''Rock Paper Shotgun'' is a British video game journalism website. It was launched in July 2007 to focus on

PC games ''PC Games'' is a monthly-released PC gaming magazine published by the Computec Media GmbH in Germany. History ''PC Games'' was founded in 1992 and included a 3½-in floppy disk, which was changed to a CD-ROM in 1995. By 1999 it became the ...

and was acquired by

Gamer Network Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...

, a network of sites led by ''

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

'', in May 2017.

History

''Rock Paper Shotgun'' was founded by

Kieron Gillen Kieron Michael Gillen (; born 30 September 1975) is a British comic book writer and former video game and music journalist. In comics, Gillen is known for his creator-owned series such as '' Once & Future'' (2019–2022), '' Die'' (2018–202 ...

, Jim Rossignol, Alec Meer and John Walker in August 2007. Gillen announced that he would no longer be involved in posting the day-to-day content of ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' in 2010, focusing more on his work with

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

. Rossignol founded his own game studio, Big Robot, in 2010. Meer and Walker left in 2019. In June 2010, ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' began an advertising partnership with the

Eurogamer Network Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...

. Also in the year, ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' partnered with ''

'' to create Rezzed, a PC and indie games show spun off from the Eurogamer Expo. In May 2017, Gamer Network acquired the site outright. A year later, website has partnered again with EGX to launch a new game jam, designed to showcase and promote a standout indie game developer or team. The Gamer Network was acquired by ReedPOP in 2018, making the site a subsidiary of

RELX Group RELX plc (pronounced "Rel-ex") is a British multinational information and analytics company headquartered in London, England. Its businesses provide scientific, technical and medical information and analytics; legal information and analytics; ...

. In May 2024,

IGN Entertainment ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

acquired the Gamer Network, making ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' a subsidiary of

Ziff Davis Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. Founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology- and health-oriented media websites, online shopping-related servi ...

Controversies and reception

On 5 January 2011, ''

Game Informer ''Game Informer'' (''GI'' is an American monthly Video game journalism, video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and video game console, game consoles. It debuted in August 1991, when the video game reta ...

'' editor-in-chief Andrew Reiner issued legal threats against ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' and its readers for posting exclusive ''Game Informer'' images from the Tomb Raider reboot. ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' later deleted the images the same day. One month later, the game '' Bulletstorm'' came under scrutiny by ''

Fox News The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conservatism in the United States, conservative List of news television channels, news and political commentary Television stati ...

''. These claims were largely ridiculed among gaming websites, including ''Rock Paper Shotgun'', who ran a series of articles discrediting the reports by ''Fox News''. The articles analysed Carole Lieberman's claims and found only one of eight sources she provided had anything to do with the subject at hand. ''Fox News'' acknowledged that they had been contacted by ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' and responded to their claims on 20 February 2011 through another article, stating that the game still remained a threat to children. It won the best Games blog accolade at the 2011 Games Media Awards.

Notes

References

External links

*
Rock Paper Shotgun (Germany)
(archived) {{Video game critics 2007 establishments in the United Kingdom British entertainment websites Internet properties established in 2007 Video game blogs