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— CH. 1 · FOUNDING AND EARLY YEARS —

Gamer Network

~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • Rupert and Nick Loman established Eurogamer Network in 1999. Their flagship website, Eurogamer, opened its doors on the 4th of September 1999. The brothers built a digital hub for video game news from their base in London. Nick Loman departed the business in 2004 to pursue medicine and competitive barbecue cooking. This early period focused solely on establishing a single brand before expanding operations.

  • ReedPop acquired Gamer Network on the 26th of February 2018. Simon Maxwell became managing director while Rupert Loman remained chief executive officer. Loman left the company in February 2020 after ReedPop took full control. Layoffs occurred across many sites in September 2020 under new management. USgamer staff reported that the site would shut down by the end of November 2020. ReedPop sold the editorial brands to IGN Entertainment in May 2024. Immediate layoffs followed at GamesIndustry.biz and Rock Paper Shotgun.

  • Eurogamer launched as the primary outlet alongside the company's founding in 1999. GamesIndustry.biz joined the network in 2002 to cover industry business news. Rock Paper Shotgun partnered with Eurogamer Network in 2010 before acquisition in 2017. VG247 formed in 2008 through a partnership with Patrick Garratt. Outside Xbox launched its YouTube channel in 2012. The network also operates Dicebreaker, which closed without public comment in June 2024 following the sale. Tom Phillips serves as editor-in-chief for the flagship Eurogamer brand today.

  • The company began hosting the video game trade show EGX in 2008. Gamer Events was renamed from Eurogamer Events during the 2013 rebranding. Gamer's Edition project launched merchandise releases in 2013 including special editions for Papers Please. Jelly Deals website highlighted sales for video games starting in 2016. The Tabletop Creators Summit appeared on the Dicebreaker calendar in 2023 at MCM Comic Con. Chase Carter of Rascal News noted that nothing had been published since the May 21 sale of Gamer Network by June 2024.

  • VG247 retracted their preview of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End in October 2015. The publisher contacted the site to reveal they had played Uncharted 2: Among Thieves instead. An apology followed after this error damaged industry credibility. This incident remains a notable example of editorial failure within the network's history. No other specific errors are documented in the source material regarding other brands or dates.

  • Dicebreaker staff reported redundancy in June 2024 following the IGN Entertainment takeover. The site closed without public comment after hosting the Tabletop Awards since 2022. USgamer content migrated to VG247 after its shutdown in 2020. Cosplay Central content now resides with Popverse as of 2020. Mod DB and Indie DB partnered with Gamer Network in 2015 for modification databases. Video Games Chronicle launched in partnership with Gamer Network in 2019 led by Andy Robinson.

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Common questions

When did Rupert and Nick Loman establish Eurogamer Network?

Rupert and Nick Loman established Eurogamer Network in 1999. Their flagship website, Eurogamer, opened its doors on the 4th of September 1999.

Who acquired Gamer Network on the 26th of February 2018?

ReedPop acquired Gamer Network on the 26th of February 2018. Simon Maxwell became managing director while Rupert Loman remained chief executive officer until he left the company in February 2020 after ReedPop took full control.

Which brands joined the network between 1999 and 2017?

Eurogamer launched as the primary outlet alongside the company's founding in 1999. GamesIndustry.biz joined the network in 2002 to cover industry business news and Rock Paper Shotgun partnered with Eurogamer Network in 2010 before acquisition in 2017.

What happened to Dicebreaker following the sale of Gamer Network in May 2024?

Dicebreaker closed without public comment in June 2024 following the sale. Dicebreaker staff reported redundancy in June 2024 following the IGN Entertainment takeover after hosting the Tabletop Awards since 2022.

Why did VG247 retract their preview of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End in October 2015?

VG247 retracted their preview of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End in October 2015 because the publisher contacted the site to reveal they had played Uncharted 2: Among Thieves instead. An apology followed after this error damaged industry credibility.

