Print Video Game Magazines are Attempting a Comeback, Starting with CONTINUE

Jackson Ryan and Mark Serrels, two experienced journalists who’ve spent years learning about the game industry, have launched CONTINUE, a new print magazine that focuses on long-form articles. The two have watched Australian games media dwindle in recent years, as sites have closed, teams have scattered, and there is little place for serious writing. Desperate to stop the tide, they decided to attempt something tactile, something readers could hold in their hands.

CONTINUE begins as a print-first endeavor, with the first issue available in August 2026. It will be packed with in-depth features, cutting reviews, and articles that delve deeply into how games are shaping our culture. Expect explorations of games such as The Sims 2, hard-nosed looks at the challenging economics confronting game makers, and impassioned examinations of the wars raging between game designers and the media. Just to keep things interesting, there is also an exclusive glimpse of an unknown game within.

The majority of the content is being created by Australian talent. Alanah Pearce, Ruby Innes, Ally McLean, James O’Connor, Jini Maxwell, Ben Armstrong, Dan Golding, and Dan Van Boom will all contribute to the mix. To top it all off, the magazine is praising local studios such as Studio Folly, Ghoulish, Fuzzy Ghost, Powerhoof, and Paperbark, as well as paying homage to Australian gaming heritage with a mention of old-school gaming site SEGA World in Sydney.

The art in the magazine is also noteworthy; reinvented imagery from Australian developers are interspersed throughout, giving the whole thing a truly distinct style that pays homage to the creative side of gaming. To get things started, the pair turned to Kickstarter. The initial funding goal sat somewhere between AU$18,000 and AU$25,000, enough to cover premium printing, payments to writers and artists, shipping, and platform fees. Backers didn’t need much convincing. The campaign hit its target within hours and had surged past AU$44,000 by the following day. Stretch goals started falling along the way, unlocking a special edition cover at the AU$30,000 mark and laying the groundwork for a dedicated website, with serious thoughts toward future issues if the support keeps coming.

Ryan and Serrels describe the project as defiant, which is understandable given the games industry’s recent layoffs, studio closures, and diminishing coverage. In Australia, some of the knocks were extremely heavy, with cherished sites vanishing or turning to fast, lazy content, but they’re refusing to accept that as the end of the road.