About Critical Spawn News
What Critical Spawn News Covers
Critical Spawn News is an independent website about two ways of playing that are all about presence and people: virtual reality games and headsets as gaming platforms, and co-op and party games. On the VR side we cover Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2 and PC VR, from first-time setup and comfort settings to the games that shaped the medium. On the multiplayer side we cover couch co-op, online co-op, split-screen and party games for groups of every size.
We are not a news-of-the-day site. You will not find rumour roundups or launch-week hot takes here. We write evergreen guides and explainers meant to stay useful, and when something depends on a specific headset model, software version or date, we say so.
Our Categories
- VR Setup & Comfort – getting a headset running, fitting it properly, play space, safety, motion sickness and comfort settings.
- VR Games – explainers on landmark and popular VR games and the design ideas behind them.
- Platforms & Comparisons – how Quest, PS VR2 and PC VR differ, headset comparisons and the history of consumer VR.
- Co-op Games – local and online co-op, split-screen, crossplay and how to play well together.
- Party Games – party game guides, game night planning and the history of the games that bring a room together.
Who Writes Here
Articles on Critical Spawn News are published under the name Riley Hartman. This is a pen name used by a small independent editorial team, and we say so openly. We do not claim industry credentials, developer access or insider sources. What we commit to is careful research, clear writing and linking to the sources we rely on, so you can check our work yourself.
How We Work
Every article is researched against official sources such as headset manufacturers’ support pages, developer and publisher websites and platform stores, along with reputable reference material. AI tools help with drafting, and every piece is fact-checked and edited by a person before it is published. You can read more in our editorial policy.
Independence
Critical Spawn News is not affiliated with Meta, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Valve, Microsoft, Nintendo or any game developer or publisher. Product names and trademarks belong to their owners. Our VR comfort and safety articles offer general guidance only and are not medical advice. If we ever publish sponsored content, it will be clearly labelled as “Sponsored”.
Get in Touch
Spotted a mistake or have a topic you would like us to explain? Visit our contact page or email [email protected].