A Return to Form: Inside the Launch of Respec and the Future of Independent Games Journalism

In an era defined by corporate consolidation, the encroachment of artificial intelligence into editorial workflows, and the steady decline of traditional gaming journalism, the landscape for news coverage has become increasingly barren. Yet, against this backdrop of industrial contraction, a new venture is emerging with the intent to resurrect the "golden era" of enthusiast games media.

Respec, a new multi-format gaming website, has officially launched under the stewardship of industry veterans Tom Orry and Alex Donaldson. With a combined 40 years of experience, the duo is positioning the site as a "lean operation that punches above its weight class," rejecting the hyper-growth, algorithmic-chasing models that have left many of their predecessors hollowed out or shuttered entirely.

The State of the Industry: A Chronology of Decline

To understand why Respec represents such a radical departure from the norm, one must look at the trajectory of gaming media over the last two decades.

• The Early 2000s (The Print-to-Web Transition): The industry was characterized by a diverse ecosystem of print magazines and hundreds of independent websites. Content was driven by community, personality, and a shared passion for the medium.
• The 2010s (The Ad-Revenue Squeeze): As the digital advertising market shifted, websites were forced to chase search engine optimization (SEO) and high-volume page views to survive. This led to a wave of acquisitions by larger media conglomerates.
• The Pandemic Spike (2020–2021): A short-lived boom in gaming interest during the pandemic fueled temporary revenue growth, leading to ill-fated rounds of corporate consolidation.
• The Post-Pandemic Collapse (2022–Present): As revenues normalized, the "behemoth" media companies began massive rounds of layoffs. Simultaneously, the rise of video influencers and algorithmic content began to cannibalize traditional editorial space.
• The AI Inflection Point: The recent controversy surrounding sites being de-indexed from Google after publishing AI-generated reviews under fake bylines marked a low point for the credibility of the medium, creating a vacuum that Respec intends to fill.

The Philosophy of "Old-School" Media

At its heart, Respec is an attempt to prove that a sustainable, human-led publication can still thrive in 2026. Tom Orry, formerly the Editorial Director of Eurogamer and founder of Videogamer, argues that the current industry crisis is not a lack of interest in games, but a symptom of chronic financial mismanagement.

"There were loads of these [sites] around 15 years ago, but then they got squeezed by the ad market, acquired and run into the ground, or pushed too hard and ran out of money," Orry explains. His model for Respec is simple: a lean, independent team that covers games they are genuinely passionate about, rather than games they are "obliged" to cover for the sake of SEO.

The editorial strategy is divided by format. Text-based journalism remains the "work," providing depth and analysis, while video content—hosted on YouTube—is reserved for "the playful, fun, silly hangout stuff." This distinction aims to foster a "club-like" atmosphere, reminiscent of the early days of internet forums and enthusiast sites where the relationship between the writer and the reader was bidirectional.

A "Distinctly British" Voice

One of the most striking aspects of Respec’s identity is its commitment to a regional voice. In a media landscape dominated by massive, US-centric corporate conglomerates, Orry and Donaldson are leaning into their UK roots.

"In a media space increasingly squeezed by US ownership, we want to make something that is totally unapologetically British," Orry notes. While critics might label this as "provincial," the founders argue that a strong, authentic cultural identity is actually an asset that "travels well." By maintaining a distinct perspective, Respec hopes to cultivate a loyal audience that values personality over the homogenized, "corporate-speak" tone that has come to dominate mainstream gaming news.

Financial Sustainability: Moving Beyond the Ad-Revenue Trap

The economic model of Respec is built on a hybrid foundation. The site is primarily advertising-funded, ensuring that the bulk of its content remains free and accessible. However, it integrates a Patreon-based subscription model for readers who want to support the site, offering exclusive weekly podcasts and special features in return.

Alex Donaldson, who brings a wealth of experience from his time managing RPG Site, is pragmatic about this approach. "It is tremendously difficult to build a business that has direct user subscriptions as its primary revenue driver off the bat," he admits. The strategy, therefore, is one of patient growth.

The Role of Double Black

Crucially, Respec is not launching into a financial vacuum. It is backed by Double Black, the parent company of RPG Site. According to Donaldson, RPG Site currently operates with "strong margins" that can absorb the costs of launching and scaling Respec. This allows the new venture the luxury of time—something that most startup media outlets are denied.

"We’re bullish about 2027 as a particularly strong year for the role-playing genre," says Donaldson. "Strong performance on RPG Site will unlock more investment, as will growth in Respec’s earning potential."

Measuring Success: Quality over Quantity

Perhaps the most significant difference between Respec and the industry "behemoths" is how they define success. While corporate-owned sites are often chained to the tyranny of monthly page-view quotas, Respec is focusing on "penetration within the audience."

Donaldson outlines a roadmap for success that moves away from the "trickery" of search-engine-driven traffic:

• Trust and Reputation: Measured through the sentiment of comments, social media interaction, and industry peer perception.
• Engagement Metrics: Focusing on bounce rate, dwell time, and sessions per user. These, according to Donaldson, are the "hallmarks of a healthier site" that foster sustainable long-term business.
• Independence: By remaining independent and owner-operated, the founders avoid the conflict of interest where sites are forced to prioritize "growth at all costs," even when it necessitates layoffs or editorial compromise.

Implications for the Future of Games Media

The launch of Respec poses an interesting question for the industry: Can small, nimble, and independent websites reclaim the space lost to corporate conglomerates and AI-driven content farms?

The founders of Respec are not looking to build a massive empire. Their goals are, by their own admission, "reasonable." They do not need to satisfy external shareholders or meet the quarterly growth targets that have led other outlets to ruin. By prioritizing human voice, community engagement, and a sustainable, slow-growth financial model, they are attempting to build a "ship" that is not only successful on its own terms but arguably more resilient to the volatility of the modern internet.

For the readers who have grown weary of the current state of gaming news, Respec offers something that has been missing for a long time: the feeling that they are being spoken to by people who actually love the hobby as much as they do. As the site navigates its first year, it serves as a litmus test for the viability of independent, personality-driven journalism in a landscape that has long been dominated by the bottom line.

If Respec succeeds, it may provide a blueprint for a new generation of writers and editors to carve out their own niches, proving that even in a bleak market, there is always room for a project that puts "respect" and quality back into the editorial process.