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Top Gaming Journalists in USA (2025)

Gaming Journalists - USAGaming Journalists - USAGaming Journalists - USAGaming Journalists - USA

Discover and contact the top Gaming journalists in USA, updated for 2025. If you're interested in contacting Gaming journalists, you can sign up below and download the Gaming journalists contact list!

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Brad Shoemaker

Gaming journalist at The Nextlander Podcast, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

Brad Shoemaker is a leading gaming journalist currently analyzing industry trends through The Nextlander Podcast. With roots at GameSpot and Giant Bomb, his work combines technical hardware analysis with cultural commentary on gaming's evolution.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Retro Gaming Renaissance: Tracks modern implementations of classic gameplay mechanics
  • Open-Source Gaming: Chronicles Linux compatibility solutions and community-driven projects
  • Input Innovation: Examines controller/interface developments across PC and console platforms

Achievements

  • 2017 Games Journalism Award for Technical Analysis
  • Moderated record-breaking PAX Prime 2019 panel on input latency
  • Pioneered the Quick Look format generating 850M+ lifetime views

When pitching Shoemaker, emphasize cross-industry applications of gaming tech or novel implementations of retro concepts. Avoid mobile gaming trends or celebrity-focused content. His work consistently bridges the gap between hardcore technical analysis and mainstream gaming culture.

Brian Mazique

Gaming journalist at Forbes, USA
USA
Gaming
Sports
Tech

Brian Mazique (Forbes, Heavy Sports) specializes in dissecting the intersection of technology and physical/digital sports. His work demystifies gaming engines’ impact on sports simulations while providing blow-by-blow analyses of WWE’s most contentious moments.

Pitching Priorities

  • Tech-Driven Sports Innovations: Pitch stories about VR training tools or motion-capture advancements, as seen in his Unreal Engine 5 coverage .
  • WWE’s Regional Audience Strategies: Propose features on how wrestlers adapt promos for specific cities, mirroring his Chicago Smackdown analysis .

Achievements

  • 2023 Esports Insider Award winner for bridging gaming and motorsports journalism.
  • Cited by ESPN’s Outside the Lines for combat sports revenue analyses.

Brittany Vincent

Gaming journalist at Popular Science, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

This 15-year veteran translates cutting-edge tech into actionable consumer insights for Popular Science, Tom's Guide, and TechRadar. Her work sits at the intersection of:

  • Playable Innovation: Reviews next-gen hardware with emphasis on real-world usability
  • Streaming Anthropology: Analyzes viewing patterns as cultural artifacts
  • Game Design Philosophy: Explains complex mechanics through accessibility lenses

Pitching Priorities

  • Quantified Performance: Demo units must show measurable improvements over previous generations
  • Cross-Demographic Appeal: Stories should bridge hardcore enthusiasts and casual users
  • Historical Context: New products framed through tech evolution timelines

Career Highlights

  • Authored Wiley's first gaming-focused "For Dummies" title
  • Regular NPR commentator on gaming's societal impact
  • 2021 Online Journalism Award for pandemic-era tech reporting

Cameron Koch

Gaming journalist at GameSpot, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

Cameron Koch bridges gaming culture and mainstream entertainment through GameSpot features and cross-publication collaborations. His 15-year career began analyzing modding communities before evolving into authoritative franchise retrospectives and industry trend analysis.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Cultural Legacy Analysis: Examines how game design choices influence broader entertainment trends
  • Developer Workflow Innovations: Highlights technical solutions to creative challenges
  • Cross-Media Adaptations: Tracks game-to-film/TV translations and their impact on both mediums

Pitching Preferences

  • Seek: Historical context angles, academic research tie-ins, behind-the-scenes design philosophy
  • Avoid

"The best pitches help me answer one question: Why does this matter beyond the next release cycle?" - Koch in 2024 GDC panel

Chris Charla

Gaming journalist at Xbox Wire, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Media

Chris Charla stands at the intersection of games journalism and platform innovation, having shaped both media coverage and development ecosystems over his 25-year career. As ID@Xbox Director, he architects Microsoft's indie support programs while maintaining deep roots in games criticism through advisory roles at GDC and industry publications.

