Matt James
@matt-james.bsky.social
Art (and some words) @ The Ringer sports/video games/political despair Often talking about fun video games on the Button Mash podcast
I’m 20 hours into Beast of Reincarnation and I absolutely love it. It feels almost like a Capcom game. Some Sekiro, some Horizon, a dash of Nier. It’s not the most polished game but the combat is super fun and I find myself fascinated by the setting and lore. I haven’t been able to put it down.
It’s using ChatGPT on your homework . You’re not learning anything. You’re not failing, trying again and overcoming. I do, however, find cheesing okay if you have discovered the method of cheesing yourself. To me, it’s about not letting repeated failure keep you from finding your own way forward.
Jake Steinberg@jakesteinberg.substack.com · 4d agopublicly shame anyone that looks up "the best build" DENY CHEESING: jakesteinberg.substack.com/p/deny-chees...
After much careful consideration, I have narrowly decided against spending $200 on an X-Files Lego set.
The X-Files Mulder: I Want to Believe
Alt: The X-Files Mulder: I Want to Believe
static.klipy.com
People don’t like when I call Splatoon games Sunshine-likes. And that’s reasonable because I AM, in fact, trying to annoy them.
Nintendo of America [Twitter/X Mirror]@nintendousa.bsky.social · 6d agoDark days loom over Isle Delfino! Clean up a polluted island with FLUDD at your side in Super Mario Sunshine, coming to Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2 for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on Aug 13!
Finally watched Mortal Kombat 2 the way it was intended to be watched: with six commercial breaks on a streaming service that I’m paying for
I was lucky enough to be invited to Insomniac Games’ Wolverine preview event! I’ll have much to share about my hands-on impressions on August 13! #WolverinePS5
NBA execs and coaches were stunned when LeBron chose Philly. (So was I.) After 23 years, they shouldn’t have been. (And yeah, I shouldn't have been either.) Latest from me, at The Ringer:
What the NBA Still Doesn't Understand About LeBron
League sources were stunned by LeBron’s decision to choose Philadelphia. They shouldn’t have been.
theringer.com
New Button Mash! •Reviews of Halo: Campaign Evolved And Splatoon Raiders •Steve's thoughts on his new Steam Machine •Plus coverage of Denshattack!, The Incident at Galley House, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, Esoteric Ebb, Tears of Metal, and Netflix's weird game experiment Unhinged
'Halo: Campaign Evolved,' 'Splatoon Raiders,' and Steam Machine Reactions | Button Mash
The Ringer-Verse · Episode
open.spotify.com
Lakers and Celtics competing for whose front office ineptitude can improve the Sixers the most
Jalen Brunson is probably not on the cover because the devs can't figure out how to make it make sense in the game that a 6'2" guard with limited speed is an unstoppable clutch scoring machine.
Wario64@wario64.bsky.social · 2w agoNBA 2K27 (PS5/Switch 2 KC/XSX) up for preorder on Amazon ($69.99) amzn.to/45gp2Sy Best Buy buff.ly/Lkt7oPi GameStop buff.ly/TcLk7nN VGP buff.ly/2EQVfH0 PNP buff.ly/JcSZIze #ad
We come to this place… to die
IGN@ign.com · 2w ago“I’ve always thought that when I die, I would like to die in a movie theater,” said Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. “I love the bit before the movie starts the most. Enter the movie theater, the lights go off and commercials and trailers play. https://bit.ly/4yzQ7xy
Just solved a puzzle in a game that came out THIS YEAR that involved T9 texting and it activated a part of my brain that hasn't lit up in 20 years.
I wrote about the World Cup, America, and the people I've met this month from across the world — Argentina, Cape Verde, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran — that make this tournament, and this country, what they are. www.theringer.com/2026/07/16/w...
The 2026 World Cup Was a Distinctly American Contradiction
“For just a few seconds, we can let ourselves share in this moment together”
theringer.com
I’ve seen a lot of Pro Skater comparisons but Denshattack! plays like what a modern Sonic the Hedgehog game should/could feel like.
Denshattack! - OUT NOW!@denshattack.bsky.social · 3w agoOllie, kickflip, and grind your way through Japan's scenic landscapes! Denshattack! is out now on Nintendo Switch 2 ✌️@nintendooamerica.bsky.social
An England loss so traumatic that it makes you worry for the Jacksonville Jaguars season
It's fucked up that whenever I'm admiring a nice design for any kind of sports jersey I have traumatic flashbacks to those sleeved 2016 Cavs jerseys.
Hatred of AI now reaching the level of cultural consensus that becomes attractive to advertisers
New Button Mash with @marioprime.bsky.social and @oliwelsh.bsky.social on first-half highlights and second-half hopes/hype: •Games industry is bad; games are good •Our top 10 games of the year so far •Wide-open GOTY race •Our big questions about the rest of the year open.spotify.com/episode/4HE9...
Gaming's First-Half Highlights and Second-Half Hype | Button Mash
The Ringer-Verse · Episode
open.spotify.com
I can’t help but wonder what the impact of an affordable, more powerful Steam Machine could have been at this moment in gaming if it weren’t for AI bros absolutely fucking the industry on hardware components.
lex luddy@lexluddy.xyz · last mo.
Noted gamer @seanfennessey.bsky.social makes his Button Mash debut to compare/contrast/lament the state of physical media in movies vs. video games. Then @matt-james.bsky.social and I talk Xbox layoffs, AC Black Flag Resynced, and our all-time top 5 pirate games. open.spotify.com/episode/7gng...
The Death of Disc-Based Gaming and 'Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced' Reactions, With Sean Fennessey | Button Mash
The Ringer-Verse · Episode
open.spotify.com
This can’t possibly be a better outcome for Boston than doing absolutely nothing instead.
Shams Charania Tweets@shamsbot.bsky.social · last mo.BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
As someone who left home in L.A. to build a life in Toronto back in 2019, Kawhi's return means a whole lot to me. On the eve of my first Canada Day as a citizen, I wrote about the player who changed the course of my life. www.theringer.com/2026/06/30/n...
The Long Way Home for Kawhi Leonard
Seven years later, Kawhi is headed back to Toronto, where a franchise built in his image has been waiting for him
theringer.com
"Fascinating" -AI bros looking at an absolutely abominable turd that a computer just shit out
What a time to be alive and have at least three friends.
Matt James@matt-james.bsky.social · last mo.Very fun new episode of Button Mash! Some news, Starfox, The Adventures of Elliott, and then... A 30th anniversary Nintendo64 games draft! With @benlindbergh.bsky.social, @steveahlman.bsky.social, and @robmahoney.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/5Yrw...