George E. Osborn
@georgeosborn.bsky.social
“No, not that one”- Politico | Creator of Video Games Industry Memo | MD, Half-Space Consulting | Author of Power Play (Spring 2026) | Pun appreciator
Order my book 👉 https://linktr.ee/Power_play_book
Order my book 👉 https://linktr.ee/Power_play_book
Pinned
If someone asks me if I have any professional advice about becoming a writer, I say no.
But if someone asks me for some unprofessional advice, I've got loads.
But if someone asks me for some unprofessional advice, I've got loads.
Reposted by George E. Osborn
Last week the venerable @georgeosborn.bsky.social reached out with a question submitted to this @vgim.bsky.social newsletter regarding the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI in Arc Raiders.
What started as a short one paragraph response became a 4000+ word newsletter issue.
What started as a short one paragraph response became a 4000+ word newsletter issue.
The release of Arc Raiders has raised significant concerns about the ethics of utilising generative AI in a AAA game. It’s important we understand that for whatever gains AI delivers, who is losing out, and what impact does that have on the industry?
Read on!
www.aiandgames.com/p/arc-raider...
Read on!
www.aiandgames.com/p/arc-raider...
Arc Raiders and the Ethical Use of Generative AI | 19/11/25
We discuss the issues surrounding Embark's use of AI voices
www.aiandgames.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Last week the venerable @georgeosborn.bsky.social reached out with a question submitted to this @vgim.bsky.social newsletter regarding the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI in Arc Raiders.
What started as a short one paragraph response became a 4000+ word newsletter issue.
What started as a short one paragraph response became a 4000+ word newsletter issue.
Wednesday, is it?
November 19, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Wednesday, is it?
No wonder his son-in-law felt comfortable going in on that EA deal, eh readers?
It's amazing that Bezos is just fine with this and continues to push pro-Trump propaganda anyway
November 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
No wonder his son-in-law felt comfortable going in on that EA deal, eh readers?
I've booked myself a week off in London ahead of the festive rush.
So naturally, I've bought tickets to three of the most "man increasingly the wrong side of his mid 30s" exhibitions going: looking at Wes Anderson's archives, a talk about the moon landing with Tom Hanks and one about pirates.
So naturally, I've bought tickets to three of the most "man increasingly the wrong side of his mid 30s" exhibitions going: looking at Wes Anderson's archives, a talk about the moon landing with Tom Hanks and one about pirates.
November 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I've booked myself a week off in London ahead of the festive rush.
So naturally, I've bought tickets to three of the most "man increasingly the wrong side of his mid 30s" exhibitions going: looking at Wes Anderson's archives, a talk about the moon landing with Tom Hanks and one about pirates.
So naturally, I've bought tickets to three of the most "man increasingly the wrong side of his mid 30s" exhibitions going: looking at Wes Anderson's archives, a talk about the moon landing with Tom Hanks and one about pirates.
I've had to put together VGIM early this week, so if everyone in the global games industry could refrain from doing anything in the next 48 hours that'd be great
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I've had to put together VGIM early this week, so if everyone in the global games industry could refrain from doing anything in the next 48 hours that'd be great
If you want to understand the onion like nature of the problems facing the UK, this is a great place to start
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration 20% lower in 2024 than first thought, ONS says
The figures also reveal migration peaked 38,000 higher than previously thought in the year to March 2023.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
If you want to understand the onion like nature of the problems facing the UK, this is a great place to start
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by George E. Osborn
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
I still think the most sensible comment on all this remains @tommy.aiandgames.com arguing for the importance of distinguishing between "generative AI as an industry" and "generative AI as a technology"
"Surely there's a middle ground here?" The CEO of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead says people "jump to extreme takes" when debating generative AI, and that there needs to be more nuance in the discussion.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/surely-...
‘Surely there’s a middle ground here?’ Helldivers studio CEO says people ‘jump to extreme takes’ when debating GenAI | VGC
“This is such a trigger point for big parts of the games industry today”…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I still think the most sensible comment on all this remains @tommy.aiandgames.com arguing for the importance of distinguishing between "generative AI as an industry" and "generative AI as a technology"
Right, anyone working in the games industry got a new job this week and want to show off about it?
