Josh Broadwell
@fionnthebrave.bsky.social
Freelance writer, seen on @gameinformer, @GIBiz, @ebertvoices, @inversedotcom, @NPR, @polygon, @RollingStone, @Variety, etc. He/him
joshuaabroadwell.journoportfolio.com
joshuaabroadwell.journoportfolio.com
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential
December 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM
One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
I talked to a cool composer about cool things he's doing with video game music
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
Moonlighter 2 composer Christopher Larkin wants video game music to evolve
'I want room to move and experiment and change things up,' he says
www.polygon.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I talked to a cool composer about cool things he's doing with video game music
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
🚨 new future friend alert 🚨
you should already be following @henrystockdale.com but if you're not, you have until january 12th to fix this and we wont judge you
you should already be following @henrystockdale.com but if you're not, you have until january 12th to fix this and we wont judge you
So... I still can't believe I'm writing this. After three years with @UploadVR.com, it's surreal to say I'm stepping down after next week. Happy to say this was my choice, and I'm beyond thrilled to announce I'm joining @futurefriendsgames.com on January 12th! 👀 - medium.com/@terranauts9...
An Announcement
For the last six and a half years, I've been working in games media in varying capacities. Now it's time for something new.
medium.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
🚨 new future friend alert 🚨
you should already be following @henrystockdale.com but if you're not, you have until january 12th to fix this and we wont judge you
you should already be following @henrystockdale.com but if you're not, you have until january 12th to fix this and we wont judge you
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
So... I still can't believe I'm writing this. After three years with @UploadVR.com, it's surreal to say I'm stepping down after next week. Happy to say this was my choice, and I'm beyond thrilled to announce I'm joining @futurefriendsgames.com on January 12th! 👀 - medium.com/@terranauts9...
An Announcement
For the last six and a half years, I've been working in games media in varying capacities. Now it's time for something new.
medium.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
So... I still can't believe I'm writing this. After three years with @UploadVR.com, it's surreal to say I'm stepping down after next week. Happy to say this was my choice, and I'm beyond thrilled to announce I'm joining @futurefriendsgames.com on January 12th! 👀 - medium.com/@terranauts9...
Made more progress last night and am further convinced franchise foolishness is behind at least some of the issues. It really feels like it wants to be/was originally/should've been a standalone thing like Other M, but we're not allowed to have things like that in media anymore
I'm sure Prime 4's reboot has a lot to do with the game's weird identity crisis. But I'm also wondering how much of it is Nintendo pulling a Paper Mario, a "this sub-series is *this* so that one has to be something else" and just not being vocal about it this time. 'cause that's how it plays
December 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Made more progress last night and am further convinced franchise foolishness is behind at least some of the issues. It really feels like it wants to be/was originally/should've been a standalone thing like Other M, but we're not allowed to have things like that in media anymore
I talked to a cool composer about cool things he's doing with video game music
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
Moonlighter 2 composer Christopher Larkin wants video game music to evolve
'I want room to move and experiment and change things up,' he says
www.polygon.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I talked to a cool composer about cool things he's doing with video game music
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
www.polygon.com/moonlighter-...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
I've interviewed both @rebbford.bsky.social and @moitoi.bsky.social about Warframe now. Steve next.....
"We have been stoked to push what the Switch 2 can do" – Warframe Community Director Megan Everett talks to us about this week's major The Old Peace update, balancing content for newcomers and longtime players, the Switch 2 features, Sleep Token, coffee, and more: www.rpgsite.net/interview/19...
December 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I've interviewed both @rebbford.bsky.social and @moitoi.bsky.social about Warframe now. Steve next.....
