Exclusive news, blistering hot takes and interviews with interesting people

Sep 24, 2026

Bobby Kotick vs. the games media: watch my new investigation

How the former Activision CEO used legal threats to reshape how he's been covered in the press

by Mikhail Klimentov

And these are (some of) my greatest ↗

← This is my latest

Jun 23, 2026

Why Jason Schreier started a YouTube channel

Mar 16, 2026

Marathon is a satire

Apr 30, 2025

Kill the CEO in your head

📥 Only for Subscribers

Jul 9, 2025

Saudi version of EWC video series censors LGBTQ+ references, criticisms of event

Sep 24, 2026

Bobby Kotick vs. the games media: watch my new investigation

How the former Activision CEO used legal threats to reshape how he's been covered in the press

by Mikhail Klimentov

Hey, reader!

My name is Mikhail Klimentov. You may know me from my coverage of working conditions at the esports org TSM in The Washington Post.

ReaderGrev is a newsletter about video games, esports and online culture. It is a passion project! Join the mailing list to receive it in your inbox.

You can also pay to support my work here.

ReaderGrev is a newsletter about video games, esports and online culture.

Join the thousands of readers who receive it in their inboxes.

You can also pay to support my work here.

The Archive

Sep 24, 2026

•

3 min read

Bobby Kotick vs. the games media: watch my new investigation

How the former Activision CEO used legal threats to reshape how he's been covered in the press

I wrote about my Valorant obsession for Chisel

Aug 11, 2026

•

3 min read

I wrote about my Valorant obsession for Chisel

Addiction, compulsion, tomato, potato

ZeniMax workers rally to save ‘spirit of the studio' after Microsoft cuts

Jul 16, 2026

•

8 min read

ZeniMax workers rally to save ‘spirit of the studio' after Microsoft cuts

'Corporate greed is destroying our games and our livelihoods.'

Jun 23, 2026

•

9 min read

Why Jason Schreier started a YouTube channel

"I will not do any video that takes me more than 30 minutes to do in any way"

📥 Only for Subscribers

Riot Games answered my questions about its Valorant esports overhaul

Apr 8, 2026

•

13 min read

Riot Games answered my questions about its Valorant esports overhaul

Plus: A positive reaction from a tier 2 org owner, and skeptical one from a coach who asked to remain anonymous

I wrote about the Epic Games layoffs and the metaverse for the A.V. Club

Mar 30, 2026

•

6 min read

I wrote about the Epic Games layoffs and the metaverse for the A.V. Club

Fortnite killer

Mar 16, 2026

•

6 min read

Marathon is a satire

Bungie's latest is a vicious send-up of work, debt and the corporate world

📥 Only for Subscribers

Why the New York Times got into multiplayer games

Mar 4, 2026

•

21 min read

Why the New York Times got into multiplayer games

Crossplay, the paper's foray into pvp, features some genuinely delightful tech under the hood

Feb 24, 2026

•

15 min read

Not everything is Concord

Plus: What's next for me and ReaderGrev

Feb 6, 2026

•

13 min read

I lost my job at The Washington Post

Please, if you can, support my colleagues abroad

Jan 29, 2026

•

11 min read

What are we to make of Highguard?

Highguard is neither the disaster people seemed to hope it would be, nor the next Apex Legends. It is mostly just fine.

🌅 Exit Interview

Jan 20, 2026

•

30 min read

Exit Interview: Joseph Cross

Marathon's former franchise art director talks leaving Bungie and devising a visual style that might have felt "a little bit nerve-racking to fund"

The Archive

Aug 11, 2026

•

3 min read

I wrote about my Valorant obsession for Chisel

Addiction, compulsion, tomato, potato

Jul 16, 2026

•

8 min read

ZeniMax workers rally to save ‘spirit of the studio' after Microsoft cuts

'Corporate greed is destroying our games and our livelihoods.'

Jun 23, 2026

•

9 min read

Why Jason Schreier started a YouTube channel

"I will not do any video that takes me more than 30 minutes to do in any way"

📥 Only for Subscribers

Apr 8, 2026

•

13 min read

Riot Games answered my questions about its Valorant esports overhaul

Plus: A positive reaction from a tier 2 org owner, and skeptical one from a coach who asked to remain anonymous

Mar 30, 2026

•

6 min read

I wrote about the Epic Games layoffs and the metaverse for the A.V. Club

Fortnite killer

Mar 16, 2026

•

6 min read

Marathon is a satire

Bungie's latest is a vicious send-up of work, debt and the corporate world

📥 Only for Subscribers

Mar 4, 2026

•

21 min read

Why the New York Times got into multiplayer games

Crossplay, the paper's foray into pvp, features some genuinely delightful tech under the hood

Feb 24, 2026

•

15 min read

Not everything is Concord

Plus: What's next for me and ReaderGrev

Feb 6, 2026

•

13 min read

I lost my job at The Washington Post

Please, if you can, support my colleagues abroad

Jan 29, 2026

•

11 min read

What are we to make of Highguard?

Highguard is neither the disaster people seemed to hope it would be, nor the next Apex Legends. It is mostly just fine.

🌅 Exit Interview

Jan 20, 2026

•

30 min read

Exit Interview: Joseph Cross

Marathon's former franchise art director talks leaving Bungie and devising a visual style that might have felt "a little bit nerve-racking to fund"

📥 Only for Subscribers

The Official ReaderGrev Game & Stuff of the Year List 2025

Jan 5, 2026

•

16 min read

The Official ReaderGrev Game & Stuff of the Year List 2025

Not the best stuff but the best list.