Working with game editorial has always been difficult and laborious. And that has never changed since I entered this world in 2004, writing for the extinct banana games. At that time there were less than 10 consolidated game sites in Brazil. How many today, including influencers, youtubers and streamers? About 200 for more? Competition has increased, but there is always room for everyone. But at the top there are only a few names, each with its proper merit and expressive numbers. The others survive as they can or give up.
A site is supported by Adsense and sponsored posts, basically. This while doing a good, updating the site frequently and especially writing well. Playing is easy, but expressing the experience in the form of analysis is almost never simple. There is a game that we take off and others that end our energy, taking the pleasure of playing. And this happens a lot when it involves embargo: early access to play and write before release, publishing at a specific date and time with the rest of the world. An advantage that helps, but is not always favorable. And there is always a psychological pressure on this race against time.
Having a game site is a job like any other: it requires time, willpower, sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it is not. If you are young and have free time, go with everything! At the very least you will learn a lot in the process and you can get your first games with advisory, which helps save a black note. It is an initial bargaining chip, an incentive. But know that living on it is very difficult. Even more so if you follow only in traditional text format, without having the support of networks like YouTube, Tiktok and Instagram. And there is nothing humiliating to ask your community for help, whether with crowdfunding, members on Youtube, Twitch donations. What matters is trying to get somewhere.
Behavior change
I don’t want to generalize, but Gamerview numbers – and other partner sites – don’t lie: the public reads less and less. In reviews, the most common behavior is for the visitor to check the grade and read only the pros and cons. In an increasingly anxious and stuck society on the mobile phone, normal became a lot of short information, especially in video. Gain more attention to those who address the controversy of the moment, who makes the best react, who viralizes. The world has become this, like it or not. For the websites, not just games, has become a problem. And look that many have adapted to the shortened content of the daily, chewed news, with click Bait titles to try to retain the attention of visitors.
Speaking of daily news, here is the fate of those who have a game site: either you kill yourself to cover the main news every day or you lose relevance to Google before the competition. Gamerview was hostage to this until 2024, when we ended the hard news to focus on the author. We knew the danger of this decision and, as a result, we lost more than 80% of the public and the support of some advisory, no longer receiving games. At the same time it was terrible for us, it was liberating. We could finally focus our efforts on the author, what we really like to do. But who reads? According to Analytics (March/2025), Gamerview receives 44.7% direct access, which may be our faithful audience visiting the site frequently. Or just an illusion.
Who is Gamerview in the bread line?
Although not popular, Gamerview has plenty of history. It started 16 years ago in April 2009. We were five excited and dedicated members. We had some free time and did a little of everything: news, reviews, previews, podcasts, event coverage, etc. We had ups and downs, dozens of employees passed through the site and, at the height, had more than 550,000 visits per month. We did even part of the time. It did not become a business, a company with people employed, but there were several investments to try to make this dream viable.
Being in this market for so long, and also thanks to Gamerview, I have won several works as a cameraman and freelance video editor, including coverage of Blizzcon and the extinct E3. The contacts I made guaranteed me work for Blizzard, Microsoft (Xbox), Bandai Namco and Ubisoft, among many others. On the side of the team, several editors have gained a lot of experience and gained jobs on large entertainment sites, such as Adrenaline and Canaltech. One way or another, everyone took advantage of their time with Gamerview. And I’m happy to have contributed in some way.
We also won our space in various trailers and marketing materials of the games we cover, with mention and/or note: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Starfield, Diablo IV, Metroid Prime Remastered, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splintered Fate, Death Stranding, return, among many other examples in which we stare our presence.
We are quite respected by the advisors of the world, something we have achieved with time and dedication. An achievement that was only possible with the team of employees. But in the current scenario, does this have any value? Does anyone really care? How long will we be relevant with a traditional editorial site? With the accesses falling month by month, what will be left of us?
In the past, I tried to get on Youtube with copyright videos. I did, that then changed pro (only phrase, without appearing). Some of them were successful, but the work involved was insane. Then came the algorithm in its early stages, unfair to damn, and disturbed everything. We tried in a team to return this format of phrase, but with so much game content on Youtube it was difficult to have relevance. What worked on the channel was the compiled history, without gameplay, which we called the “movie” to make it easier. The video is the most seen to date, with 2.8 million views (so far). Is there something authorial in that? By no means can anyone do, despite the editing work. It’s sad, but that’s how things work on Youtube. But we didn’t give up… yet.
Your opinion matters
If you read here, thank you very much! You are the exception, the point outside the curve, someone who really gives value to what we do. And I apologize for the outburst, for brutal sincerity. A lot of people romanticize the game sites thinking it’s just joy, when reality is different. We fear hiatus for the third time and maybe never come back. To continue active, we need to understand what our audience wants to consume to adapt. Give your opinion on the form below, it’s a fast game. And thanks for care about us. 😉