Key Focus Areas

  • Platform Accessibility: Champions technical frameworks reducing barriers to Xbox publishing
  • Developer Sustainability: Advocates for funding models ensuring studio longevity
  • Content Discovery: Engineers algorithmic solutions improving player engagement

Pitching Considerations

"The best pitches demonstrate understanding of systemic challenges rather than individual success stories."
  • Do: Highlight innovations in cross-platform tools or discovery algorithms
  • Avoid: Generic indie success narratives without ecosystem analysis

Christopher Livingston

Gaming journalist at PC Gamer, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

As PC Gamer's Senior Editor since 2014, Christopher Livingston has established himself as essential reading for understanding PC gaming's technical and cultural evolution. His 1,200+ published works blend:

  • Technical Analysis: Breakdowns of game engines and AI systems
  • Developer Profiles: Deep dives into studio decision-making
  • Genre Studies: Authoritative takes on survival/simulation trends

Pitching Priorities

  • Seek: Pre-release developer access, modding community innovations, educational gaming applications
  • Avoid: Mobile-first concepts, esports coverage, hardware benchmarking

Career Highlights

"My job is to help players understand why games work, not just that they work." - Livingston, 2023 GDC Interview
  • 14 years specializing in PC gaming journalism
  • 650+ PC Gamer features since 2014
  • 2024 Games Media Award finalist

David Cook

Gaming journalist at NEXT.io, USA
USA
Gaming
Business
Fintech

David Cook (NEXT.io, USA) specializes in mergers, regulatory shifts, and leadership strategies within global iGaming markets. With a Pulitzer-winning foundation in investigative journalism, his current work combines financial acuity with operational insights for industry executives.

Pitching Priorities

  • Regulatory Deep Dives: Prefer pitches with jurisdictional licensing data (e.g., “How Sweden’s 18% GGR tax impacts operator margins”)
  • Executive Profiles: Seek CEOs navigating platform migrations or market entries, particularly in Africa/SE Asia

Awards Spotlight

  • 1996 Pulitzer Prize for exposing post-Soviet human rights violations
  • 2023 iGaming Media Award for Best M&A Analysis

Eddie Makuch

Gaming journalist at GameSpot, USA
USA
Gaming
Entertainment
Tech

With over a decade at GameSpot and 34,000+ articles, Eddie Makuch has become the gaming industry’s most prolific news breaker. His coverage focuses on three core areas:

  • AAA Franchise Evolution: Tracking sales milestones and creative directions for series like Resident Evil and Call of Duty
  • Executive Strategy: Securing exclusive interviews with leaders like Xbox’s Phil Spencer
  • Transmedia Adaptation: Reporting on game-to-film/TV projects from announcement through production

Pitching Priorities

  • Lead With Data: Makuch prioritizes verifiable sales figures and player metrics
  • Access Matters: Proposals including C-suite availability receive fastest responses
  • Time Your Pitch: Major franchise anniversaries or adaptation milestones yield best results

Recent career highlights include his 2025 Capcom franchise analysis reaching 1.2M social shares and his Phil Spencer interview being cited in three industry earnings calls.

Evan Lahti

Gaming journalist at PC Gamer, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Media

Evan Lahti shapes global PC gaming discourse as Global Editor-in-Chief of PC Gamer, where he's championed technical analysis and cultural criticism since 2008. His work sits at the intersection of:

  • Hardware-Software Synergy: Explaining how GPU architectures influence game design decisions
  • Competitive Ecosystem Building: Documenting esports' grassroots communities
  • Development Process Transparency: Investigating studio workflows and labor practices

Pitching Priorities

  • Technical Deep Dives: Stories bridging component-level specs with player experiences
  • Regional Market Analysis: Emerging gaming hubs' hardware/gameplay trends
  • Historical Preservation: Legacy title impact on modern design conventions

Avoid mobile gaming ports or console comparison pieces. Lahti's 2024 Marvel Rivals investigation exemplifies his approach: rigorous yet accessible analysis that informs developers and players alike.

