Michelle Ballestrasse
Contributing since October, 2020
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221articles
About Michelle Ballestrasse
Michelle Ballestrasse is a freelance writer, editor, blogger, and baker born and bred in the Bay Area. She starts every day with coffee and a keyboard, and winds down with wine and whatever's new on Steam. Also an avid admirer of alliteration.
Latest Articles
Stardew Valley Player's "Never Gonna Give You Up" Is Perfect Rickroll
A Stardew Valley player composed the first few refrains of Rick Astley's internet hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" with the game's flute and drum blocks.
Activision Blizzard Sued For Unfair Labor Practices [UPDATED]
The Communications Workers of America is filing unfair labor practice charges against Activision Blizzard for alleged employee intimidation.
Overwatch's McCree Is Getting a New Name, Story Content Delayed
Blizzard has broken its social media silence to announce that the cowboy McCree, named after a former employee involved in DFEH suit, will be renamed.
Activision Blizzard Employees Form Coalition To Oppose Auditing Law Firm
Employees from different Activision Blizzard offices have united in protest of CEO Bobby Kotick's choice of WilmerHale as a third-party auditor.
Activision Blizzard Employees Detail "Broken" HR Department, HR Head Leaves
Blizzard's HR head Jesse Meschuk has stepped down following accusations that the company's HR department was "broken" and protected aggressors.
Activision Blizzard CEO Addresses Lawsuit, Agrees To Outside Audit & Changes [UPDATED]
Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, has sent out a company-wide email responding to the recent lawsuit filed against the company.
WoW Devs Have Done "Almost No Work" During Activision Blizzard Controversy
WoW's Senior System Designer stated on Twitter that his team has effectively ceased working on the game following the allegations and lawsuit.
Activision Blizzard Employees To Strike In Protest Of Leadership
In the wake of a recent lawsuit filed against Activision Blizzard, the company's employees are organizing a strike outside Blizzard's Irvine campus.
Activision Blizzard Sued By California For Harassment, Abuse, & Frat Culture
The State of California has filed a lawsuit against gaming giant Activision Blizzard for alleged sexual discrimination, retaliation, and harassment.
Ubisoft's Skull & Bones Finally Leaves Alpha Eight Years Later
Ubisoft's troubled pirate sim Skull & Bones has finally hit a major development milestone, as the game passes alpha for the first time in 8 years.
Halo Infinite Devs To Show Multiplayer Gameplay In Additional E3 Showcase
Halo Infinite will get a second showcase at this year's E3 on June 14, giving players an additional look at the game's free-to-play multiplayer.
Hack And Slash Game Babylon's Fall Announces Closed Beta
Babylon's Fall is now recruiting for closed beta, according to the newest trailer released at today's Square Enix demonstration during E3.
Tom Cruise's Top Gun Maverick Comes To Microsoft Flight Simulator
In a nod to Top Gun: Maverick, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and his F/A-18 Super Hornet take flight in an upcoming expansion to Microsoft Flight Simulator
Back 4 Blood's Latest Trailer Gives First Look at PVP, Swarm Mode
Bethesda revealed Back 4 Blood's latest official trailer at E3, revealing a first look at the game's new PVP mode, which pits humans against zombies.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla Siege Of Paris, DLC Plans Detailed By Ubisoft
At the recent Ubisoft Forward E3 broadcast, Ubisoft reveals more information about the upcoming Assassin's Creed Valhalla DLC, The Siege of Paris.
Pokémon GO Gym Gets Shut Down While Players Are Raiding It
A Redditor on Pokémon GO was kicked from a gym mid-raid when Niantic shut down the spot, which was located in a closed-down business, with no warning.
Animal Crossing Player Makes the Harry Potter Professor McGonagall Meme With Fish
A Professor Mcgonagall cosplayer has recreated a classic Harry Potter meme, referring to the tedium of fishing in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Fortnite Teases Possible Superman Appearance In Season 7
The latest teaser trailer for Fortnite's Season 7 features a pair of glasses that may (or may not) belong to Superman, hinting his arrival on June 8.
Cyberpunk 2077 Developer-Made Glitch Montage Reportedly Leaked
A recent data leak of CD Projekt Red reveals a series of montage videos featuring Cyberpunk 2077's glitches as they existed before the game's release.
Valheim Server Constructs Viking-Themed Ikea Store [UPDATED]
A few industrious Valheim players on Reddit have recreated an IKEA store, aptly named VIKEA, on their game server, and posted pictures of the result.