You’ve likely experienced the frustration of navigating a gaming news article, only to be overwhelmed by a barrage of ads that obscure the text, prompting a frustrating reload. Or perhaps you’ve sought a concise guide for collectibles in a new RPG, only to be met with Google’s misleading AI summary and an array of lengthy videos. The relentless pressures of the attention economy have transformed countless websites into intricate mazes of engagement and monetization strategies. This phenomenon, termed “enshittification” by journalist Cory Doctorow, extends far beyond news outlets and social media, infiltrating streaming services, digital storefronts, and virtually any platform that interacts with capital.
The world’s going to enshittify around me, I’m not gonna stop it, but I can try and revel in something that used to be better.
Stephen “Blue” Heaslip
Amidst this landscape, Stephen “Blue” Heaslip’s site, Blue’s News, stands as a nostalgic reminder of the early internet’s charm and sincerity. Established in the 1990s to showcase Heaslip’s hobby writing, the site has never been driven by profit. Instead, it embodies a timeless passion for gaming, particularly the excitement surrounding Quake.
While some moderation has been essential to maintain the site’s amiable atmosphere, Heaslip believes that the wisdom of the early internet remains relevant. He emphasizes the importance of not feeding the trolls, stating, “The internet is filled with hot takes. If anything, maybe I can be refreshingly free of hot takes.” His approach is to act as a Greek chorus, articulating the thoughts of the community while striving for fairness and objectivity. This commitment to civility has allowed Blue’s News to cultivate a level of trust that many contemporary news outlets struggle to achieve.
Old but gold
In 1996, Heaslip was deeply immersed in his favorite game, Doom, and was newly engaged to his fiancée, known online as MrsBlue. He was prolific, posting dozens of PC gaming news stories daily. Fast forward to 2025, and he continues this tradition, having celebrated 29 years with MrsBlue. Last year marked a milestone for the site, with a staggering 12,313 posts, showcasing an unwavering dedication to the craft. With over a billion site views and hundreds of thousands of articles—94% of which have been authored by Heaslip himself—Blue’s News is not merely a testament to longevity but to remarkable consistency.
Despite a small team, primarily consisting of emeritus titles and contributors, the site has maintained an impressive record, going only 22 days without a post since July 1996. This translates to a remarkable 99.8% hit rate. Even when faced with personal challenges, such as a car accident that left him with a broken arm in 2021, Heaslip adapted, using his free hand and voice recognition software to continue delivering content.
Heaslip’s priorities have remained steadfast, even when approached by representatives from major media outlets like MTV in the ’90s. “It wasn’t like it was going to make me rich, and it wasn’t like it was going to make me happy,” he recalls. “Any question like that led me to say, ‘once that happens, when can I start a new website?'”
While many gaming news sites have faced tumultuous changes—dying, reviving, being acquired, or trading staff like pieces on a chessboard—Blue’s News has maintained a steady rhythm. It thrives not on sensational coverage or explosive view counts but on the small, meaningful moments shared with a loyal audience. Heaslip reflects on the evolution of the internet, acknowledging that while external pressures have intensified, he has found intrinsic value in his work. “The act of writing, the relationship with the readers, staying in the flow of the news, it all suits me very well,” he shares. “In the end, I get a lot out of doing it.”
Perhaps the enshittification of the internet was an inevitable evolution. Heaslip suggests that those who have witnessed the internet’s journey recognize that many of today’s challenges were already present, albeit on a smaller scale. Yet, he believes that the sincerity once prevalent online still exists, waiting to be rediscovered by those willing to seek it out.
