It's really cool that Capy Castaway get covered by CP24, but the interview itself was yet another reminder of how far behind mainstream outlets are in their video game literacy. Like why was Roblox brought up at all, and it should've been them, not Saffron, walking the audience through what Steam is

Brad Shankar@bradshankar.bsky.social · 16h ago

Very cool seeing @kittencupstudio.bsky.social on CP24 talking about @capycastaway.com this morning. We need more mainstream coverage of games like this!

I usually don’t make any kind of fuss or post about my birthday, but since this is a bit of a milestone and it feels like a lot is changing in my life, I figured what the heck - it’s my bday today, and

Bo Bo Burnham

Alt: Bo Burnham standing in a room with one light spinning as he sings ‘I’m turning 30’ from his Netflix special ‘Inside.’

static.klipy.com

So, bit of an update from me: I'm no longer at Wccftech and am back to the freelance grind full time. The short version is that a Google algo update in 25' hit the site in a bad way, and then this past May, I was told I could leave or take an unlivable paycut, so here we are.

"you do not, under any circumstances, "gotta hand it to them""

@fionnthebrave.bsky.social is, as always, right on the money.

Josh Broadwell@fionnthebrave.bsky.social · last mo.

It's Spicy Takes weekend at Polygon, and they let me write about storytelling again "Stop giving me what you think I want! Pour yourself into the story. Have a clear vision for what it means to you, and then let me decide whether I like it and what it means to me." www.polygon.com/we-need-more...

A smaller number of emails than usual, so there's a far better chance of getting featured this time out! Indie devs, to action!

John Walker - Industry Analcyst@botherer.bsky.social · last mo.

Hey indie peeps. I'm going to be doing Kotaku's Indie Penance Day on Friday July 3 this year. If you have an upcoming or recently released game that deserves eyes, please email me at jwalker@kotaku.com with the subject "INDIE PENANCE 2026", and include a store link and YouTube video. Rules follow.

Some not great news: I was laid off from Evolve Media today. A sad pill to swallow after being there for almost a decade, but a sign of the times. On that front, if any folks in the writing/gaming/sports/marketing/PR/anything world know of any freelance or job opportunities, my DM's are open :)

Though I’m not working today (stat holiday, other reasons) I do have my latest interview now live, where I spoke with long-time consultant, investor and former IGDA head Jason Della Rocca about his timeline for indie success, and what he calls “the new indie religion” wccftech.com/jason-della-...

The Timeline for Indie Success is Paved by Playtesting, or what Jason Della Rocca calls the “New Indie Religion"

Finding success with an indie is tough, but there is a timeline and a 'religion' to follow, according to former IGDA boss Jason Della Rocca

wccftech.com

What a day for a stat holiday…Happy Canada Day, I guess (?)

"We're ending physical disc production, but don't worry — we're ALSO shutting down our digital stores!" blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/a...

An update on PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita

Changes start this year in select markets, followed by global changes in 2027.

blog.playstation.com

Timely for this shit reality we're living through, I played a game that amused, entertained, and lifted my spirits. You may have already heard about Lil' Guardsman by @playhilltop.bsky.social, but if you haven't, now's the perfect time. Read my latest: playingthisweek.substack.com/p/lil-guards...

A Lil' palate cleanser for these trying times

Lil' Guardsman is a 2024 puzzle game that delighted me in every possible way.

playingthisweek.substack.com

Sometimes, you’re writing, and then Wig in a Box comes on

Fwiw I am always open to peers and colleagues telling me I suck or could get better at anything/everything There are enough theatre kids turned game journos (myself included) that we should all be used to scathing but constructive criticism

Wesley LeBlanc@wesleyleblanc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I wish games media wasn’t so anemic that we exclusively praise (or stay quiet), only criticizing or arguing when one’s words are objectively bad (like genuinely harmful). I want more ppl to tell me I’m wrong & I want to tell you your review sucks & you to do the same & we all get better bc of it

Had a great time visiting Montreal for the Dead by Daylight 10th anniversary! Put together a big piece featuring some of the lead @bhvr.com devs & other Canadian industry groups as they reflect on the game’s decade-long growth & success & how Behaviour has remained independent throughout.

How Montreal's Behaviour turned Dead by Daylight into the world's biggest horror game

Canada's largest independent developer unpacks 10 years of its massively popular multiplayer game.

mobilesyrup.com

Seeing several Compulsion Games employees mark themselves as 'Open to Work' on LinkedIn. Even if a buyout agreement is reached, so much talent will have been lost in this transition, and that's if a buyout can be reached. This shit fucking sucks

it is 2024 and an award winning small studio is closed by the big parent corp that bought it it is 2025 and an award winning small studio is closed by the big parent corp that bought it it is 2026 and an award winning small studio is closed by the big parent corp that bought it

Also, everyone's focusing on South of Midnight's Peabody/BAFTA, which I get, but it also feels worth mentioning that SoM very nearly swept the CGAs and took home GOTY - the devs at Compulsion deserve so much more than this wccftech.com/south-of-mid...

