Nathan Grayson
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Cofounder/reporter @aftermath_site. Check out Stream Big, my book about Twitch. Prev: @washingtonpost. Email: nathan@aftermath.site. Signal: nathangrayson.666
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Articles by Nathan Grayson
Why Aren’t There Any Major Video Game Studios In NYC?
New York City has it all: glitz, glamor, trash, rats. Walk down the street and you might see a major movie set—or 9/11. People in other countries know our mayor’s name. So why is one of the biggest entertainment mediums on Earth relatively underrepresented here? On a very special LIVE AND IN PERSON episode of Aftermath Hours, we convened a panel to find out.
With Call Of Duty Release Near And No Union Contract In Sight, Activision Workers Authorize Strike
Following the 2024 completion of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard purchase, Jordan Kunze, a now-former Activision union steward and QA employee of several years, spent “well over a year” fighting to obtain a remote work accommodation due to a documented medical condition. What was supposed to be an “interactive” process, he told Aftermath, devolved into a series of brick walls. The company wanted Kunze and other QA workers in office, and it wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Infinite Dwarf Mine
Epic Dunks On Steam With Vibe-Coded Storefront And Gets Roasted: ‘This Launcher Is So F*cking Vibeslopped Its Funny’ The Internet Loves Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s Biddy Blas And The Alien’s Actor Is ‘Overwhelmed’ But Thankful GTA 5 Is Getting Yanked From PlayStation Plus Right Before GTA VI Launches Something About Tom Cruise Meeting Attack On Titan’s Eren Yeager Feels So Wrong, Yet So Right
Purgatorial Learning
Epic Dunks On Steam With Vibe-Coded Storefront And Gets Roasted: ‘This Launcher Is So F*cking Vibeslopped Its Funny’ The Internet Loves Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s Biddy Blas And The Alien’s Actor Is ‘Overwhelmed’ But Thankful GTA 5 Is Getting Yanked From PlayStation Plus Right Before GTA VI Launches Something About Tom Cruise Meeting Attack On Titan’s Eren Yeager Feels So Wrong, Yet So Right
Nothing Can Stop The Ubisoft Layoff Machine
Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, today has brought with it another one of life’s predictable constants: Ubisoft layoffs. This time a chunk of the studio behind Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced—which sold three million copies in a week—has been sacked, and perhaps even more gallingly, Ubisoft plans to completely shut down RedLynx, the nearly three-decade-old purveyor of the ever-reliable Trials series.
Nothing Can Stop The Ubisoft Layoff Machine
Ubisoft 14 hours ago Ubisoft Is Closing Down Yet Another Studio, Possibly Ending A 25-Year Fan-Favorite Franchise Kotaku - John Walker • 14h In a statement reported by GI.biz, Ubisoft has announced its “proposal” to close Finnish studio Ubisoft RedLynx, the longtime creators of the … Ubisoft 5 hours ago Ubisoft proposes closing of RedLynx, job cuts at Singapore unit, GI.biz says tipranks.com - TheFly • 5h Ubisoft (UBSFY) is planning to close Finnish development studio RedLynx, which works on...
Where the Veil Thins
A story-driven monster taming CCG/JRPG Hybrid. The Imperium is recruiting: train at the Academia, bond over 200 creatures, summon them from your deck, and set face-down wards for your rivals. Serve well, cadet. Free Act 1 demo available now.
Cards of Bellum - Kotaku
A roguelike deckbuilder of strategy, dice, and luck. Master suit-based combat, turn defeat into glorious victory with a roll of the dice, and recruit unique heroes, powerful wizards, and legendary knights. Build your deck, storm the capital, and claim the throne
Get Stronger! Auto‑Chess
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. ©2026 KOTAKU USA LLC. All rights reserved.
Fishy Bar - Kotaku
Catch fish by day, run a shady lakeside bar by night. Hook 40+ species, cook them into questionable specials, keep the regulars fed and tipsy, dodge taxes and scammers, and upgrade your boat, your bar and your dog. First-person sim. Fresh fish, fishy business.