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All sources

61 references cited across the entry

  1. 1webPAX organizer acquires USgamer, Eurogamer and moreAllegra Frank — 26 February 2018
  2. 2webEuroGamer opens!4 September 1999
  3. 3webHistory – About
  4. 4magazineEurogamer acquires Hammersuit21 February 2011
  5. 5magazineEurogamer Network is no more as it rebrands to Gamer NetworkBen Parfitt
  6. 6magazineSimon Maxwell becomes Gamer Network COO22 October 2013
  7. 7webPAX organiser ReedPop acquires Gamer NetworkChristopher Dring — 26 February 2018
  8. 8webRupert Loman leaves Gamer Network and ReedPop after 20 yearsMatt Martin — 26 February 2020
  9. 9webUSgamer staff laid offBrendan Sinclair — 16 November 2020
  10. 10webReedpop investigating sale of Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun and moreChris Kerr — 27 November 2023
  11. 11webIGN scoops up Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and moreAndrew Webster — 2024-05-21
  12. 12webTabletop Creators Summit London has been cancelled15 May 2024
  13. 13webDicebreaker owner Gamer Network bought by IGN, redundancies begin across group -22 May 2024
  14. 14webTabletop journalism deserves better than this, and so do youChase Carter — 6 June 2024
  15. 15webDicebreaker's future remains unclear as silenced site makes editor-in-chief, senior staff writer redundant after IGN takeoverMike Didymus-True — June 12, 2024
  16. 16webThings Are Not Looking Good For Dicebreaker, One Of The Few Good Board Game WebsitesLuke Plunkett — June 12, 2024
  17. 17webGames media set for more layoffs, as IGN-owned Eurogamer cuts editorial staffAndy Robinson — 2026-02-26
  18. 18webEurogamer in Europe2020-11-12
  19. 19newsHello from Eurogamer's new editor-in-chief2023-04-28
  20. 20webLaunching GamesIndustry.biz: 15 years agoRob Fahey — 9 June 2017
  21. 21webArticles by James Batchelor
  22. 22webEurogamer launches new dedicated Xbox websiteRachel Weber — 15 August 2012
  23. 23webOutside Xbox launches multi-platform channel, expands team19 October 2016
  24. 24webEurogamer strikes Rock, Paper, Shotgun partnershipMatt Martin — 1 June 2010
  25. 25webGamer Network acquires Rock Paper ShotgunDan Pearson — 3 May 2017
  26. 26newsI'm not editor-in-chief of RPS anymore, here's who isGraham Smith — 2 July 2021
  27. 27webIt's our third birthday – welcome to the new VG247Patrick Garratt — 1 February 2011
  28. 28webIntroducing Dicebreaker, a new hub for tabletop gamingJohnny Chiodini — 22 August 2019
  29. 29webDicebreaker Announces Their New Annual "Tabletop Awards"Krasen Gechev — 2022-10-19
  30. 30webWant to turn your video game into a board game? Free industry event Tabletop Creators Summit next weekMatt Jarvis — 2023-05-19
  31. 31webDicebreaker’s owner investigates putting site up for sale alongside video game stablemates -30 November 2023
  32. 32magazineMCV's 30 Under 30 201724 November 2017
  33. 33magazineGamer Network moves into physical games publishing9 March 2015
  34. 34webGamer Network is crowdfunding collector's editions of Hotline Miami and Papers, PleaseMatt Purslow — 9 March 2015
  35. 35webIntroducing a weekly deals roundup from Jelly DealsJamie Wallace — 9 July 2016
  36. 36webWelcome to Metabomb!John Bedford — 17 May 2013
  37. 37webGamer Network websites record 20 million unique visitors in November 2013Dave Owen — 16 December 2013
  38. 38webPress Start to ContinueKat Bailey — 29 December 2022
  39. 39webNew Website Launched Dedicated to Cosplay Invision Game Community2020-04-20
  40. 40webPublishers of Nintendo Life & Push Square19 July 2018
  41. 41webOur Nintendo Life Begins...Anthony Dickens — 7 November 2005
  42. 42webAbout Nintendo Life
  43. 43webEurogamer partners with Nintendo Life in ad dealJohnny Cullen — 9 September 2011
  44. 44webEurogamer partners with Nintendo Life in ad dealDan Pearson — 9 September 2011
  45. 45webSite News: A Better Nintendo LifeAnthony Dickens — 9 September 2011
  46. 46webSite News: Nintendo Life's Alex Olney Revealed As YouTuber Finalist For Games Media Awards 2015Darren Calvert — 18 September 2015
  47. 47webAuthor: Gavin Lane Nintendo Life
  48. 48magazineMod DB and Indie DB join Eurogamer parent Gamer Network21 July 2005
  49. 49webModDB celebrates 10 years of moddingRachel Helps — 30 July 2012
  50. 50webModDB Launches Indie Community Site IndieDBTim — 19 June 2010
  51. 51webPush Square is Open for Business!James Newton — 2 February 2012
  52. 52webAuthor: Sammy Barker Push Square
  53. 53webSite News: Say Hello To Our Resurrected Sister Site, Pure XboxDamien McFerran — 17 March 2020
  54. 54webSite News: Don't Forget to Visit Our Sister Site Pure XboxSammy Barker — 17 March 2020
  55. 55webSite News: Pure Xbox Is Back!13 March 2020
  56. 56webFollowing the Road to Virtual RealityBen Lang — 13 October 2011
  57. 57webRoad to VR Partners with Eurogamer Parent Company Gamer NetworkPaul James — 31 May 2017
  58. 58webSay Hello To Time Extension, The Newest Member Of Our Network2022-07-29
  59. 59webAuthor: Damien McFerran Time Extension
  60. 60magazineCVG veterans form games news website Video Games ChronicleMarie Dealessandri — 5 April 2019
  61. 61webOutside Xbox reaches over 1 million subscribersSherif Saed — 9 July 2015