Big-name US journos form new site

After a spate of resignations across some of America’s biggest games websites, the former managing editor of Joystiq Justin McElroy has finally revealed the new venture that has lured them away.

The new site will be the first games portal for Vox Media. It currently runs two websites – tech news site The Verge and sports portal SB Nation.

Joining McElroy on the new venture are a host of big names from the games journalism community.

Following the announcement of his departure yesterday, Kotaku’s former editor-in-chief Brian Crecente has been confirmed. Alongside him will be former Joystiq editor-in-chief Chris Grant, former editor-in-chief of The Escapist Russ Pitts and former MTV Multiplayer editor-in-chief Russ Frushtick.

Also on board are Justin McElroy’s younger brother Griffin McElroy, former Joystiq writer Arthur Giles and Chris Plante.

I, and a big team of talented folks, are going to be building the best video game site ever,” McElroy wrote on his blog.

We’re doing it with an astonishing level of support, an unprecedented set of tools (many of which we’re still making up!) and an absolutely unparalleled team of talent that, for my money at least, hasn’t been approached since 1UP in its heyday.

Building off the amazing tech already in place at The Verge, we’re going to be making a site that’s as fun to play with as it is to read. And once your eye jellies have absorbed every word, you’ll be able to chat about games with a community you’ll really want to interact with.

We’re building a new video game site, one that I believe is in a position to become one of the giants. I’ve always wanted to be in on the ground floor of something like this, and I hope you have too.”