Gieson Cacho

Gaming journalist at The Mercury News/East Bay Times, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

Gieson Cacho is a senior technology and culture reporter at The Mercury News/East Bay Times, where he analyzes the societal impacts of gaming and entertainment systems. His work bridges technical specifications with human experience, particularly in:

  • Platform Evolution: How hardware limitations shape creative decisions
  • Regional Tech Ecosystems: Northern California's role in global media trends
  • Preservation Studies: Archival challenges in digital entertainment

Pitching Priorities

  • Technical Anthropology: Stories examining how users adapt to interface constraints
  • Infrastructure Narratives: Hidden systems enabling digital experiences
  • Cross-Generational Analysis: Direct comparisons between tech eras

Recent recognitions include the 2024 NorCal Media Award for exposing data center environmental impacts. Avoid pitching consumer-facing product updates without historical context or community impact angles.

celebrity gaming endorsements, mobile app reviews

J. Phillip Vogel

Gaming journalist at Casino Player Magazine, USA
USA
Gaming
Business
Entertainment

As Managing Editor of Casino Player Magazine, J. Phillip Vogel shapes coverage of North America’s gaming industry through three lenses:

  • Regulatory Mechanics: Track record analyzing tribal gaming compacts and interstate poker agreements
  • Player Experience Design: 19 articles since 2020 on casino layout psychology
  • Payment System Innovations: Early adopter reporting on cryptocurrency integration challenges

Pitching Priorities

  • Submit technical white papers 6-8 weeks before major gaming conventions
  • Highlight cross-jurisdictional data comparisons
  • Avoid celebrity-focused angles unless tied to licensing deals

Vogel’s work continues to influence both industry practices and regulatory frameworks, particularly in markets transitioning from land-based to hybrid gaming models.

James Davenport

Gaming journalist at PC Gamer, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Science

As PC Gamer’s specialist in hardware and narrative design, Davenport merges technical analysis with speculative fiction. His 8-year tenure has produced definitive guides on:

  • GPU Architecture: Benchmarking frameworks that correlate frame pacing with player immersion
  • Indie Horror: Psychoacoustic analyses of dread-inducing sound design
  • Astro-Gaming: Articles linking space sim mechanics to real astrophysics datasets

Pitching Insights

  • Lead with Data Visualization: His UW News piece included custom Python-generated light curves—pitches with interactive demos or Blender-rendered asset breakdowns cut through.
  • Avoid Celebrity-Driven Stories: While he interviewed CD Projekt Red’s quest designers, his focus remains on systemic analysis over personality profiles.

Davenport’s work sits at the rare intersection where Radeon ray tracing benchmarks might cite papers on quasar luminosity. Pitchers must bridge technical specificity with narrative wonder—the same alchemy that makes a perfectly optimized shader or a neutron star collision compelling.

Jason Schreier

Gaming journalist at Bloomberg News, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Business

Jason Schreier (Bloomberg News) is a leading voice in gaming and tech journalism, specializing in labor practices and business strategy. His work combines investigative rigor with accessible analysis of complex industry trends.

Coverage Focus

  • Development Culture: Chronicling studios’ efforts to improve working conditions through unionization and policy reforms
  • Market Shifts: Analyzing platform exclusivity erosion and the rise of multi-platform distribution
  • Tech Implementation: Examining ethical AI use in asset creation and testing automation

Achievements

  • Authored 3 NYT bestselling books documenting gaming industry evolution
  • 2023 Gerald Loeb Award winner for Tencent market dominance analysis
  • Regular contributor to NPR’s All Things Considered gaming segments

Pitching Guidance

  • Do: Provide anonymized developer testimonials with verifiable supporting documents
  • Don’t: Pitch product announcements or DLC release schedules

Jessica Conditt

Gaming journalist at Engadget, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

As a Senior Editor at Engadget since 2015, Jessica Conditt has carved a niche at the intersection of gaming culture and technological advancement. Her work emphasizes:

  • Indie Developer Advocacy: Regular features on small studios leveraging tools like AI-assisted animation.
  • Hardware-as-Storytelling: Analyses of how console designs reflect cultural moments, from Nintendo’s loyalty programs to Sony’s accessibility controllers.
  • Sci-Fi’s Tech Parallels: Explorations of how games like Cyberpunk 2077 predict real-world UI trends.

