Samuel Tolbert
@samueltolbert.bsky.social
Freelance writer for games. Owner of Campaign Mode. Game Developer, WC, Inverse, etc. Aspiring narrative designer. Sometimes I paint figurines. Signal: 803-403-6061 | Email: samuelwtolbert (at) gmail dot com | He/him Links: https://linktr.ee/samueltolbert
Tried out Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer suite. Versus is fine, Horde Siege is spectacular with the way all the different systems come together. Like Halo, the juxtaposition between the work the teams are doing and the wider Xbox environment is rough. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-on-wit...
Hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day's classic multiplayer and massive Horde mode
Some thoughts on a preview round going hands-on with Gears of War: E-Day.
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Yeah, The Odyssey ruled. Realized how much I've missed big, myth-focused epics like this. Cool for Nolan to tackle something so far outside his normal wheelhouse, but you still see the DNA of his past work coming through, especially Oppenheimer.
For Campaign Mode, my thoughts on Halo: Campaign Evolved. It's genuinely great remake with wonderful art direction and strong vision. I really love the new prequel missions. At the same time, impossible to ignore the context under which it is launching. campaign-mode.ghost.io/halo-campaig...
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a great experience, and it feels weird
I've been spending time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, and I've loved going back to the series, but the timing feels weird.
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For Campaign Mode, my thoughts on Halo: Campaign Evolved. It's genuinely great remake with wonderful art direction and strong vision. I really love the new prequel missions. At the same time, impossible to ignore the context under which it is launching. campaign-mode.ghost.io/halo-campaig...
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a great experience, and it feels weird
I've been spending time with Halo: Campaign Evolved, and I've loved going back to the series, but the timing feels weird.
campaign-mode.ghost.io
The AC has been out since last night. I'm broiling alive. AMA.
A lot that's still unclear right now in the wake of massive layoffs at Xbox, but I want to highlight how the unions across different teams are continuing to push back, fight for workers, and asking for support from players. campaign-mode.ghost.io/unions-are-f...
Unions are fighting back against Xbox layoffs
Unions are pushing back in the wake of Xbox layoffs that have gutted teams like id Software.
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Been spending a lot of the day checking in on the numerous talented people I know and respect across Xbox. Some are okay. Far too many are not. If you're been laid off or are still at Xbox and would like to share your thoughts with me, my Signal info is my bio and I can guarentee anonymity.
Other words percolating, but for now, this is somehow better and worse than I was bracing for. The layoffs are utterly brutal and I feel for the impacted employees. At the same time, I am appreciative that none of the studios impacted are being closed. campaign-mode.ghost.io/xbox-cuts-fo...
Xbox cuts four (but really five) studios and thousands of jobs
Xbox is cutting four studios (with a fifth likely coming later on) and laying off thousands of workers.
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A fun Campaign Mode piece to enter the weekend, I've got my 10 favorite games of the year so far, as we're halfway through 2026. It'll be interesting to compare this to my favorites when the year ends, and seeing what makes it through the upcoming blitz. campaign-mode.ghost.io/my-favorite-...
My favorite games of 2026, halfway through the year
Here are my favorite games of 2026, at least halfway through the year.
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A fun Campaign Mode piece to enter the weekend, I've got my 10 favorite games of the year so far, as we're halfway through 2026. It'll be interesting to compare this to my favorites when the year ends, and seeing what makes it through the upcoming blitz. campaign-mode.ghost.io/my-favorite-...
My favorite games of 2026, halfway through the year
Here are my favorite games of 2026, at least halfway through the year.
campaign-mode.ghost.io
Weird day. Weird month. Weird year. What a way to bring in 30. Grabbed some hibachi and doing some required reading before finally checking out Saros.
Fun little story today: AdHoc Studio's Dispatch is being uncensored on Nintendo Switch/Switch 2...partially. The team owns up to some mistakes made, but also indicates there are a couple of hard requirements from Nintendo that can't be budged. campaign-mode.ghost.io/adhocs-dispa...
AdHoc's Dispatch is being uncensored on Nintendo Switch, at least partially
A fun story, as AdHoc Studio's Dispatch is being (partially) uncensored on Nintendo Switch platforms.
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My final round of SGF previews is here. Hands-on with Hellraiser: Revival, Nekome: Nazi Hunter, Turok: Origins, and more. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-on-wit...
Hands-on with Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, Nekome: Nazi Hunter, and more
Hands-on with Clive Barker's Hellraiser, Nekome: Nazi Hunter, Turok: Origins, and more.
