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About VortexAssault

We are Australia's most trusted independent gaming media platform — built by gamers, for gamers.

Our Story

Born in Sydney, Built for Australia

VortexAssault was founded in 2019 by a group of passionate Sydney-based gamers who were frustrated by the lack of locally relevant, unbiased gaming coverage. Too many reviews were written from a Northern Hemisphere perspective, ignoring the unique challenges and preferences of the Australian gaming community — from server latency to regional release schedules.

What started as a small blog run out of a Surry Hills apartment has grown into Australia's most-read independent gaming platform, with a team of 12 full-time writers, analysts, and video producers spread across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

We cover everything from AAA blockbusters and indie darlings to grassroots LAN events and national esports championships — always with an Australian lens and always with complete editorial independence.

The VortexAssault team at their Sydney office
Our Values

What We Stand For

Every review, every article, and every tournament report is guided by these core principles.

⚖

Editorial Independence

We accept no payment for positive coverage. Every score reflects our genuine assessment, free from publisher influence or advertising pressure.

🇦🇺

Australian Perspective

We test games on Australian servers, at Australian release times, and with Australian hardware configurations. Our reviews reflect your experience.

🔍

Depth Over Speed

We take the time to finish games before reviewing them. No rushed launch-day takes — just thorough, considered analysis you can trust.

🏆

Esports Expertise

Our tournament coverage team includes former competitive players who understand the game at a professional level and can provide real insight.

👥

Community First

We actively engage with our readers, incorporate community feedback into our coverage priorities, and champion grassroots gaming events.

📝

Transparent Scoring

Our scoring rubric is publicly available. We explain every score with detailed criteria so you always know exactly what a rating means.

The Team

Meet Our Reviewers

A dedicated team of gamers, analysts, and writers who live and breathe the industry.

James Hartley — Lead Reviewer

James Hartley

Lead Reviewer — Sydney, NSW

Specialises in action RPGs and open-world games. Former game developer with 8 years of industry experience.

Sophie Nguyen — Esports Editor

Sophie Nguyen

Esports Editor — Melbourne, VIC

Former Valorant competitor turned journalist. Covers all major Australian and Oceanic esports events.

Lachlan Brooks — PC Hardware & FPS

Lachlan Brooks

PC & FPS Specialist — Brisbane, QLD

Dedicated FPS and hardware enthusiast. Benchmarks every game on multiple PC configurations for accurate performance reporting.

By the Numbers

VortexAssault in 2025

500+ Game Reviews Published
120+ Tournaments Covered
85K+ Monthly Readers
12 Full-Time Team Members
Work With Us

Want to Collaborate?

Whether you're a game developer, tournament organiser, or aspiring writer, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out via our contact page.

Get in Touch