Brent Koepp
Brent Koepp covers blockbuster and live-service games through fast, player-facing news and explainers, connecting studio decisions, fan reaction, and practical detail for players.
He is a contributing writer for Waypoint, the gaming vertical at VICE, following more than a decade in games journalism focused on Pokémon and major franchises. His earlier career includes leading Pokémon coverage at Dexerto and editing roles at specialist gaming sites such as Siliconera and Screen Rant, alongside freelance work for outlets including Pro Game Guides. Across these roles he has built a beat that blends franchise expertise, SEO-aware newswriting, and clear service pieces that answer what players need to know now.
Halo Layoffs and Xbox Restructuring
Koepp regularly reports on the business and staffing side of major console ecosystems, with a particular focus on Xbox and the Halo franchise. His coverage of Xbox layoffs includes stories on a Halo Studios developer speaking out after cuts and a broader report confirming further layoffs as Microsoft consolidates game studios.
In related pieces he tracks how Halo is reportedly moving under Activision Blizzard in a wider Xbox reorganization, spelling out what that shift means for the future of the series and its remaining development teams. He pairs these restructuring stories with sales and strategy reporting, such as the Call of Duty Black Ops PS5 ports selling around seven million copies despite backlash over the move away from physical discs.
The through-line is a clear, news-focused look at how corporate decisions and workforce changes affect flagship franchises and the players invested in them.
Fortnite Events and Live-Service Updates
A large part of Koepp’s Waypoint output is service journalism for live-service titles, especially Fortnite.
His Fortnitemares 2026 piece lays out the event’s start date, timing, and a detailed list of leaked collaborations, from horror brands like Five Nights at Freddy’s to film crossovers such as Beetlejuice. In his coverage of Fortnite Mastery Monday he breaks down schedules, bonus experience, currency rewards, and specific Admin Panel codes, making the event’s mechanics straightforward for players.
He has also written guides on completing Fortnite Birthday 2026 quests and unlocking cosmetic rewards, including named back blings and pickaxes, presenting objectives and payouts in a concise checklist style. Across these articles he focuses on timelines, reward structures, and patch changes so players can quickly understand how to engage with each update and what they stand to gain.
Remakes, Ports, and Leaked Campaigns
Koepp’s beat includes extensive coverage of remakes, ports, and high-profile leaks for narrative-driven and action titles. His reporting on Silent Hill Townfall details how the entire campaign leaked online just days before launch, laying out story length, gameplay structure, and multiple endings exposed by the leak. For Control Resonant he has both a review describing it as a mind-bending action experience and a separate explainer on release dates and early access timings across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
He follows Final Fantasy 7 Revelation closely, with one article interviewing the director about Zack’s emotional role in a key scene and another breaking down PS5 Pro performance modes, resolutions, and frame-rate targets.
His Zelda Ocarina of Time remake coverage looks at changes to Navi’s English voice and how the Japanese version may retain the original actor, highlighting regional differences that matter to longtime fans. He also tracks legacy content moving to new platforms, such as two SNES JRPGs coming to PC and modern consoles in 2027 and new Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire footage fueling speculation about potential Nintendo Switch 2 ports.
The emphasis in these pieces is on telling players exactly what is changing - voices, visuals, performance, platforms - and what leaked or newly announced information reveals about the future of beloved series.
Pokémon and Card Game Communities
Pokémon remains a core thread in Koepp’s work, anchored in his long-standing specialization on the series. Beyond platform and remake coverage, he tracks new footage and rumor cycles around mainline Pokémon titles and potential re-releases, explaining how specific clips and leaks feed community expectations about upcoming hardware and ports.
His background at outlets that centered on Pokémon, YouTube, and Twitch coverage gives him a deep familiarity with creator ecosystems and fan culture around the franchise. In parallel, he covers collectible and card games such as Magic: The Gathering, publishing full Commander decklists for products like Keen Engineering and Wretched Ranks and highlighting themes, color identity, and notable inclusions. These articles serve players who want to see a complete, usable list in one place and understand how new decks fit into existing strategies or archetypes.
Across Pokémon and card game coverage, he writes for engaged communities that care about every detail, and he treats decklists, leaks, and updates as concrete tools for how they play.
Developer Responses and Fan Backlash
Koepp frequently positions developers’ voices alongside fan sentiment, using interviews and statements to clarify contentious changes. The Fable difficulty backlash piece exemplifies this, centering on how the developer responds to criticism that the game is too easy and explaining the philosophy behind its tuning choices. His Marvel’s Wolverine coverage similarly focuses on a director defending Logan and Sabretooth’s “emotional” relationship, unpacking why the rivalry needed more depth and what was meant by “yearning.” In Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, he draws out the director’s comments on character roles and emotional beats to show how creative decisions are justified internally. This approach runs through his industry and franchise reporting: he presents community reactions, then gives equal weight to official responses, allowing readers to see where developers are holding the line and where they are willing to adapt.
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Alejandro Josan
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Alex Van Aken
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Alexander Lee
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