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About CorePhantom

We are a team of passionate Australian gamers, journalists, and esports enthusiasts dedicated to honest, in-depth gaming coverage.

The CorePhantom team at work
Our Story

Built by Gamers, for Gamers

CorePhantom was founded in 2018 in Melbourne, Australia, by a group of friends who were frustrated by gaming reviews that felt disconnected from the actual player experience. We believed the Australian gaming community deserved a platform that spoke its language — no corporate fluff, no paid placements, just honest analysis from people who genuinely love games.

Today, CorePhantom is one of Australia's most-read independent gaming publications, covering everything from AAA blockbusters to indie gems, and providing comprehensive coverage of the ANZ esports scene.

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Our Values

The principles that guide every review and article we publish

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Honest Reviews

We never accept payment for positive coverage. Every score reflects our genuine assessment of the game, regardless of publisher relationships.

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Australian Perspective

We review games through the lens of Australian players — considering local server quality, pricing context, and community availability.

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Deep Analysis

We complete games before reviewing them. Our reviews go beyond surface impressions to examine mechanics, narrative, and long-term value.

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Community First

Our readers are the reason we exist. We actively engage with the Australian gaming community and incorporate reader feedback into our coverage.

Meet the Team

The people behind CorePhantom's reviews and coverage

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James Hartley

Editor-in-Chief

10 years in games journalism. Specialises in RPGs and narrative-driven titles. Based in Melbourne, VIC.

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Priya Nair

Senior Reviewer

Former competitive FPS player turned critic. Covers action games and esports titles. Based in Sydney, NSW.

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Connor Walsh

Esports Correspondent

Covers ANZ tournament circuits full-time. Attends every major Australian esports event. Based in Brisbane, QLD.

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Mei-Lin Chen

Strategy & Indie Editor

Champion of underrepresented genres. Advocates for the Australian indie development scene. Based in Adelaide, SA.

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Lachlan Briggs

Technical Editor

PC hardware enthusiast who benchmarks every game on multiple configurations. Based in Perth, WA.

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Aisha Okonkwo

Content & Social

Manages CorePhantom's community channels and produces video content for our YouTube and Twitch channels. Based in Melbourne, VIC.

Our Journey

From a small blog to Australia's leading gaming publication

2018

CorePhantom Founded

Launched as a small gaming blog from a Melbourne apartment, publishing weekly reviews with a focus on the Australian player experience.

2019

First Tournament Coverage

Expanded into esports with on-the-ground coverage of the first ANZ Phantom Cup at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

2021

10,000 Monthly Readers

Reached our first major readership milestone and hired our first full-time staff writers, expanding coverage to all major genres.

2023

Launched Weekly Community Cup

Started the CorePhantom Weekly Cup — a free community tournament series that now attracts hundreds of Australian players each week.

2025

85,000+ Monthly Readers

Became one of Australia's top five independent gaming publications, with a team of six full-time staff across four states.

2026

Expanding Coverage

Launching new video content, a podcast series, and expanded tournament coverage across all Australian states and territories.