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Forget Dress to Impress, get on the Road to Empress
I'm obsessed with this C-drama game that keeps killing me with soup
Forget Dress to Impress, get on the Road to Empress
www.polygon.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Forget Dress to Impress, get on the Road to Empress
I'm sure Prime 4's reboot has a lot to do with the game's weird identity crisis. But I'm also wondering how much of it is Nintendo pulling a Paper Mario, a "this sub-series is *this* so that one has to be something else" and just not being vocal about it this time. 'cause that's how it plays
December 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I'm sure Prime 4's reboot has a lot to do with the game's weird identity crisis. But I'm also wondering how much of it is Nintendo pulling a Paper Mario, a "this sub-series is *this* so that one has to be something else" and just not being vocal about it this time. 'cause that's how it plays
I was gonna be salty about Abracadabra, but then I realized how often I've listened to it so yeah, okay. Valid
Feel the beat under your feet. The floor’s on fire. You can listen to the whole list here ↓
The 100 Best Songs of 2025
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I was gonna be salty about Abracadabra, but then I realized how often I've listened to it so yeah, okay. Valid
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Only a few weeks until the new year, so I'm doing a thread of my work from 2025. It's been a nonstop year, hoping things will finally calm down a bit now. Still, 2025 delivered what's probably the biggest piece of reporting I'm most proud of across my entire career www.uploadvr.com/from-quest-t...
From Quest To Horizon: How Meta's Shifting Priorities Are Affecting Developers
With growing concerns about declining sales and discoverability, UploadVR spoke with nearly two dozen VR studios to discuss the current state of shipping VR games on Quest.
www.uploadvr.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Only a few weeks until the new year, so I'm doing a thread of my work from 2025. It's been a nonstop year, hoping things will finally calm down a bit now. Still, 2025 delivered what's probably the biggest piece of reporting I'm most proud of across my entire career www.uploadvr.com/from-quest-t...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Wrong. It is good from the moment you meet Darumi.
December 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Wrong. It is good from the moment you meet Darumi.
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
'tis the season to think about games you didn't play/finish from earlier in the year, and I really think Last Defense Academy should be one of them. I swear it gets good (after 30 hours)
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
Why I played 100 hours of 2025's best RPG you've (probably) never heard of
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy takes a long time to get going, but a major twist makes for a narrative experience like no other.
www.polygon.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
'tis the season to think about games you didn't play/finish from earlier in the year, and I really think Last Defense Academy should be one of them. I swear it gets good (after 30 hours)
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Very pleased to welcome @liveopenmike.bsky.social with his first review for @uploadvr.com. Won't lie that I also had my concerns about the short notice from announcement to release, but glad to see Men in Black: Most Wanted turned out well
Men In Black: Most Wanted bucks the trend of underwhelming IP offerings in VR, putting up a solid action game with built-in replayability.
Read our full review: www.uploadvr.com/men-in-black...
Read our full review: www.uploadvr.com/men-in-black...
December 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Very pleased to welcome @liveopenmike.bsky.social with his first review for @uploadvr.com. Won't lie that I also had my concerns about the short notice from announcement to release, but glad to see Men in Black: Most Wanted turned out well
'tis the season to think about games you didn't play/finish from earlier in the year, and I really think Last Defense Academy should be one of them. I swear it gets good (after 30 hours)
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
Why I played 100 hours of 2025's best RPG you've (probably) never heard of
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy takes a long time to get going, but a major twist makes for a narrative experience like no other.
www.polygon.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
'tis the season to think about games you didn't play/finish from earlier in the year, and I really think Last Defense Academy should be one of them. I swear it gets good (after 30 hours)
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
www.polygon.com/hundred-line...
I'm the weirdo who never liked Octopath Traveler's eight-tiny-tales-loosely-strung-together structure, so Octopath 0's storytelling is Very Much My Thing so far even if the pacing is still kinda wonky
December 6, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I'm the weirdo who never liked Octopath Traveler's eight-tiny-tales-loosely-strung-together structure, so Octopath 0's storytelling is Very Much My Thing so far even if the pacing is still kinda wonky
Sounds like the leftovers of a messy relationship
December 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Sounds like the leftovers of a messy relationship
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Extremely proud to announce I was a translator on Octopath Traveler 0! 🎉 So glad this game got a second life on consoles, and heartened to see reviewers say the story brought them to tears. Guess that means we did our job. 😊
December 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Extremely proud to announce I was a translator on Octopath Traveler 0! 🎉 So glad this game got a second life on consoles, and heartened to see reviewers say the story brought them to tears. Guess that means we did our job. 😊
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Horses' only sin is that its broad themes don't entirely pay off its loaded imagery. Otherwise, it's an effectively uncomfortable games that turns life's mundane humiliations into surreal horror. If anything, its bans fill in its thematic gaps for it. My review. www.polygon.com/horses-banne...