I'm topping up this week's newsletter with job movers, so if you've got yourself a shiny new role and want to brag to 6000 people around the world lemme know 🫡
I'm topping up this week's newsletter with job movers, so if you've got yourself a shiny new role and want to brag to 6000 people around the world lemme know 🫡
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Right, anyone working in the games industry got a new job this week and want to show off about it?
I'm topping up this week's newsletter with job movers, so if you've got yourself a shiny new role and want to brag to 6000 people around the world lemme know 🫡
I'm topping up this week's newsletter with job movers, so if you've got yourself a shiny new role and want to brag to 6000 people around the world lemme know 🫡
Reposted by George E. Osborn
A rule a lot of people should follow “You’re not a political strategist, and you don’t need to tweet like one.” It’s okay to just have preferences and argue for them rather than to hallucinate a strategy where there isn’t one. (Particularly a strategy that is as clapped out as this one would be)
Labour is going to introduce safe routes for those claiming refugee status while everybody here is talking about ‘jewellery theft’ proposals. I strongly suspect the latter was meant to divert Sun readers’ attention from clocking the former while you are meant to be welcoming the former. 🫤
November 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A rule a lot of people should follow “You’re not a political strategist, and you don’t need to tweet like one.” It’s okay to just have preferences and argue for them rather than to hallucinate a strategy where there isn’t one. (Particularly a strategy that is as clapped out as this one would be)
Reposted by George E. Osborn
Used to have this argument with fellow Cons and, ultimately, unless and until I am a member of the Cabinet, I'm undo no obligation not to publicly oppose dumb things my party does.
Labour is going to introduce safe routes for those claiming refugee status while everybody here is talking about ‘jewellery theft’ proposals. I strongly suspect the latter was meant to divert Sun readers’ attention from clocking the former while you are meant to be welcoming the former. 🫤
November 17, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Used to have this argument with fellow Cons and, ultimately, unless and until I am a member of the Cabinet, I'm undo no obligation not to publicly oppose dumb things my party does.
Labour's immigration policy is shameful. Just hand Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson the keys to the country if you're going to be so craven in defence of common decency.
November 17, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Labour's immigration policy is shameful. Just hand Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson the keys to the country if you're going to be so craven in defence of common decency.
worried mid-ranking military officer: sir, we don’t have a steve buscemi gif big enough to respond to this.
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
worried mid-ranking military officer: sir, we don’t have a steve buscemi gif big enough to respond to this.
Last week, Team VGIM went to the Green Games Summit. And what we found out was that video games genuinely can change real world behaviour in some very specific circumstances
videogamesindustrymemo.substack.com/p/four-lesso...
videogamesindustrymemo.substack.com/p/four-lesso...
Four lessons from the Green Games Summit, 13/11/2026
Also: UK and North American Power Play front covers drop 📚
videogamesindustrymemo.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Last week, Team VGIM went to the Green Games Summit. And what we found out was that video games genuinely can change real world behaviour in some very specific circumstances
videogamesindustrymemo.substack.com/p/four-lesso...
videogamesindustrymemo.substack.com/p/four-lesso...
MbS has got the chequebook out again, lads*
*mark as baseless speculation for the lols
*mark as baseless speculation for the lols
Ubisoft just postponed its earnings report and halted the trading of its shares. Unclear why at this point but could indicate a major announcement related to the company.
November 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
MbS has got the chequebook out again, lads*
*mark as baseless speculation for the lols
*mark as baseless speculation for the lols
Reposted by George E. Osborn
Very nice to see a 'lil plug for finding the perfect person for your next game's soundtrack via the revamped UK Games Composers site in this week's @vgim.bsky.social. Thanks @georgeosborn.bsky.social!
gamescomposers.co.uk
gamescomposers.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Very nice to see a 'lil plug for finding the perfect person for your next game's soundtrack via the revamped UK Games Composers site in this week's @vgim.bsky.social. Thanks @georgeosborn.bsky.social!
gamescomposers.co.uk
gamescomposers.co.uk
News: the final front cover for the U.K. edition of Power Play, my debut non-fiction book, has landed.
