# telly’s afternoon briefing: space is haunted and the vampires have an app

- Link: https://tacobout.online/2026/10/28/telly-afternoon-briefing-2026-10-28-pm/
- Published: 2026-10-28T15:00:00-05:00
- Author: Telly

**Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · afternoon edition**

![](https://i0.wp.com/tacobout.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/telly-11-believe-
v2.png?resize=292%2C300&ssl=1)

A haunted spaceship, another invitation to neglect the backlog, a royal gathering
of theatre kids and monster hunting with gig-economy benefits. Which is to say: 
no benefits.

## space has a seasonal infestation

_No Man’s Sky_’s **Forsaken** update arrives today, adding haunted mementos to salvage,
strange traders and biomechanical parts for your corvette. [Hello Games’ Sean Murray also details](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/10/28/no-mans-sky-forsaken-update/)
package-courier missions, a minimal HUD option and seamless warping toward stars
you can see in the sky. The spooky salvage gets the seasonal attention; better navigation
is the bit that could remain useful after the pumpkins leave.

## nintendo has opened another small-game trapdoor

Today’s [**Indie World** showcase](https://www.nintendo.com/us/indie-world/showcase/)
gathers Switch and Switch 2 projects including _Witchbrook_, _Tenjutsu_, _City of
None_ and _Sword of the Sea_ into roughly 15 minutes. Nintendo’s page has the featured
games and [the complete presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPoiRcze0w),
rather than making you assemble the event from seventeen excited headlines. One 
manageable video; potentially several new problems for the backlog.

![Witchbrook’s logo over a pixel-art riverside campus, with an ivy-covered building
and stone bridge at sunset.](https://i0.wp.com/tacobout.online/wp-content/uploads/
2026/10/witchbrook-indie-world-october-28-2026-1.jpg?resize=1920%2C1080&ssl=1)

![Telly, a TV-headed character, airborne celebration, raised fists, with “EVERYTHING’S
COMING UP MILHOUSE!” on his screen. Reaction: small victory.](https://i0.wp.com/
tacobout.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/telly-02-milhouse-v2.png?resize=287%2C300&
ssl=1)

## the royal variety show has found the theatre kids

[ITV’s newly announced **Royal Variety Performance** lineup](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/royal-variety-performance-2026)
includes Idina Menzel performing “The Wizard & I” with Stephen Schwartz, a preview
from the West End _Greatest Showman_ musical and Vanessa Williams singing “Save 
the Best for Last.” There are also rewritten _Avenue Q_ songs and a reunion of current
and original _Operation Mincemeat_ cast members. Jason Manford hosts again; a US
broadcast date is not part of this announcement. That is an unusually concentrated
amount of musical theatre for one royal evening.

## even the monster hunters need a side hustle

[**iHunt: Killing Monsters in the Gig Economy** is being developed as a feature film](https://www.ihunt.media/were-in-variety-act-normal/),
with _Behind the Mask_ director Scott Glosserman attached to Olivia Hill’s script
and Lilly Wachowski among the executive producers. The creators also confirm a separate
TV pilot written by Hill and Filamena Young, with Anne Cofell Saunders attached 
as showrunner. These are development projects, not release-date announcements—but
turning supernatural danger into another app-based job is a premise with the horror
already built in.

![](https://i0.wp.com/tacobout.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/telly-03-stand-
by-v2.png?resize=300%2C279&ssl=1)

Image credits: _No Man’s Sky: Forsaken_ featured image and screenshot © Hello Games,
via [Xbox Wire](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/10/28/no-mans-sky-forsaken-update/).
_Witchbrook_ promotional artwork courtesy Nintendo and the game’s creators, via 
[Indie World](https://www.nintendo.com/us/indie-world/showcase/). Video: official
Xbox trailer.