Rise of Independent Media: Direct Audience Engagement Opportunities
Digital Foundry's move to full independence signifies a growing trend where specialized content creators and media outlets prioritize direct audience relationships over corporate ownership. This creates opportunities for platforms facilitating creator independence (e.g., Patreon-like services with advanced features, decentralized content distribution), business models supporting audience-funded journalism/media, and consulting services for creators looking to 'go independent' while maintaining revenue streams and audience reach. Marketing can emphasize authenticity, trust, and community.
Origin Reddit Post
r/technology
"We Answer To Nobody But You, The Audience" - Digital Foundry Is Now Fully Independent | Richard Leadbetter's tech channel has separated from IGN owner Ziff Davis
Posted by u/ControlCAD•08/08/2025
Top Comments
u/xelrach
Half of the ownership of the company changed hands a few times. IGN only has those shares since 2024.
u/TurtlePowerMutant
Is it though?
u/TurtlePowerMutant
Is it though?
u/buttymuncher
The nerdiest bunch of nerds that have ever nerded
u/shumingliu001
Found the review farm bot
u/rocketbunny77
But you*
*and NVIDIA
u/allenout
Nvidia propaganda intensifies.
u/coporate
The biggest armchair developers in the gaming space.
u/TheDukeofArgyll
These guys are amazing and I’m super glad they are successful.
u/Svfen
The framerate fanatics are finally free!
u/Sprinkle_Puff
Amazing news for gamers everywhere
u/runadumb
They have discussed it a couple of times on the podcast. I think when it first happened, then again when it seemed like it wasn't going to last (reading between lines).
IGN seemed to mostly
u/penguished
What's the point at this late stage. The market is defeated as a functional competition. Nvidia owns PC gpus.. They can put 12GB VRAM on a mid range card, make the price $500... there's no cr
u/Rubixcubelube
I actually never knew they were working for IGN because nothing has ever been branded that way. Did these guys ever mention working for IGN on the podcast? If so I must have missed it after w
u/BlastMyLoad
I thought they worked for Eurogamer? Unless that’s owned by IGN
u/charlestheb0ss
This isn't a charity; they still answer to their advertisers/sponsors. But this is still an improvement
u/Svfen
The framerate fanatics are finally free!
u/TheDukeofArgyll
These guys are amazing and I’m super glad they are successful.
u/BlastMyLoad
I thought they worked for Eurogamer? Unless that’s owned by IGN
u/coporate
The biggest armchair developers in the gaming space.
u/rocketbunny77
But you*
*and NVIDIA
u/rocketbunny77
They should stop working for NVIDIA lmao
u/xelrach
Half of the ownership of the company changed hands a few times. IGN only has those shares since 2024.
u/TurtlePowerMutant
Is it though?
u/shumingliu001
Found the review farm bot
u/Fast_Passenger_2890
What makes you think it isn't??
u/GammaFan
Shrinking down into a switch 2 will do that to a man.
All in, good news!
u/runadumb
They have discussed it a couple of times on the podcast. I think when it first happened, then again when it seemed like it wasn't going to last (reading between lines).
IGN seemed to mostly
u/charlestheb0ss
This isn't a charity; they still answer to their advertisers/sponsors. But this is still an improvement
u/Sprinkle_Puff
Amazing news for gamers everywhere
u/Lee_Troyer
>Did these guys ever mention working for IGN on the podcast?
They did [talk about it](https://youtu.be/1Ay1Ed6B-Pg) when IGN bough Gamer Network (which had DF shares) a year ago.
u/penguished
What's the point at this late stage. The market is defeated as a functional competition. Nvidia owns PC gpus.. They can put 12GB VRAM on a mid range card, make the price $500... there's no cr
u/GammaFan
Shrinking down into a switch 2 will do that to a man.
All in, good news!
u/Sprinkle_Puff
Amazing news for gamers everywhere
u/rocketbunny77
They should stop working for NVIDIA lmao
u/Fast_Passenger_2890
What makes you think it isn't??
u/buttymuncher
The nerdiest bunch of nerds that have ever nerded
u/Lee_Troyer
>Did these guys ever mention working for IGN on the podcast?
They did [talk about it](https://youtu.be/1Ay1Ed6B-Pg) when IGN bough Gamer Network (which had DF shares) a year ago.
u/allenout
Nvidia propaganda intensifies.
u/Rubixcubelube
I actually never knew they were working for IGN because nothing has ever been branded that way. Did these guys ever mention working for IGN on the podcast? If so I must have missed it after w