2025 has been a tough year for freelance writers, at least in the video game news/features space. Yes, it’s a very niche subsector, but views have gone down across the board (thanks to Google) and many layoffs have occurred within certain corporations I will not bring up in this post.

In addition to these layoffs, we’ve also been pelted by the constant threat of AI. Scrolling through LinkedIn, users seem to be posting more about this plague on the content creation and writing industries rather than actual jobs. It’s simply depressing.

I’ve felt so down that I’ve rarely posted over the past few months, occasionally helping The Outerhaven with some coverage of ARC Raiders, an overhyped game with bland maps and annoying enemies to deal with (and I’m not even talking about other players).

Additionally, I’ve started getting into video game PR, assisting Frowns Marketing with their messaging on two indie titles. It’s been great so far, and I’ve sent my first two press releases under the company.

I’m usually positive about this wonderful industry and I’m thankful to have covered it for so long (around 10 years or so with five of that going almost full-time). I’ve interviewed my favourite composer Yoko Shimomura, reviewed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt before its launch, and talked to awesome developers like Eevi Korhonen, the narrative designer of Returnal.

However, I needed a break and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things.

I’m going to start a new publication called DownUpJourney. It will be focused on narratives within video games, RPGs, and communities surrounding the interactive adventures we love. I also want to avoid SEO slop and want to work on what you really want to read.

I’m currently unemployed and need some help, so if you want to assist, you can donate here for the time being. To be fully transparent, the logo is AI-based (due to a lack of funds), but I hope to hire a proper artist soon to replace it.

It’s still in the early stages, but I am planning to release an online magazine that may turn into a physical product if it’s successful. I would love to hire some freelance writers to help them out too and get some awesome articles for you.

It feels like I’ve been kicked and punched in the metaphorical face, but I’m still here and wanting to create a new journey for myself. Expect a few Kingdom Hearts articles from me as well as you may expect from my past work! My interview podcast Let’s Speak Geek will be returning too (if I can log back into the account). If not, I’ll be making a new podcast with a similar approach.