A Note from the Editor: What to Expect From USgamer in 2017

This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.

Welcome to 2017!

USgamer is turning four this year; and as you may have heard, we're undergoing some changes. Jeremy will be formally leaving the site at the end of the month, and there will be some new faces helping out with reviews (by the way, we're hiring!)

It's been interesting to see how the site has changed over the years. When I first came aboard in 2014, we were entirely features focused, which led to some amazing articles but a relatively thin stream of content. Since then, we've worked to strike the right balance between timely updates and thoughtful analysis, which has occasionally been challenging with our small team.

I was proud of a lot of our work last year. I was proud of Mike's ability to keep a cool and thoughtful head in the midst of a very heated debate; I was proud of Jeremy's really thoughtful and in-depth Final Fantasy XV preview coverage, and I was proud of the growth of the RPG podcast. We definitely had some misses (RIP, From Us to You), but I think last year offered a really nice glimpse of what this team is really capable of.

So what can you expect from us in 2017? Well, I have a few thoughts:

• I'd like to continue our commitment to really strong post-launch coverage. More than ever, games are platforms, and that means revisiting them over a long period of time and seeing how they're doing. Frankly, there isn't enough in-depth game analysis in the gaming media today. In that regard, Jeremy Parish has always been one of my favorite writers, and I'm really excited to announce that starting tomorrow he will have a regular column in which he will go in-depth on one game over the course of a month. Hopefully you're as excited to read it as I am!
• I want to continue to help surface really interesting games worthy of your attention. USgamer has always been a friend to the quirky, niche efforts that comprise the soul of our hobby, and that will continue in 2017. This year, Jaz will be launching a regular column dedicated to finding these hidden gems, and that's on top of interviews, features, and whatever else we can offer. Hopefully, you will find something fresh and new to play every time you visit USG.
• The industry is changing faster than ever. Between VR, mid-generation console transitions, and the move to Early Access, it can be hard to keep up with it all. I've done my best to dive deep into these issues, and I want to continue to shed light on how our hobby is changing, and what it means for you as a gamer.
• I consider the critical essay to be an artform. A really great essayist can breathe life into a publication and totally change your perspective on a a work of art. My favorite writers are people like Andy Greenwald: wits who can weave humor and insight together with sharp critiques of their subjects. I want to make USgamer a platform for such writing, as it is sorely lacking in the modern gaming media. Going forward, we'll also be publishing regular op-eds from Mike and Nadia with more of a news focus. Obviously, there's no shortage of opinions in the press, but I think the gaming media can do a better job of writing smart, well-researched op-eds that advocate for gamers, creators, and the medium at large. We'll do our best to lead the way in 2017.



As always, USgamer is a site for gamers by people who love gaming. All of us are hobbyists in one way or another, and we tend to write from a place of passion. Such enthusiasm is infectious, and that's one reason I think that we have the best community of any gaming website around. Ultimately, we just love to talk about games around here, and we would love it if you would continue to join us over the course of the new year.

Thanks as always for reading and supporting USgamer. We look forward to a great 2017.