I am a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Digital Humanities at King's College London. Previously, I have been working at the University of Liverpool, University of York, University of Lincoln, Goldsmiths, London South Bank University and the Centre for Digital Cultures at Leuphana University.

Research interests and PhD supervision

My research is concerned with how power and control are negotiated and challenged through digital games by players, producers and theorists. I am currently investigating the role of videogames in the Anthropocene, independent game-making, labour unions in the game industry, and nonhuman and posthuman play in the digital age.

Teaching

I teach across a variety of modules on digital play, media studies and digital culture. In the past, I have been leading modules on game studies, cultural studies, and media arts.

Expertise and public engagement

I am chair of the Digital Games Research Association Italia.

Selected publications

• Ruffino, P. exp. 2026. Videogames for the Post-Anthropocene. Cambridge (MA): MIT Press.
• Ruffino, P. (editor) 2021. Independent Videogames: Cultures, Networks, Techniques and Politics. London: Routledge.
• Ruffino, P. 2018. Future Gaming: Creative interventions in video game culture. London and Cambridge (MA): Goldsmiths/MIT Press.