Horses review - the banned Steam game doesn't deserve its ban
Horses tackles life's daily humiliations with surreal horror that will make you squirm
www.polygon.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Horses' only sin is that its broad themes don't entirely pay off its loaded imagery. Otherwise, it's an effectively uncomfortable games that turns life's mundane humiliations into surreal horror. If anything, its bans fill in its thematic gaps for it. My review. www.polygon.com/horses-banne...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
It goes into that weird thing that genuine appreciation is somehow considered less intellectual than criticism but everybody is getting trained to be such a cynical unfeeling asshole nowadays that I find the smartest people often are the “hell yeah cool song/drawing/story/video” people
December 4, 2025 at 3:15 AM
It goes into that weird thing that genuine appreciation is somehow considered less intellectual than criticism but everybody is getting trained to be such a cynical unfeeling asshole nowadays that I find the smartest people often are the “hell yeah cool song/drawing/story/video” people
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
Come help us write articles for the internet made by humans https://kotaku.com/kotaku-is-looking-for-freelance-contributors-2000650081
Kotaku Is Looking for Freelance Contributors - Kotaku
We're looking for thoughtful writers to help with covering news, reporting, and more
kotaku.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Come help us write articles for the internet made by humans https://kotaku.com/kotaku-is-looking-for-freelance-contributors-2000650081
Perfection does exist and he's sitting right there on the sofa
December 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Perfection does exist and he's sitting right there on the sofa
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
My review is up for Octopath Traveler 0! It's got some blemishes, but hot damn, it's got heart. Easily the best story in the series, and unequivocally the boldest.
www.thegamer.com/octopath-tra...
www.thegamer.com/octopath-tra...
Octopath Traveler 0 Review - Stay For The Story
Scattered gameplay issues aside, Octopath Traveler 0's bold storytelling and surprisingly decent town-building combine to forge a fantastic RPG.
www.thegamer.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My review is up for Octopath Traveler 0! It's got some blemishes, but hot damn, it's got heart. Easily the best story in the series, and unequivocally the boldest.
www.thegamer.com/octopath-tra...
www.thegamer.com/octopath-tra...
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
If you like RPGs and/or the other Octopath Traveler games, you should play Octopath Traveler 0. It has great things in it. It's a massive game and with beautiful moments to enjoy. At the same time, it has cracks hard to ignore.
Octopath Traveler 0 adapts the narrative and combat from series mobile game and, while a good RPG experience, it misses the point more than once.
Octopath Traveler 0 review - Square Enix's RPG forgets what makes the series special
Octopath Traveler 0 adapts the narrative and combat from series mobile game and, while a good RPG experience, it misses the point more than once.
www.polygon.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:21 AM
If you like RPGs and/or the other Octopath Traveler games, you should play Octopath Traveler 0. It has great things in it. It's a massive game and with beautiful moments to enjoy. At the same time, it has cracks hard to ignore.
Reposted by Josh Broadwell
I covered every version of Octopath Traveler 0 for @rpgsite.net going over visuals, performance, load times, and more. I even tested the Switch version on Switch 2 and PS4 version on PS5: www.rpgsite.net/feature/1905...
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I covered every version of Octopath Traveler 0 for @rpgsite.net going over visuals, performance, load times, and more. I even tested the Switch version on Switch 2 and PS4 version on PS5: www.rpgsite.net/feature/1905...