Gaming Media Adapts Amidst Industry Shifts
Veteran journalists are launching new sites focused on reader support and classic coverage. Many writers have found new homes in independent, worker-owned outlets. This evolution reflects a changing landscape for games journalism.
Coverage across 3 outlets
Why two games media veterans think a "classic old-school style multi-format video games website" will flourish in 2026
Two veterans of the games media industry, Tom Orry and Alex Donaldson, have launched Respec, a new website aiming to revive the 'classic old-school style multi-format video games website' model. They believe a lean operation with a clear voice and reader support can succeed in 2026, contrasting with the current landscape dominated by larger outlets and influencers. Respec will focus on text-based coverage, supported by a podcast and YouTube channel, with a distinctively British tone and a business model combining advertising with reader revenue via Patreon.
Business and Finance
New York now has a mayor who is also a gamer, overseeing a significant $2.6 billion game industry within the state. This development highlights the growing intersection of gaming culture and political leadership.
Gaming media diaspora: where every writer landed | 2026
The article maps the post-collapse landscape of gaming journalism, detailing where writers from defunct publications like Kotaku and Vice have relocated. It highlights the rise of independent, worker-owned sites, solo newsletters, and bundled subscription services as the new hubs for quality writing, contrasting them with legacy outlets perceived as publishing press releases.