About Us — Dark Protocols

Our Story

Born in Melbourne, Built for Australia

Dark Protocols was founded in 2019 by a group of passionate Melbourne-based gamers and journalists who felt that Australian gaming coverage lacked depth, honesty, and local perspective. We set out to change that.

Today, we are a team of 18 writers, editors, and esports analysts operating from our headquarters at Level 12, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Our reviews are written after extensive playtime — we never publish a review based on a press kit or a two-hour demo.

We cover the full spectrum of gaming: from blockbuster AAA releases to indie gems, from casual mobile titles to the highest levels of competitive esports. If it matters to Australian players, it matters to us.

IndependentNo publisher funding or sponsored reviews

ThoroughMinimum 20 hours playtime before review

LocalWritten by Australians for Australians

TransparentFull disclosure of review copies received

What We Stand For

Our Values

◉

Honest Reviews

We call it as we see it. No score inflation, no publisher pressure. Our readers trust us because we have never compromised our editorial independence.

🏆

Esports Excellence

We attend events in person, interview players and coaches, and provide the most comprehensive Australian esports coverage available anywhere.

🌐

Australian Perspective

Latency, server availability, local pricing, and community size all factor into our reviews — because what works in the US may not work in Australia.

👥

Community First

Our readers shape our coverage. We actively engage with the Australian gaming community through forums, Discord, and live events.

The People

Meet the Team

Our editorial team brings together decades of combined experience in games journalism, competitive gaming, and digital media.

JM

James Mitchell

Editor-in-Chief

SC

Sarah Chen

Lead Reviewer — RPG & Strategy

LT

Liam Torres

Esports Correspondent

AK

Anika Kumar

Reviewer — FPS & Action

RN

Ryan Nguyen

Tournament Analyst

EP

Emma Papadopoulos

Indie & Mobile Reviewer

History

Our Journey

2019

Dark Protocols Founded

Three Melbourne-based journalists launch the site with a focus on honest, in-depth game reviews for the Australian market.

2020

Esports Coverage Launched

We begin covering the ESL ANZ Championship and expand our team to include dedicated esports correspondents.

2021

10,000 Monthly Readers

Organic growth through honest reviews and community engagement brings us to a significant readership milestone.

2023

IEM Sydney Media Accreditation

Dark Protocols receives official media accreditation for IEM Sydney, cementing our position as a leading Australian esports outlet.

2025

Melbourne Office Opens

We move into our permanent home at 333 Collins Street, Melbourne, and grow the team to 18 full-time staff.

2026

85,000+ Monthly Readers

Dark Protocols reaches a new readership record, establishing itself as Australia's most-read independent gaming publication.

About Dark Protocols