I sense a genuine shared optimism within the Eurogamer crew: that what we create here—whether it’s the articles we write or the videos we make—matters to the people who take the time to read and watch. We’re not asking for a massive reaction every time. Sometimes, it’s enough to earn a chuckle from a delightfully daft strapline, or to earn admiration with a truly sharp one (have we ever managed one of those?). Whatever our goal—informing you, entertaining you, or telling a story—I believe I speak for all of us when I say we deeply hope it leaves a mark that lasts. Your excited responses to the “memories of Eurogamer” feature confirm that it does, and I can’t properly explain how much it means to see that happen. Thank you.
I’ve spent today going through more than 300 replies, and honestly, it’s been uplifting—just like it has across this Eurogamer 25 week. It’s hugely encouraging to see how much Eurogamer is valued by you, and how many of you have stuck with us through all the changes: new staff, different console eras, and a continually shifting online world. Remember OnLive? Some of you do. Hitting 25 years is no small milestone, and your comments show just how much has changed over that time. You’ve also shared helpful ideas about what you want from the site and what really lands with you, so once again, thank you.
I especially love reading when people say they discovered games through Eurogamer that they hadn’t heard of before—and then went on to enjoy them. It’s a joy to see appreciation for the straightforwardness of our reviews—the sometimes blunt honesty—and for the detailed stories we publish. We put the work in, and it’s rewarding to find that it occasionally strikes a chord. I also enjoy seeing the lighter side of Eurogamer catching on, from the puns and the ongoing Oranges bit, to Martin’s well-known live reporting. If I had to pick one standout memory tied to laughter, it would be Ellie Gibson. Ellie joined me on the editors’ podcast I recorded for EG25 this week, which was a wonderful reminder of just how strong her comedic instincts are.
Many people brought up Tom Bramwell’s spirited editorials, and how much they admired Christian Donlan’s excellent writing. Others repeatedly mentioned the entertaining Let’s Plays from Johnny and Aoife, and a number of you also pointed to the long-ago arrival of Digital Foundry on the site. There’s real fondness for the early podcast led by EGX legend Tom Champion, along with the many EGX gatherings he—along with David, Matt, and Rachel—helped to run. Quite a few of you remember Keza’s original Demon’s Souls review—I do too. I still recall how excited Keza was about a game most people hadn’t encountered yet, and it’s clear she has superb taste. A few of you even remembered the time I totally messed up by saying Camaros would be in Battlefield 3. Still, as many of you noted, there’s simply too much to cover. The names I’ve listed are only a slice of the people you’ve mentioned, and many others have played key roles in shaping Eurogamer into what it is today.
A lot of you thanked us for the sense of community shown in the weekly What We’ve Been Playing series, and for how an otherwise ordinary article seemed to grow beyond expectations. And no—this isn’t on us! You made it happen with your energetic formatting and the constant encouragement you share. We’re just there to keep things moving along. Or maybe we nudge it—there’s a wink to Stephen’s Sausage Roll and the meme-style back-and-forth we’ve had with you, leading up to a special seasonal review of the game. And it’s true: you do help create a welcoming place. Together, you’re every bit part of Eurogamer as we are, and we never lose sight of that—even if we do occasionally pause a forum.
A couple of specific comments really stayed with me. Joseph Cardle talked about being sent out of their school library for laughing too loudly at the Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon review—exactly the sort of reaction Ellie Gibson clearly hoped for when she wrote it. And I couldn’t help but smile when RandolphScott recalled a harsh review of a game they helped make—not out of irritation, but because a particular part they created ended up being praised. Silver linings, and all that. It’s always satisfying to see the wider industry paying attention.
It was also great to hear that Mr. Bison’s daughter carries the name Zelda as a middle name, partly because they won tickets to a Zelda symphony performance via Eurogamer—an easy reminder that even seemingly minor moments can have unexpected effects. In a similar spirit, it was heartwarming to learn that McMurphy found Eurogamer while dealing with a bad bout of Swine Flu. “Now, I’m not claiming you saved my life,” they wrote, “that was the antibiotics, but I learned everything about modern gaming through EG and its community. After fifteen years, I’m still relishing the puns, the comments, and the suggestions.”
Hughroberts’ full, meandering story is definitely worth sharing. It began with an Xbox 360 design event in London, and they travelled from Liverpool to get there after reading an article on Eurogamer that very same day. Once they arrived, they got to see prototypes and enjoy complimentary canapés—only to discover they hadn’t quite planned the trip properly and ended up somewhat stuck. Even so, it all turned out okay. That said, the bit about being questioned by police for trying to get into Buckingham Palace is a pretty dramatic way to end the tale!
By the way, we’ve randomly selected a winner for the Switch OLED—but that feels like just a small footnote compared to what this piece really represents. It brings back everything we’ve experienced across 25 years, and why we keep doing what we do. People move on, the wider situation around us changes, but there’s something particular about being here that deserves to be remembered—something that you — and I’m very happy to say this—do.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for all the memories.