Canadian Game Awards 2026 Dominated by South of Midnight Taking Home Seven Awards, Including GOTY

South of Midnight dominated the Canadian Game Awards 2026, taking home seven out of nine possible awards, including GOTY.

wccftech.com

Aftermath@aftermath.site · 2mo ago

Despite awards, South of Midnight studio becomes latest victim of Microsoft's implosion aftermath.site/compulsion-mic...

I voted for South of Midnight in several CGA categories because it is an incredible, innovative game that genuinely pushes storytelling in video games forward, and to see the talent at Compulsion Games wasted like this is deplorable - what an awful, awful loss thanks to gross mismanagement at Xbox

Brad Shankar@bradshankar.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Jesus fucking Christ. An incredibly important and beloved game, and mere weeks after they won SEVEN Canadian Game Awards, including Game of the Year, no less. Yet another disgraceful move by Microsoft. Just awful.

@bounce2game.bsky.social is such a fun time, this was such a cool experience, a million thank yous to Brad for filming it and letting me lock in for the win (I’m the shadow on the right)

Brad Shankar@bradshankar.bsky.social · 2mo ago

@slybowser.bsky.social closing out @torontogamesweek.com big screen projections with Bounce 2, the unofficial sequel to a 1983 Atari game. (Made by Toronto’s Digital Joy and it was just released today!) #TGW26

@slybowser.bsky.social closing out @torontogamesweek.com big screen projections with Bounce 2, the unofficial sequel to a 1983 Atari game. (Made by Toronto’s Digital Joy and it was just released today!) #TGW26

Sometimes its nice to find out you didn't get an email that everyone else got

I’ll be at tomorrow’s kick off, looking forward to seeing everyone there! Stop me and say hi if you feel inclined!

Brad Shankar@bradshankar.bsky.social · 2mo ago

@torontogamesweek.com begins tomorrow and features 50+ events, many of which are free. Excited to attend several of them, including the kickoff that includes massive projections of playable indie games. Who am I seeing at TGW? 👋

One of the games featured in the lovely @indgshowcase.bsky.social was the Bollywood-inspired @aikyamgame.bsky.social from Toronto's @thousandstars.bsky.social. I spoke with co-founders Parth Soni and @sallyluc.bsky.social about their dev journey, making a turn-based RPG focused on dance, and more!

Toronto-made Aikyam is a vibrant RPG inspired by Bollywood dance

Thousand Stars Studio tells us about centring turn-based combat around joyful expression instead of inherently violent action.

mobilesyrup.com

I wrote about 25+ Canadian games featured across Summer Game Fest. There were so many showcases so I apologize if I missed any, but I think this is a pretty comprehensive list! Congrats to all of the devs! Incredible showing across the board.

Canadians stole the show at Summer Game Fest 2026

From the return of Cuphead to Gears of War: E-Day, Canadian developers had a strong showing during one of gaming's busiest periods.

mobilesyrup.com

A bunch of ports/DLC updates, some release dates/windows of anticipated titles, a handful of actual new games, no gameplay of a remake that leaked ages ago and no new Mario. That was about as 'perfectly fine' as it gets tbh - happy for kh fans though

Between Toronto Games Week, Dead by Daylight's 10th anniversary and Game Con Canada, there's a lot to look forward to here at home.

The next two weeks are absolutely stacked with Canadian gaming events

Between Toronto Games Week, Dead by Daylight's 10th anniversary and Game Con Canada, there's a lot to look forward to here at home.

mobilesyrup.com

September 24: the perfect day to release a video game according to everyone, apparently

Last week, I got to go to my first Toronto XP Game Summit hosted by @xpgaminginc.bsky.social. Big B2B events like it have always connected the industry, and while I have a bias towards events in TO, the approach of more options, not less, feels pretty future-proof to me wccftech.com/canadas-gdc-...

Canada's GDC of the Future: How XP Gaming is Connecting the Video Game Industry for the Modern Age and Beyond

Wccftech attended Toronto XP Game Summit 2026, and got to see and hear first hand how XP Gaming is developing B2B conferences for the future.

wccftech.com

This is Secret Agent Clank erasure

Jeff Grubb@grubb.wtf · 2mo ago

youtu.be/1X-dh3GXI7s

Man, fuck these playoffs. It’ll be a massive stain on the NHL to watch Vegas raise the cup this year if they win