History of NGB

2011 — launch as a UK-rooted gaming blog

NGB launched in 2011 as Next-Gen Gaming Blog, connected to the WENB / Winning Eleven Blog scene and the wider Kitana Media Network context. The early point of difference was simple: a site built by long-time players with room for broader games coverage beyond football titles.

The early editorial identity was blog-like rather than corporate: direct opinion, reviews, previews, video and community conversation. That tone is central to the 2026 return.

2012 — regular reviews and broader coverage

By 2012 the site was visibly publishing game reviews and broader coverage across console and PC releases. Archived feed traces and external references show the site operating as a real review and news source rather than a static brand page.

This period helped define NGB’s practical reader value: whether a game was worth watching, buying, waiting on or discussing further.

2013 — team growth and a stronger review footprint

Ben Ward joined NGB in 2013, adding to the site’s editorial continuity and later becoming one of the most visible names associated with the project. NGB’s review coverage was also being indexed and discussed through external gaming aggregators and community channels.

This was the period when NGB became more clearly recognisable as an English-language gaming outlet with a UK base and global game coverage.

2014 — events, hands-on coverage and wider visibility

2014 brought a stronger event-facing profile. NGB covered games around E3 and other major industry moments, including hands-on and interview-led material. The site’s work appeared in external discussion and citation contexts, including coverage connected to Oddworld and other releases of the period.

The editorial format that still matters today was already visible: games were not only reported as announcements, but interpreted through hands-on evidence, developer context and player expectations.

2015 — review credibility and franchise conversation

NGB continued to be cited around major game releases, including high-interest titles such as Metal Gear Solid V. The project’s external traces show participation in the broader review conversation rather than isolated publishing.

The key strength of this period was the ability to participate in major release moments while keeping the blog-style voice intact.

2016 — editorial continuity and leadership

In 2016, Asim Tanvir moved into the games industry and Ben Ward became Editor-in-Chief. NGB’s history around this period includes visible review work, community discussion and high-profile game coverage such as Uncharted 4.

This period is important because it shows continuity rather than a one-off project. NGB had names, a recognisable audience, a review rhythm and a public footprint.

2017 — platform and GOTY visibility

External GOTY tracker references identify NGB among UK gaming-media voices, with coverage and judgement around major titles including Horizon Zero Dawn. The project continued to sit within the wider English-language review and opinion landscape.

For the 2026 relaunch, this matters because the site’s strongest future is not local-only UK news. It is British-born global gaming coverage with a strong editorial voice.

2018 — reviews used by games and storefronts

NGB review quotes appeared in external promotional and storefront contexts, including Steam-linked material around indie and mid-sized releases. That kind of footprint is especially valuable for a gaming publisher because it shows that the site’s criticism was visible beyond its own pages.

The 2026 structure keeps reviews as a core proof point, but surrounds them with release calendars, hype checks, platform hubs and pre-release analysis.

2019–2023 — Next Gen Base and video-first identity

As the broader Next Gen Base identity became more visible, the project’s public life expanded through YouTube, Twitch and social channels. Written gaming coverage, video formats and community-facing publishing became part of the same recognisable NGB footprint.

The current site reflects that evolution by keeping social/video history visible while rebuilding the publisher structure around readable, indexable, topic-led pages.

2024 — website arm wound down, public identity remained

The Next Gen Base public update in 2024 made clear that the website arm had slowed while the brand’s attention moved strongly toward YouTube. That moment did not erase the site’s editorial history. It clarified what the return needed to solve: stronger structure, clearer topics and a modern publisher layout.

2026 — return as a future-games publisher

In 2026, NGB returns with a sharper editorial promise: Future Games. Real Opinions. The site’s structure now centres on upcoming games, release-calendar coverage, showcase tracking, hype checks, trailer breakdowns, platform hubs, reviews, verdict language and a game/studio taxonomy designed for search and reader discovery.

The core editorial line remains consistent: British-born gaming-blog voice, global audience, author-led judgement and a focus on what players need to know before and after a game arrives.