GamesBeat has announced its independence as a media outlet, spinning off from tech news site VentureBeat.

As part of the transition, it has appointed former VentureBeat chief strategy officer Gina Joseph as CEO. Joseph has over twenty years of experience in leadership for media and technology outlets.

She joined VentureBeat in 2018 as director of strategic partnerships, and co-founded the VentureBeat Lab.

Joseph was promoted to vice president of strategic partnerships after a year at the outlet, then executive vice president of strategy and partnerships before becoming CSO in March 2023.

Prior to working at VentureBeat, Joseph was head of strategic partnership at Hearst for four years, and head of digital ad sales strategy at MediaNews Group. She is also a board member of Midwest Games and the International Game Developers Association Foundation.

GamesBeat was founded by its lead writer Dean Takahashi in 2008, who has been appointed editorial director following the outlet’s independence.

Takahashi has been a journalist since 1988, and began covering the games industry in 1996 at The Wall Street Journal.

The transition has been backed by strategic advisors including Griffin Gaming Partners co-founder and managing director Peter Levin, in addition to Greg Akselrud and Kelly Siobhan Laffey of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles.

“We are excited about this powerful new chapter for GamesBeat and the industry we are serving,” said Joseph. “As a niche independent publication, we’ll unlock unparalleled insights, opportunities, and direct access to decision makers.

“We look forward to growing GamesBeat as an influential industry platform, not just for news, but to also foster connections and opportunities for business leaders, helping the industry thrive while continuing our reputation for delivering authoritative thought leadership that will shape the future of this dynamic space.”

Takahashi added: “This is a new era for GamesBeat. I’ve seen firsthand how gaming has grown into a pillar of global culture and commerce. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, thoughtful reporting is more important than ever.

“Our goal is to deliver the kind of insightful journalism that offers our audience contextual insights needed to understand how gaming interacts with other high-growth sectors.”