Thank you to the team @wildfirebooks.bsky.social and @headlinebooks.bsky.social for the great work.
Pre-order your copy ahead of its June 2026 release here: linktr.ee/Power_play_b...
Thank you to the team @wildfirebooks.bsky.social and @headlinebooks.bsky.social for the great work.
Pre-order your copy ahead of its June 2026 release here: linktr.ee/Power_play_b...
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 AM
News: the final front cover for the U.K. edition of Power Play, my debut non-fiction book, has landed.
Thank you to the team @wildfirebooks.bsky.social and @headlinebooks.bsky.social for the great work.
Pre-order your copy ahead of its June 2026 release here: linktr.ee/Power_play_b...
Thank you to the team @wildfirebooks.bsky.social and @headlinebooks.bsky.social for the great work.
Pre-order your copy ahead of its June 2026 release here: linktr.ee/Power_play_b...
hey, we’ve seen this one before!
The co-leader of the far-right AfD, Germany's largest opposition party, has suggested that Poland is as much of a threat to his country as Russia is.
Leader of far-right AfD suggests Poland as great a threat to Germany as Russia
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
notesfrompoland.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:33 PM
hey, we’ve seen this one before!
When people ask me how I'm doing while I'm writing newsletters, doing consulting work, preparing for more book edits, and trying to get work for 2026 confirmed, all at the end of the longest year ever that SOMEHOW has seven weeks to run
November 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
When people ask me how I'm doing while I'm writing newsletters, doing consulting work, preparing for more book edits, and trying to get work for 2026 confirmed, all at the end of the longest year ever that SOMEHOW has seven weeks to run
I address this in Power Play in more detail, but policy proposals like this are the equivalent of suggesting you can end football hooliganism by changing the offside rule
This comes after an explosion at a high school in Jakarta that injured 96 people.
It is said that the perpetrator was a student who allegedly got the idea from online sources, including video games.
Banning games obviously doesn't address any actual issues.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
It is said that the perpetrator was a student who allegedly got the idea from online sources, including video games.
Banning games obviously doesn't address any actual issues.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Indonesia Mulls Video Game Curbs After Jakarta School Blast
Indonesia is weighing restrictions on video games like PUBG following a school blast in Jakarta that injured nearly a hundred.
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I address this in Power Play in more detail, but policy proposals like this are the equivalent of suggesting you can end football hooliganism by changing the offside rule
It’s giving big Bounce energy
November 11, 2025 at 7:23 AM
It’s giving big Bounce energy
Reposted by George E. Osborn
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
*inserts a picture of Garth Marenghi saying "I've written more video games than I've played"*
Gosh, if only someone had already covered how to use choices to build subtext is a characterful linear scene already, in a talk that takes less time to read than a medium post from a guy who seems to have only played one game and that’s cos he wrote it
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
*inserts a picture of Garth Marenghi saying "I've written more video games than I've played"*
I'm not saying that I'm prejudging the outcome of an ADHD assessment.
But I was handed a massive list of providers via the NHS's Right to Choose system and my immediate thought was 'lol, no way I'm reading all that'.
But I was handed a massive list of providers via the NHS's Right to Choose system and my immediate thought was 'lol, no way I'm reading all that'.
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I'm not saying that I'm prejudging the outcome of an ADHD assessment.
But I was handed a massive list of providers via the NHS's Right to Choose system and my immediate thought was 'lol, no way I'm reading all that'.
But I was handed a massive list of providers via the NHS's Right to Choose system and my immediate thought was 'lol, no way I'm reading all that'.
Reposted by George E. Osborn
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
A Times associate editor reportedly addressed situation in an email to staff, saying: ‘We should have been on our guard’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The BBC will fuck things up from time to time. Lots of major news organisations do; just look at The Times having to memoryhole several fake news stories in a matter of weeks.
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No one is calling for the abolition of The Times, however.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...