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A *lot* more to say that's percolating, but for now, I'll just say this is a disgrace and Compulsion deserved far better. A special team, and South of Midnight is a special game. campaign-mode.ghost.io/xbox-plans-t...
Xbox plans to shut down South of Midnight dev Compulsion Games
Xbox is shutting down Compulsion Games, the award-winning studio behind South of Midnight.
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Ending the week with an interview I had with director Chris Parker and producer Marcus Morgan at Obsidian, who talked about bringing Grounded 2 on PS5, co-dev with Eidos, and the big underwater update. Plus - hands-on previews for Join Us and Stuntman: Hollywood. campaign-mode.ghost.io/o/
Obsidian talks Grounded 2's pond update, PS5 release, and more
I talked with Obsidian Entertainment about bringing Grounded 2 to PS5 and its next update. Plus: previews for Join Us and Stuntman: Hollywood!
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My next round of SGF previews is here! Hands-on with Blood Dungeon and Control Resonant, thoughts on The Lost Wild, and much more. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-on-wit...
Hands-on with Control Resonant and Tomb Raider, thoughts on The Lost Wild, and more
Hands-on with Blood Dungeon, Control Resonant, Tomb Raider: legacy of Atlantis, and Slap Out Of It, plus more on Silent Hill: Townfall and The Lost Wild.
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Really love companies not even letting me be home for 24 hours to continue admiring the people that make games, before cutting or planning to potentially cut them. I appreciate the people in the gaming industry so much. I wish there was shareholder value to be found in that.
Here we go, the first of a few SGF newsletters to come for Campaign Mode! Starting off, hands-on impressions of Alien: Isolation 2, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, with more details on Gears of War: E-Day and Resident Evil Veronica. campaign-mode.ghost.io/hands-on-wit...
Hands-on with Alien: Isolation 2, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Onimusha, and more thoughts
It's hard to believe that Summer Game Fest 2026 is already over, and it was a whirlwind of an extended weekend. This was the most packed my schedule has ever been, and that's a common sentiment for mo...
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As I'm continuing to write up a storm from Summer Game Fest (seriously y'all, a lot of these embargoes are right on top of each other) I want to publicly thank the innumerable PR peeps that kept it all going and tirelessly fielded my questions/concerns/follow-ups. You're appreciated, seriously.
My thoughts on the Xbox Games Showcase. A ton of stuff that looks great, plenty of cool games. Fable and Gears E-Day look awesome, I'm so happy to see Spyro again. The decisions around *what* should be exclusive or not have me scratching my head. campaign-mode.ghost.io/xbox-games-s...
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 brought great games and a confusing release plan
The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 had a ton of great games and an exclusivity rollout that has me scratching my head.
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Before I go head-down at Summer Game Fest, some Campaign Mode thoughts on the kick-off showcase, which was (for my tastes) easily the best one ever. Alien Isolation 2, Star Wars: Zero Company, FF7 Revelation, tons of great stuff. With one glaring exception. campaign-mode.ghost.io/the-2026-sum...
The 2026 Summer Game Fest showcase is the best one yet, except for one thing
Summer Game Fest 2026 showcase had tons of amazing games, cool trailers, and one really gross moment.
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Flying out to Summer Game Fest! Excited to see some friends, make new ones, and check out some games.
For Campaign Mode, some thoughts on the June State of Play. In particular, I really like a lot of the concepts being shown off for God of War Laufey. What I don't like? The pile-up for launches that September is shaping up to be if something doesn't move. campaign-mode.ghost.io/sony-debuts-...
Sony debuts a new God of War, and there are too many games in September
The new State of Play brought some big PlayStation reveals, and there are way too many games in September.
campaign-mode.ghost.io
For Campaign Mode, some thoughts on the June State of Play. In particular, I really like a lot of the concepts being shown off for God of War Laufey. What I don't like? The pile-up for launches that September is shaping up to be if something doesn't move. campaign-mode.ghost.io/sony-debuts-...
Sony debuts a new God of War, and there are too many games in September
The new State of Play brought some big PlayStation reveals, and there are way too many games in September.
campaign-mode.ghost.io
"My husband and I saw you from across the realm and we really dig your vibe"
A week out from SGF, a reminder that if you haven't subscribed to my newsletter yet, please make sure you do! Any support is appreciated. I've got a lot of cool stuff lined up and I'll be writing an enormous amount over the next few weeks. campaign-mode.ghost.io
Campaign Mode
Strategy games, shooters, other titles, video game industry trends, and more.
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