Veteran video games journalist Julian Benson has been appointed Editorial Director of PC gaming website Rock Paper Shotgun, owned by GamesIndustry.biz father or mother IGN Leisure.
A 13-year stalwart of UK video games media, Benson beforehand served as Editor-in-Chief of the TechRadar Gaming model at Future, following stints in senior roles at GAMINGBible, PCGamesN and Kotaku UK. Most not too long ago he has been working as a contract author, editor and sport design advisor, showing frequently in shops together with The Guardian, GQ, Eurogamer and Edge.
Rock Paper Shotgun was the primary main editorial web site devoted solely to PC gaming, launching in 2007 at a time when no main writer operated a website targeted on the platform. It rapidly constructed a loyal following and stays a key voice in curation and commentary on the PC gaming house. The positioning turned half of IGN Leisure in 2023.
“It’s tough to precise how excited I’m to hitch the group at Rock Paper Shotgun,” mentioned Benson. “It’s the publication that has most knowledgeable the way in which I feel and write about videogames, and it was one of the primary locations I used to be ever revealed. Its skilled group has a protracted historical past of celebrating with its readers the bizarre goings ons in PC gaming, and it’s a privilege to play an element in persevering with that custom.”
Benson’s appointment is the newest in a collection of modifications at IGN Leisure to reinforce its editorial manufacturers and construct out their management group, following the elevation of Justin Davis to VP Editorial and Commerce, IGN Leisure, and the appointment of Jon Hicks as Editorial Director of GamesIndustry.biz. Benson, like Hicks, will report back to Senior Editorial Director, Worldwide, Alex Simmons, who continues to guide and help the previous Gamer Community manufacturers inside the international IGNE organisation.
“I am delighted to nominate an editorial chief with Julian’s breadth of expertise to guide such a key editorial model,” mentioned Yael Prough, President, IGN Leisure. “Rock Paper Shotgun retains a uniquely highly effective voice in PC gaming and is rightly cherished by readers and sport builders worldwide. Our ongoing funding in premier expertise is a core ingredient of our established course of of supporting and lengthening the storied manufacturers within the IGN Leisure portfolio, leveraging the industry-leading expertise and affect of the IGNE group”.
Benson begins within the position instantly.