Jason Schreier

Jason Schreier is an American journalist and author known for his investigative reporting on the video game industry. He currently works as a reporter for Bloomberg News and previously served as the news editor at Kotaku from 2011 to 2020. His work has exposed numerous stories about workplace conditions, crunch culture, and development challenges within major gaming studios. Schreier's reporting has covered controversial topics including labor practices at Rockstar Games, the troubled development of Cyberpunk 2077, and the inner workings of companies like BioWare and Blizzard. He has published two books examining game development: "Blood, Sweat, and Pixels" (2017) and "Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry" (2021). These books provide detailed accounts of game development processes and explore the human cost of creating major video game titles. Schreier's journalism has helped bring attention to worker rights issues in the gaming industry and has influenced public discourse about game development practices. His articles and investigations frequently appear in major media outlets, and he hosts the Triple Click podcast about video games.

Readers consistently note Schreier's insider access and detailed reporting on game development. His writing style makes complex industry topics accessible to general audiences. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of technical concepts - Personal stories from game developers - Documentation of industry problems - Balanced reporting approach What readers disliked: - Some repetition between articles and books - Focus on larger studios over indies - Occasional tendency to oversimplify complex issues Ratings across platforms: Blood, Sweat and Pixels: - Goodreads: 4.3/5 (14,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,800+ ratings) Press Reset: - Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Makes game development understandable without dumbing it down" - Goodreads review "Could use more perspectives from smaller studios" - Amazon review "Important documentation of industry issues, though sometimes oversimplified" - Goodreads review

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made (2017) A detailed examination of the development process of various video games, including Dragon Age: Inquisition, Stardew Valley, and Destiny, based on interviews with game developers.

Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry (2021) An investigation into studio closures, layoffs, and instability in the video game industry, following the stories of developers affected by these events.

David Kushner writes investigative books about video game industry history and development culture, focusing on iconic games and companies. His works like "Masters of Doom" and "Blood, Sweat, and Pixels" share similar behind-the-scenes approaches to Schreier's reporting style.

Harold Goldberg covers the games industry through long-form journalism and chronicles major studios and developers. His book "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" examines the evolution of video games through key figures and moments in gaming history.

Blake J. Harris documents the business rivalries and corporate conflicts within the gaming industry. His books "Console Wars" and "The History of the Future" focus on competition between major gaming companies through interviews and primary sources.

Tristan Donovan writes comprehensive histories of video game development and industry transformation. His work "Replay: The History of Video Games" provides context about gaming's cultural impact through developer perspectives and industry analysis.

Dean Takahashi reports on the business and technical aspects of video game development at major studios. His books "Opening the Xbox" and "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked" examine hardware development and corporate strategy through insider accounts.