death of physical games — and why it matters

The industry’s move towards a digital-only future signals a waning regard for fans and the preservation of cultural memory

ft.com

Periodically surprised that the FT has pretty decent games coverage. This one by @tomfaber91.bsky.social.

What happens when an online game dies?

Games such as ‘Destiny 2’ are more than entertainment products. They are social spaces where friendships, identities and rituals are built

ft.com

For @theguardian.com I dug into the incredible life and mysterious death of drag icon Heklina, who was found dead in an apartment in 'unexpected' circumstances. Peaches and many other drag legends helped me tell the story of Heklina's amazing life and the questions remaining around her death.

Peaches Christ@peacheschrist.com · 8mo ago

Incredible article about Heklina in the The Guardian about her iconic legacy. If you ever saw her light up a stage, ever felt the impact of Trannyshack, ever loved SF drag because it was fearless and dangerous and hilarious and alive- this is essential reading. www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

For @nytimes.com I dived deep into the insane story of Disco Elysium, a brilliant RPG made by a group of Estonian socialists who then exploded into bitter infighting, lawsuits and a scrap over the legacy of one of the greatest games ever made. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

A Group of Socialists Created a Hit Game That Tore Them Apart

The role-playing game Disco Elysium wowed critics by lacerating capitalism, communism and fascism. But instead of a sequel came bitter lawsuits and five rival studios.

nytimes.com

In July I met trailblazing theorist Paul B. Preciado, whose work is poetic, revolutionary and intimate. We discussed his idea to redefine ‘dysphoria’, today's surging transphobia and how we might still remain hopeful despite it all. Read it on @financialtimes.com or DM me www.ft.com/content/6ede...

Punk philosopher Paul B Preciado on the true meaning of ‘dysphoria’

In a quiet Parisian square, the radical writer proposes a new way of understanding the world

ft.com

‘Great Rewiring’ or moral panic: are young people really the ‘anxious generation’? Loved this thoughtful & nuanced piece from @tomfaber91.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/book...

‘Great Rewiring’ or moral panic: are young people really ...

Jonathan Haidt says the crisis in young people’s mental health is down to addictive phone habits. This may be too simple

observer.co.uk

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that social media is harming kids at an industrial scale. I'm not so sure: yes there's a problem, but aren't there benefits, too? For @theobserveruk.bsky.social I challenged Haidt on the nuances of this tricky debate. observer.co.uk/culture/book...

‘Great Rewiring’ or moral panic: are young people really ...

Jonathan Haidt says the crisis in young people’s mental health is down to addictive phone habits. This may be too simple

observer.co.uk

I reviewed the @barbican.bsky.social's major new exhibition on sound for @financialtimes.com, and took Pauline Oliveros along for the ride... "In an age when the loudest voices usually win, to truly stay quiet and listen might be considered a radical act." www.ft.com/content/a704...

Feel the Sound at the Barbican review — a playground of sounds and vibrations

London exhibition offers a joyful array of interactive and immersive sonic experiences

ft.com

"The most compelling fantasy isn’t always a world of dragons and goblins, but can be a version of your life if you had made different choices" I went deep for @financialtimes.com on why The Sims still enchants players, 25 years after its inception. www.ft.com/content/989c...

Is there life beyond The Sims, 25 years on?

The game has been played by 500mn people it began, but new competitors are threatening to steal its crown

ft.com

"It was never really about winning or losing—it was about the stories, laughter and magnificent sandwiches we shared along the way." For @financialtimes.com I went dungeon crawling and learned why players are still flocking to D&D after 50 years. www.ft.com/content/55fb...

London’s new Dungeons & Dragons tavern — and why fantasy role-play is on a roll

D&D is thriving, with hit video games, movies, TV series and now a dedicated playing venue for fans

ft.com