Metabolis - Kotaku
Build a city shaped by water. Bring clean water uphill, collect sewage, and treat it before it pollutes the river. Expand neighborhoods, trace problems through your pipes, and grow a thriving low-poly city.
Idle Agency - Kotaku
Run a struggling frontier agency in this single-player idle RPG. Recruit distinct heroes and build 4×4 formations. Automate commissions and forge gear as you push through an endless campaign where positioning morale and synergy decide every battle.
Dungeon Explorers 2
31 Of The Biggest Games Coming In 2023 From new entries in Final Fantasy and Assassin’s Creed to new series altogether, 2023 has something for everyone
Fresh Market Simulator
Build your own neighborhood supermarket. Arrange shelves, order deliveries, stock products by hand and serve customers at the checkout. Manage prices, daily bills and customer satisfaction as you unlock new products and expand your shop and stockroom.
Rock Paper Viking
You are the sole defender of the Cardboard Castle! Pick up new weapons and magic abilities as you progress. Level up your loot to gain the strength of the Norse Gods, and defeat your foes to claim victory for your kin.
Marco Polo Shotgun
Marco Polo Shotgun is a chaotic, four-player arena shooter. You’re equipped with the latest and greatest in personal protection: a bucket. Arm yourself with your trusty double-barrel, embrace your severely restricted visibility, and try to figure out where the hell everyone else is.
Silent Anomalies 2
A horror “spot the difference” game where you monitor security cameras, detect anomalies, and try to survive the night. Turn jumpscares off for a calm experience, or on for full horror tension.
Check-In Anomaly
Check-In Anomaly is a first-person psychological horror game in which the player works the night shift at a hotel. The core activity is watching security camera feeds to detect anomalies: objects out of place, doors that move on their own, figures that should not be there and other changes to the environment. Each anomaly must be identified and reported following the hotel’s protocol; wrong reports and ignored threats can end the shift early.
The Sin of Ritter
The Sin of Ritter is a first-person horror game where the pursuit of justice becomes a journey through guilt, obsession, and consequences. Explore dark and disturbing environments, survive the horrors that await you, and uncover the truth behind the murder of your wife.
Clean Tides - Kotaku
A cozy ocean-cleaning game where every haul builds a better boat. Sail a sunny bay, collect litter, clear oil spills, and power-wash coral reefs. Sell your haul to upgrade and customize your boat, hire cleanup boats, and feed wildlife. Bring a little sparkle back to the sea at your own pace.
Moxie // Graffiti Burst
We Might Be Cooked, As These Vibe-Coded Web Browser Ports Of Halo, The Simpsons: Hit And Run, And GTA: Vice City Seem To Work Perfectly
Twitch Streamer Fucks Around (Collabs With US Army), Finds Out (Loses 70% Of Viewership)
The story of Dan Gheesling is a sad though ultimately predictable one. A Big Brother winner and former football coach, Gheesling more recently settled into a niche as a Twitch streamer in the orbit of beloved bald wisecracker Ryan “Northernlion” Letourneau. Things went more or less swimmingly for the better part of a decade until last month, when Gheesling shocked his fanbase—and, by extension, Letourneau’s—by participating in a US Army-sponsored boot camp broadcast for three days.
Particle Storm - Kotaku
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. ©2026 KOTAKU USA LLC. All rights reserved.
Lazare's Sacrifice - Kotaku
The guillotine awaits. Your only escape? A deck of cards. Play for your life against legends of the French Revolution in this gripping narrative deckbuilder. Solve puzzles in the depths of prison to uncover the truth of your captivity. Cards, health, sanity… What will you sacrifice to survive?