Pitching Priorities

  • Do: Lead with unique origin stories about tool development or team dynamics.
  • Don’t: Pitch mobile-first games or VR hardware without novel interaction models.

Recent recognition includes a 2023 Game Developers Choice Award nomination for her series on women in game design. With over 15 years in tech journalism, Conditt remains a bridge between engineering labs and living room couches.

Jordan Devore

Gaming journalist at Destructoid, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

With 19 years at Destructoid, Jordan Devore has become synonymous with thoughtful analysis of indie innovations and major studio releases. His work bridges enthusiast passion with academic rigor, particularly in:

  • Mechanics-Driven Storytelling: Examining how gameplay systems convey narrative
  • Accessibility Advocacy: Highlighting design choices that welcome disabled players
  • Live-Service Economics: Tracking the sustainability of ongoing game models

Pitching Priorities

  • Deep Developer Access: Prefer pitches including designer interviews or build access
  • Niche Genre Insights: Especially cooking sims, farming RPGs, and physics-based combat
  • Post-Launch Support: Stories about games evolving through updates

Recent Career Highlights:

  • Co-Editor-in-Chief at Destructoid (2015-2022)
  • 2023 Shortlist – Games Media Awards (Best Guide)
  • Mentored 14 junior writers now at IGN, Polygon, and Kotaku

Kimberley Wallace

Gaming journalist at Game Informer, USA
USA
Gaming
Entertainment
Tech

As Features Editor at Game Informer, Wallace has redefined how critics approach storytelling in interactive media. Her work bridges academic analysis and accessible critique, particularly focused on:

  • Character-Driven Design: How gameplay systems express personality and relationships
  • Cultural Revival: Modern relevance of retro narrative styles
  • Empathy Mechanics: Emotional intelligence as gameplay innovation

Pitching Priorities

  • Do Highlight:
    • Narrative risks in AA/indie development
    • Historical research informing game worlds
    • Accessibility features enhancing story immersion
  • Avoid:
    • Pure technical spec discussions
    • Multiplayer-focused design
    • Licensed IP without innovative storytelling

Recent recognition includes featuring in the Pell Center's Arts & Policy series and shaping Game Informer's acclaimed 2024 "Future of Storytelling" issue.

Lucas Sullivan

Gaming journalist at PC Gamer, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

This seven-time Games Media Award nominee specializes in mechanical deep dives across fighting games, action RPGs, and digital card battlers. His current freelance work for PC Gamer focuses on:

  • Legacy System Preservation: Technical analyses of backward compatibility solutions
  • Emergent Gameplay: Documenting player-discovered combat techniques

Top 3 Pitch Considerations

  1. Lead with verifiable data on player behavior metrics
  2. Include developer quotes on intentional vs emergent mechanics
  3. Compare systems across multiple franchise entries

"The best pitches help me connect design decisions to player experiences." - Sullivan, 2024 GDC Roundtable

Miranda Sanchez

Gaming journalist at IGN, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

Miranda Sanchez anchors IGN’s guides division as Executive Editor, specializing in open-world RPGs, narrative-driven adventures, and gaming culture crossovers. With over a decade of experience, she’s transformed game guides into critical analysis tools used by 12 million monthly readers.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Game Design Architecture: Breakdowns of choice systems and progression mechanics
  • Cultural Impact: Analysis of anime adaptations and transmedia storytelling
  • Player Experience: Guides optimized for accessibility and varied skill levels

Pitching Preferences

  • Do Pitch: Behind-the-scenes developer workflows, experimental game mechanics, accessibility innovations
  • Avoid: Esports roster changes, mobile game updates, hardware spec comparisons
“The best pitches help us anticipate what players will need before they know they need it.”

