Julian Benson appointed Editorial Director of Rock Paper Shotgun

Veteran games journalist Julian Benson has been appointed Editorial Director of PC gaming site Rock Paper Shotgun, owned by GamesIndustry.biz parent IGN Entertainment.

A 13-year stalwart of UK games media, Benson previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the TechRadar Gaming brand at Future, following stints in senior roles at GAMINGBible, PCGamesN and Kotaku UK. Most recently he has been working as a freelance writer, editor and game design consultant, appearing regularly in outlets including The Guardian, GQ, Eurogamer and Edge.

Rock Paper Shotgun was the first major editorial website dedicated exclusively to PC gaming, launching in 2007 at a time when no major publisher operated a site focused on the platform. It quickly built a loyal following and remains a key voice in curation and commentary on the PC gaming space. The site became part of IGN Entertainment in 2023.

“It is difficult to express how excited I am to join the team at Rock Paper Shotgun,” said Benson. “It is the publication that has most informed the way I think and write about videogames, and it was one of the first places I was ever published. Its experienced team has a long history of celebrating with its readers the weird and wonderful goings ons in PC gaming, and it is a privilege to play a part in continuing that tradition.”

Benson’s appointment is the latest in a series of changes at IGN Entertainment to enhance its editorial brands and build out their leadership team, following the elevation of Justin Davis to VP Editorial and Commerce, IGN Entertainment, and the appointment of Jon Hicks as Editorial Director of GamesIndustry.biz. Benson, like Hicks, will report to Senior Editorial Director, International, Alex Simmons, who continues to lead and support the former Gamer Network brands within the global IGNE organisation.

“I’m delighted to appoint an editorial leader with Julian’s breadth of experience to lead such a key editorial brand,” said Yael Prough, President, IGN Entertainment. “Rock Paper Shotgun retains a uniquely powerful voice in PC gaming and is rightly cherished by readers and game developers worldwide. Our ongoing investment in premier talent is a core element of our established process of supporting and extending the storied brands in the IGN Entertainment portfolio, leveraging the industry-leading experience and influence of the IGNE team”.

Benson starts in the role immediately.