Troll Slayer - Kotaku
The forest near the kingdom has become overrun with trolls, and only one brave knight stands between them and the kingdom. Take up your sword and venture into the forest in this simple and challenging 2D pixel art platformer. Jump across dangerous terrain, avoid deadly hazards, and fight different types of trolls standing in your way. Each troll has its own behavior and abilities, requiring you to learn their patterns and choose the right moment to strike.
Sundae Drive - Kotaku
Hit the road in your very own ice cream truck! Explore a cute neighborhood, park in the perfect spot, and serve adorable animal customers their dream sundaes. Scoop, drizzle, and top to perfection. Upgrade your cute truck, restock supplies, and create your own ice cream flavors!
Good News: Some Of Star Wars Zero Company’s Devs Have Been Un-Furloughed
There’s been a dark cloud hanging over excellent tactics game Star Wars Zero Company since before it even came out: Much of developer Bit Reactor’s staff was furloughed, with their return seemingly contingent on the game’s success. Now, happily, at least some of them are back.
The Conjuring: Unspoken
The Conjuring: Unspoken, a new Netflix game, is coming October 13. Set in a decaying English pub where a family is haunted by an ancient evil, use your phone as a paranormal investigation tool and make life-or-death choices that shape your story.
Ironmouse, Who Hates AI, Not Pleased That AI Watermark Appeared On Her Art In Fortnite, Which Loves AI
Recent years have seen Epic make no secret of AI use in numerous portions of its pipeline, including character art. But where the house that built—and then was built into something else by—Fortnite is ready to rule over an AI-ravaged entertainment landscape, many within its ecosystem aren’t so hot on the tech. You might, then, read the above headline and assume that Epic’s increasingly automated husk factory spat out something a notoriously anti-AI streamer didn’t like.
Ironmouse, Who Hates AI, Not Pleased That AI Watermark Appeared On Her Art In Fortnite, Which Loves AI
1 day ago OpenAI today announced how it will comply with the EU AI Act, which requires providers of generative AI systems to mark AI-generated text in a way that makes it identifiable. Here are the details. A bit of context A few months ago, Anthropic sparked controversy when it announced that, to comply with …
Stick Life: The Daily Grind
Start in a tent with twenty-five dollars and a whole city to work out. Climb a career to the corner office, gamble, fight, date, adopt a stray, buy the mansion on the hill, and try not to miss rent. An isometric life sim where every day lasts 24 real minutes.
Whale Life Simulator
Experience the life of a whale. Hit the streets, earn cash, and pour massive amounts of money into an online game. Use your maxed-out account to crush other players!
Every Animal Confirmed For Grand Theft Auto VI So Far, Ranked
According to a recent preview from Game Informer, Grand Theft Auto VI will contain over 170 animal species—more than most games specifically about animals. IGN, meanwhile, has taken what I can only imagine were great pains to identify a sizable chunk of that roster. In the interest of contributing our own spice to this extremely important journalistic stew, we will now tell you which of those animals are best (and worst).
Sonic’s Producer Is Right About Remakes And Remasters, And He Shouldn’t Feel Bad About It
Remakes, remasters, and countless other flavors of nostalgia bait have, in recent years, become filler on a novelty-starved entertainment menu—alluring to the senses but rarely surprising or challenging. But they’re as close as you can get these days to guaranteed money, so companies are going all in on them. Is that good for the future of the medium or preservation of its actual past?
Sonic’s Producer Is Right About Remakes And Remasters, And He Shouldn’t Feel Bad About It
1 hour ago Jim Carrey and Min Ah have entered a new chapter of their lives together: marriage. The “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” actor recently married Ah, his girlfriend of several years, in a small private ceremony in Los Angeles, his representative confirmed on Thursday. …
Pixel Formation - Kotaku
546 BC. Persia has taken Ionia. Cut off from his fleet, a Phocaean captain lands on the Ligurian coast with thirty oars and a crew that has to eat. Sail an unmapped sea, make camp, and hold the line in battles fought in real time or with autopause.