Recent recognitions include a 2023 Games Media Awards nomination for her Cyberpunk 2077 guide’s impact on playtesting methodologies. Connect via her IGN profile for story collaborations rooted in gameplay depth rather than industry gossip.

Patrick Klepek

Gaming journalist at Remap Radio, USA
USA
Gaming
Lifestyle
Media

As lead editor at Remap Radio and creator of the Crossplay newsletter, Klepek has redefined how parenting perspectives inform games criticism. His work occupies the intersection of:

  • Narrative Analysis: Examining how player agency shapes storytelling
  • Family Gaming: Evaluating hardware/software through co-play dynamics
  • Industry Trends: Tracking labor practices and creative innovations

Pitching Priorities

  • Seek: Case studies of intergenerational playtesting, narrative design patents, accessibility-focused studio initiatives
  • Avoid: Specs-focused hardware leaks, mobile gaming monetization, esports celebrity profiles
“Good information about video games for parents is hard to come by. Crossplay is the best Substack in the market for it” - George E. Osborn

Rachel Weber

Gaming journalist at IGN, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

As IGN's lead game analyst since 2025, Rachel Weber specializes in AAA title deconstruction and genre evolution trends. Her 19-year career spans:

  • Platform Expertise: PlayStation ecosystem (63% of bylines), PC gaming (28%), Xbox (9%)
  • Genre Focus: Soulslike (41 articles), survival (33), action-RPG (27)
  • Unique Angle: Technical analysis of enemy AI patterns

Pitching Priorities

  • Do: Include performance metrics across 3+ hardware configurations
  • Don't: Pitch mobile game ports without cross-save functionality
"The best pitches make me feel like I'm already playing the game - show me the numbers behind the magic."

Rory Hutchings

Gaming journalist at The Escapist, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

Rory Hutchings has established himself as a leading analyst of gaming's cultural and technical evolution through his work at The Escapist and Niche Gamer. Specializing in narrative systems and indie development, his articles frequently influence both industry practices and academic research.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Emergent Game Design: Documents experimental mechanics through case studies of titles like Tunic and Outer Wilds
  • Ethical Monetization: Developed framework for evaluating player-first monetization models adopted by 12 major studios
  • Historical Analysis: Traces design evolution across console generations with emphasis on constraint-driven innovation

Pitching Guidelines

  • Lead With Data Visualization: Successful pitches include heatmaps of player behavior or choice architecture diagrams
  • Connect to Wider Culture: Hutchings prioritizes stories examining gaming's influence on film, literature, and social dynamics
  • Avoid Esports Coverage: Focus remains on single-player experiences and cooperative design over competitive gaming

Rory Young

Gaming journalist at Game Rant, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Entertainment

As Game Rant's senior gaming journalist, Young specializes in:

  • AAA Title Deep Dives: 75% of his work focuses on PlayStation/Xbox exclusives
  • Patch Analysis: Breaks down technical updates into consumer-friendly insights
  • Developer Relations: Maintains contacts at 20+ major studios

Pitching Priorities

  • 🕹️ Unexplored game lore connections
  • 📈 Player impact metrics on design changes
  • 🎮 Emerging console hardware capabilities

Tyler Wilde

Gaming journalist at PC Gamer, USA
USA
Gaming
Tech
Media

As US Editor-in-Chief at PC Gamer, Tyler Wilde has shaped gaming discourse through:

  • Policy Analysis: Exposing political narratives around gaming culture
  • Technical Deep Dives: Explaining platform updates' community impacts
  • Market Trends: Challenging traditional publishing models

Pitching Priorities

Successful pitches combine:

  • Data-driven community impact projections
  • Cross-industry policy implications
  • Technical specifications with player experience analysis
"Games aren't just products - they're the new public squares where social contracts get rewritten daily."

Awards: 2024 Games for Change Finalist, 2023 GDC Press Fellow

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