Andrew E. Freedman
Andrew E. Freedman covers the intersection of consumer computing and gaming, focusing on how laptops, desktops, operating systems and consoles affect the way people actually play. As a senior editor at Tom's Hardware, he oversees systems coverage and keeps close track of the latest news in tech and gaming. His work combines hands-on hardware testing with clear news and feature reporting on platforms like Xbox, Windows and emerging devices.
Gaming laptops, desktops and portable rigs
Andrew leads coverage of gaming laptops, desktops and all-in-one rigs, regularly testing and ranking systems for performance, portability and value.
He writes major buyer’s guides such as “Best Gaming Laptops 2026: Tested and reviewed,” which walk through benchmarked picks, thermals, displays and battery life for different budgets and use cases. His “Best College Laptops” coverage extends that testing approach to machines that must handle research, writing and gaming on the same device, with attention to RAM, storage and endurance. Across these pieces, he treats gaming hardware as everyday tools as much as enthusiast gear, explaining how design decisions and component choices affect frame rates, productivity and travel.
He also covers gaming PCs and handhelds, aiming to help readers take powerful rigs into smaller spaces or on the go without losing performance.
PC platforms, Windows and security requirements
Beyond hardware lists, Andrew reports on how platform decisions and operating-system changes shape the PC gaming experience. In his coverage of Windows 11’s TPM requirement, he explains why some builders were caught off-guard, breaks down firmware-based TPM implementations, and shows which CPUs and motherboards qualify and which do not. That explainer work connects security features like Trusted Platform Modules to practical questions, such as whether a well-specced gaming rig can upgrade without new hardware. More broadly, his PC coverage follows changes in Windows and other software that affect compatibility, performance and long-term support for gaming machines.
Consoles, game formats and platform strategy
Andrew’s gaming beat extends to consoles and the business decisions behind them. He covers stories such as Xbox testing ways to digitize physical games in the wake of PlayStation moving away from discs, focusing on how new features would work with existing Xbox One-era titles and what they mean for collections built on physical media. His work on the Tom's Hardware Show has included discussions of Xbox Series X alongside broader platform and hardware challenges, linking console launches to component supply, performance targets and competition with PCs.
Across these pieces, he tracks how platform owners manage backward compatibility, game preservation, and the economics of digital versus physical releases.
Event reporting and new form-factor coverage
Andrew also reports from major computing and gaming events, using show floors to explain where the market is headed.
At IFA 2026, he described how manufacturers chased both high-end AI-powered systems and aggressively budget-focused machines, noting that mid-range buyers were left with fewer options. His hands-on piece with a family of new “Googlebook” models examines a fresh OS and hardware lineup that offers a Mac-style experience for Android users at premium prices, weighing that pitch against design, build quality and cost. These event and hands-on stories highlight emerging form factors, new operating systems and shifting price bands, tying them back to how they might fit into real gaming and productivity setups.
Editing scope and broader tech background
In addition to his own bylines, Andrew’s role at Tom's Hardware includes overseeing laptop and desktop coverage across the masthead.
That editorial responsibility informs his perspective on systems as complete experiences, from CPU and GPU selection through keyboards, displays and software support. His broader tech writing history spans consumer computing, gaming rigs and foldable devices, and his work has appeared in outlets covering technology and gaming beyond Tom's Hardware.
He has been reviewing hardware and laptops for roughly a decade, building a body of work that prioritizes clear explanations of how devices work and what they mean for day-to-day gaming and computing.
4 more gaming journalists.
Adam Bankhurst
Adam Bankhurst covers the busiest crossroads of gaming and entertainment for IGN, with a focus on breaking news, live event roundups, and franchise guides. He reports on releases, updates, hardware, films, anime, and major fan universes including Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Nintendo, Final Fantasy, and Mass Effect. He has covered events such as E3 and PAX, and has written The Game Awards 2020: All the Winners and X-Men Movies in Order: The Full Timeline. His work turns announcements, shows, and timelines into clear, digestible stories. He leads with dates, decisions, platforms, prices, and viewing or playing order. He also helps manage IGN’s homepage and contributes news, reviews, previews, features, commerce, and wiki content.
Alejandro Josan
Alejandro Josan specialises in turning complex, high‑information subjects into concise, usable narratives with facts first and minimal opinion. He writes guides, lists, and features for GameTyrant, focusing on step‑by‑step instructions, completion times, and whether in‑game systems are worth a player’s time. His work on titles like Rhapsody in Scarlet, Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea, and High on Life 2 explains progression, mechanics, systems, and different completion paths with clear numeric framing. He also breaks down layered systems in games such as Palworld and Infinite Craft into short, direct explanations. Outside GameTyrant, he has an extended track record on live‑service games, especially Destiny 2, covering tier lists, seasonal content, weapon “god rolls,” patch changes, and build optimisation. At Suggest, he is a resident crime expert reporting on breaking crime news and rare medical cases with clear timelines and careful use of official information.
Alex Van Aken
Alex Van Aken is a multimedia video game journalist who specializes in long-form documentaries, developer profiles, and weekly conversation-driven coverage of major releases and industry trends. He is senior video editor at Game Informer, where he leads the video team, travels for cover stories and studio visits, and hosts The Game Informer Show podcast. His reporting centers on cover story features and developer-focused coverage that highlight how games are designed and produced, often anchored to tentpole titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and World of Warcraft. Van Aken also writes previews, impressions, and reviews across action-adventure franchises, live-service expansions, and racing games. He builds independent game documentaries, appears on major industry platforms, and cites consulting experience on notable series, grounding his work in visual and audio storytelling and direct access to creators.
Alexander Lee
Alexander Lee covers how games, platforms and creators intersect with business. He leads news coverage at GamesBeat across gaming, entertainment, technology, the creator economy and the future of media. His core beat is platform strategy, live services and new game models, with close attention to Roblox, creator tools, monetization, communication features, safety and emerging technology. He also covers esports, content creators, regulation, accessibility and how design choices affect players and developers. Before GamesBeat, he covered gaming, esports and creators through advertising and marketing. His reporting connects product changes and policy decisions to their effects on companies, creators and audiences. He reports from industry events, uses participant voices to show business impact and analyzes longer-term strategy. He also hosts and joins podcast conversations with industry leaders.