Twitch Is Using AI To Decide Which Streamers Can Make Money Off Ads
Twitch, which made headlines (derogatory) in August with platform-wide Amazon AI training that’s opt-in by default, is intertwining AI ever more inextricably with livestreaming despite overwhelmingly negative reception. During a recent podcast appearance, CEO Dan Clancy said that because AI already transcribes everything streamers say on the site, it’s now also being used to evaluate whether they’re brand friendly—and, if they’re not, yank ads from their broadcasts.
Crime Podcast: 1976
Thomas Hayes, a 63-year-old FBI special agent, returned home after his last day on the job before retiring. He needs to prepare the documents he keeps at home to turn them over to the FBI, but the evidence he chose to hide many years ago is coming to light again.
Vacuum Pilot 2 - Kotaku
Vacuum Pilot 2 is a thrilling 2D speedrunning game thats entirely mouse-controlled. Challenge players worldwide for the fastest times, compare your records with friends, and study replays of the best runs to discover new strategies and perfect your skills.
Tiny Tank Showdown
Tiny Tank Showdown is an intense, fast-paced tank shooter game. It is fun, easy to learn, and addicting. Play alone, together with friends or against your friends.
Kill All Clankers
Kill All Clankers is a fast paced 2D Platformer Rogue-lite with Bullet Heaven and Twin Stick Shooter mechanics. You play as agents of the Prohuman Revolutionary Movement. Your objective is to survive multiple levels for 30 minutes and free humanity from a tyrannical AI surveillance state.
Sail: Evolved Tides
Sail: Evolved Tides is a 3D naval roguelike shooter. Set sail into uncharted waters and survive escalating sea battles as you sink enemy ships and defeat deep-sea bosses. Upgrade your warship and use Soul Essence dropped by bosses to unlock a permanent tech tree. Every voyage makes you stronger.
The Songtail Society
Join the Songtail Society, A Roguelike card game rpg where nobles, performers, and royalty alike take the stage, to create a wonderful and different show every time.
Goodnight, Sun - Kotaku
The sun is dying. One billion minds sleep below. You are HALCYON, the caretaker AI — dismantle a solar system, planet by planet, to build them an Ark. An incremental that ENDS: 4-6 hours, two endings, no infinite grind. Every world you consume stays gone. Even the Earth. Especially the Earth.
Battle Princess Overdrive
Blast your way through time in Battle Princess Overdrive! Unleash hell as Madelyn and Sofia to crush a mad scientist whose insane time experiments triggered an undead apocalypse across all of history – and the future! Lock, load, and shred colossal bosses to bring your timeline back to normal!
Starving Shadows
Dark fantasy RPG in which you are a resident of a starving dungeon. Eat your enemies, and every meal will change you. Try to get outside and see if the sun really exists…
Roads & Relics - Kotaku
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. ©2026 KOTAKU USA LLC. All rights reserved.
Overdrive Breakout
Disgaea Dev CEO Says Company Is Having ‘Discussions’ With Sony About The End Of Physical Discs: ‘I Think That They’re Hearing A Lot Of The Feedback From Customers’
Why It Took Years For A Story About Bobby Kotick Sending Journalists Legal Threats To Come Out
He’s not the CEO of Activision anymore, but Bobby Kotick is back in the headlines. This week, independent investigative YouTube channel People Make Games published a lengthy video about Kotick’s pattern of sending legal threats to games journalists—a story that’s been in the works for years. But why did it take so long to come to light? On the latest episode of Aftermath Hours, we find out, straight from the source.
Heads Up: We’re Experimenting With (A Few, Small) Ads
In the near future, you will see or hear ads on select Aftermath offerings. There will not be many, and if you’re a subscriber, this largely won’t affect you. Still, we wanted to let readers know ahead of time, because we would not be here without you, and we believe in keeping you abreast of how our business functions. To begin, we are still, first and foremost, a subscription-based business. We always will be.
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