Gavin Craig
@craiggav.bsky.social
Weird, thoughtful, and quiet. Not necessarily in that order.
Reposted by Gavin Craig
The Post did a flashy reimagining of its book section, hiring awesome new staffers and returning it to a standalone section, in FALL 2022. It's hard to describe how quickly Bezos has turned against his own paper
the Post news is gutting for many reasons, but I can’t help focusing on the books section—how great it was, and how essential. So many worthy books barely get reviewed. I’ve had authors reach out to thank me because mine was the only post-pub coverage they got. Just awful for readers & for writers.
February 4, 2026 at 7:57 PM
The Post did a flashy reimagining of its book section, hiring awesome new staffers and returning it to a standalone section, in FALL 2022. It's hard to describe how quickly Bezos has turned against his own paper
Reposted by Gavin Craig
Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
www.gofundme.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙
Reposted by Gavin Craig
I’m reminded of the reason Bezos started with books on Amazon: he liked that they were commodities, each identical to any other with the same ISBN.
Shutting down (the stellar) books coverage at WaPo is a real telling move when your owner is literally Jeff Bezos
February 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
I’m reminded of the reason Bezos started with books on Amazon: he liked that they were commodities, each identical to any other with the same ISBN.
So we’ve established that Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm makes Leia Organa a Disney Princess
But does John Ratzenberger’s cameo in The Empire Strikes Back make it a Pixar film?
But does John Ratzenberger’s cameo in The Empire Strikes Back make it a Pixar film?
February 3, 2026 at 1:32 AM
So we’ve established that Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm makes Leia Organa a Disney Princess
But does John Ratzenberger’s cameo in The Empire Strikes Back make it a Pixar film?
But does John Ratzenberger’s cameo in The Empire Strikes Back make it a Pixar film?
If you want higher quality criticism then maybe more actual full-time jobs for critics would help. Just a thought.
January 29, 2026 at 3:43 PM
If you want higher quality criticism then maybe more actual full-time jobs for critics would help. Just a thought.
Reposted by Gavin Craig
A rare bit of games crit from me, on Many Nights a Whisper and trying to get at what a “poetic” game might be 👇
Our current issue comes to a close with @jumpovertheage.com on Many Nights a Whisper and poetry in games. Read it here: bulletpointsmonthly.com/2026/01/28/w...
January 28, 2026 at 2:43 PM
A rare bit of games crit from me, on Many Nights a Whisper and trying to get at what a “poetic” game might be 👇
Nostalgia for the group blog
January 27, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Nostalgia for the group blog
This is such a poetic non sequitur. It echoes in my head like music.
January 2, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This is such a poetic non sequitur. It echoes in my head like music.
To-play list for 2026 (partial and contingent): Disco Elysium, Baldur’s Gate 3, Mouthwashing, Final Fantasy V, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Pentiment, Indika, Citizen Sleeper 2, Immortality
January 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
To-play list for 2026 (partial and contingent): Disco Elysium, Baldur’s Gate 3, Mouthwashing, Final Fantasy V, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Pentiment, Indika, Citizen Sleeper 2, Immortality
My thread of 2025 writing that I’m proud of is that I pulled down my portfolio from my personal site because there was nothing more recent than 2021.
December 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
My thread of 2025 writing that I’m proud of is that I pulled down my portfolio from my personal site because there was nothing more recent than 2021.
I’ve largely given up on having expectations.
But I have hopes for 2026.
But I have hopes for 2026.
December 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I’ve largely given up on having expectations.
But I have hopes for 2026.
But I have hopes for 2026.
Year Walk and Device 6 came out IN THE SAME YEAR. So brilliant.
December 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Year Walk and Device 6 came out IN THE SAME YEAR. So brilliant.
Reposted by Gavin Craig
Subscribe to Unwinnable before the end of the year and get all the 2025 issues free! That's twelve issues of Unwinnable Monthly AND twelve issues of Exploits for five clams. Feed your brain over the holidays!
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
December 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Subscribe to Unwinnable before the end of the year and get all the 2025 issues free! That's twelve issues of Unwinnable Monthly AND twelve issues of Exploits for five clams. Feed your brain over the holidays!
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
unwinnable.com/subscribe/
(@unwinnable.com)
Talking with @unwinnabledavid.bsky.social and @rubeck.bsky.social about pen and notebook preferences and it’s the best conversation I’ve had on this site in ages.
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Talking with @unwinnabledavid.bsky.social and @rubeck.bsky.social about pen and notebook preferences and it’s the best conversation I’ve had on this site in ages.
I may have been a bit spoiled living in Maryland but I’m not sure I’m okay with this whole snowing and not melting away within a couple of days thing. Zero stars.
December 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I may have been a bit spoiled living in Maryland but I’m not sure I’m okay with this whole snowing and not melting away within a couple of days thing. Zero stars.
I love print. Still. Always.
December 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I love print. Still. Always.
HELL YEAH FULL PAGE from @youmeyou.bsky.social
December 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
HELL YEAH FULL PAGE from @youmeyou.bsky.social
Is it very Gen X of me that conceptual/theoretical issues default for me to a state of “interesting but not determinative”? Or am I just cribbing that from Zadie Smith?
December 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Is it very Gen X of me that conceptual/theoretical issues default for me to a state of “interesting but not determinative”? Or am I just cribbing that from Zadie Smith?
The problem is that we have accepted and even embraced consumption as a marker of identity.
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The problem is that we have accepted and even embraced consumption as a marker of identity.
The problem is that we crave monopoly, and have accepted the lie that not only is monopoly easy for the consumer, it is good as well.
December 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The problem is that we crave monopoly, and have accepted the lie that not only is monopoly easy for the consumer, it is good as well.
I don’t really care about Horses (or ludocentrism v narrative). The problem is that we’ve allowed Steam to become Amazon and Itch.io to become Barnes & Noble.
Even though direct digital sales would seem to be the easiest thing in the world. If only people would buy things directly.
Even though direct digital sales would seem to be the easiest thing in the world. If only people would buy things directly.
December 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I don’t really care about Horses (or ludocentrism v narrative). The problem is that we’ve allowed Steam to become Amazon and Itch.io to become Barnes & Noble.
Even though direct digital sales would seem to be the easiest thing in the world. If only people would buy things directly.
Even though direct digital sales would seem to be the easiest thing in the world. If only people would buy things directly.
I’m not sure that “games” as a culture and a medium are interested in “the spoils of culture” unless we are only talking about money.
That is, I’m not sure that games writ large have any interest in being a culture instead of a business.
That is, I’m not sure that games writ large have any interest in being a culture instead of a business.
I’m going to get in trouble for this, but fuck it.
I’ve been at this a long time. Games culture wants the spoils of cultural sophistication without doing the work. It wants a guarantee that the intention to make work guarantees not just a living but a thriving one. It is a medium for children.
I’ve been at this a long time. Games culture wants the spoils of cultural sophistication without doing the work. It wants a guarantee that the intention to make work guarantees not just a living but a thriving one. It is a medium for children.
Despite the controversy, Horses is only shocking if you're unfamiliar with the history movies, theater, literature, or basically any art form that does not have stats. aftermath.site/horses-indie-g...
December 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I’m not sure that “games” as a culture and a medium are interested in “the spoils of culture” unless we are only talking about money.
That is, I’m not sure that games writ large have any interest in being a culture instead of a business.
That is, I’m not sure that games writ large have any interest in being a culture instead of a business.
What if I played some video games in 2026?
November 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
What if I played some video games in 2026?
Reposted by Gavin Craig
There should be more games inspired by avant-garde stage design.
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There should be more games inspired by avant-garde stage design.