Alex’s work is a masterpiece in journalism. She demonstrates a thorough understanding of the big picture around gaming, technology, and society. Alex considers the implications for our future with a clear and thoughtful voice. To have collected so many useful perspectives from change makers is a gift to readers, and hopefully an inspiration to many.

Jeremy Dela Rosa, Leyline (formerly Blizzard Entertainment)

Alexandra brilliantly chronicles the boundless creativity of an industry persevering through unprecedented times.

Aaryn Flynn

What was it that got you through the Covid-19 pandemic? For some it was long walks; others turned to home baking. For millions it was video games, a booming industry which exploded in popularity over the pandemic years. Confined to our homes and with the lines of reality becoming blurred as everyday life shifted to screens, perhaps it was no wonder that so many of us were desperate to be transported to different worlds.

In Playing with Reality: Gaming in a Pandemic, journalist and presenter Alex Humphreys, a passionate gamer herself, investigates this extraordinary boom in the gaming industry. Charting its rise, Alex interviews players and developers, sharing a glimpse of what was going on behind closed doors as studios closed and games were finished from home. Playing with Reality explores exactly what it was that made gaming a lifeline for so many, and what the future holds as we look to the metaverse.

Born in Chester, Alex Humphreys grew up in Flintshire in Wales. After studying music at Cardiff University, she joined the office of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, before moving into broadcasting, where she has worked in various roles, including presenting CBBC’s Newsround, S4C’s weather and various news programmes. Passionate about video games, Alex has presented several documentaries about gaming, including What’s in a Game? for BBC Radio 4, In the Studio: World of Warcraft for the BBC World Service and Ydi Cymru’n Gêm? for BBC Radio Cymru.