Ashley Turner-Contributor

Ashley Turner

Contributor

January, 2026
Writer & narrative games journalist. Advocate for legacy game preservation & interactive storytelling. First-gen college grad.
JRPG, Narrative, RPG
  • 126
    articles
  • 118
    News
  • 8
    Features

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About Ashley Turner

Ashley has been writing about video games professionally for over eight years, but her path into gaming journalism wasn't exactly a straight line. She grew up playing games and got a Nintendo 64 when she was about 10, immediately falling in love with Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Over the years, she collected consoles like they were going out of style: Super Nintendo, Xbox 360, and every PlayStation from PS2 through PS5.

But honestly? Her gaming interest kind of faded for a while. Then in college, she met a friend who handed her Dragon Quest VIII and said "just try it." That was her first JRPG, and it completely reignited her passion for games. She realized she didn't just want to play them. She wanted to write about them, talk about them, and share that enthusiasm with other people who get it.

Since then, Ashley has written for PopCulture.com, ComicBook.com, Business Insider, and TheWrap, covering everything from breaking news to feature stories about how games shape (and are shaped by) pop culture. Her work spans the full spectrum of gaming content: reviews, news coverage, cultural analysis, and the kind of evergreen pieces that help players get the most out of their favorite titles.

She has a Master's in International Media from American University and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications from VCU, which sounds fancy but really just means she's spent a lot of time thinking critically about how we tell stories, whether that's through traditional media or interactive experiences.

At the end of the day, Ashley writes about games because she genuinely loves them. She's not chasing world-first raids or 2,000-hour playtime milestones. She's just someone who's been playing for decades, who understands what makes a game click, and who wants to help other players discover their next favorite experience.

Industry Focus

RPGs, JRPGs, and narrative-driven games with a particular emphasis on storytelling, character development, and world-building. I'm drawn to games that prioritize player choice and emotional impact, but I'm equally passionate about chronicling gaming and internet culture more broadly. I love exploring the sociological aspects of gaming communities, tracking how games intersect with larger cultural movements, and finding unique angles on stories that might otherwise fly under the radar. Whether it's examining how a game tackles complex themes or uncovering the human stories behind the pixels, I'm always looking for the narrative thread that makes a topic worth talking about.

Favorite Games

The Mass Effect trilogy, Dragon Age series, the Persona series, Final Fantasy, and Elden Ring. I also enjoy indie narrative experiences like What Remains of Edith Finch and games that experiment with storytelling mechanics.

Favorite Console

PlayStation 5, though I have a soft spot for my Nintendo Switch for portable gaming and Nintendo's first-party titles. The PS5's library and performance have made it my go-to for recent releases.

Latest

Delisted PlayStation games June 2026
6 PlayStation Games Are Shutting Down by June 1

A handful of digital adventures currently head toward a permanent exit on the PlayStation store as the early summer season officially kicks off.

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Dungeon Crawler Carl Now Has Its Own Co-Op Game

The Dungeon Crawler Carl series currently expands with a brand-new cooperative experience that invites fans to return to the chaos.

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Escape From Tarkov Boss Comments on ARC Raiders

Nikita Buyanov gives his honest opinion on the popular, competing hardcore shooter ARC Raiders, which is gaining momentum in the extraction genre.

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Bethesda Reportedly Had a Full PowerPoint for Everything Fallout: New Vegas Dev Obsidian "Did Wrong"

A Fallout: New Vegas designer shares some surprising details about Obsidian's past relationship with game publisher Bethesda.

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28-Year Xbox Veteran is Officially Leaving Microsoft

A long-time leader from the Xbox gaming division moves on to a new career path after spending almost three full decades with the company.

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Half-Life 3 Reveal Rumors Are Rearing Their Head Again

New and interesting signs currently suggest that Valve is finally preparing to bring back its famous Half-Life sequel once more.

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GTA 6 Fans Spot Subtle Upgrade in Trailer

Eager fans study the footage of GTA 6 to find a small, previously unspotted detail that shows the virtual world now works much better.

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MindsEye Devs Taking Legal Action Against Build a Rocket Boy Studio

Several employees at the MindsEye developer initiate a legal case against management to address a major internal disagreement at the studio.

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Cyberpunk 2077: Night City 2045 Officially Revealed

The Cyberpunk 2077 universe currently grows as a major new project pulls back the curtain on the historical secrets of Night City.

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Escape From Tarkov April Update Makes Major Change To Player K/D Stats

The recent update to Escape From Tarkov introduces a noticeable change in how the title tracks and presents essential player combat stats.

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Windrose Reaches Incredible Milestone Less Than One Week After Launch

The popular pirate adventure Windrose currently reaches a major new peak that marks a significant achievement for the game's team.

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Hideki Kamiya Comments on Bayonetta 3’s Controversial Ending

Hideki Kamiya currently shares his latest thoughts on the conclusion of Bayonetta 3 to help the community understand his work.

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Nioh 3 is Getting a Free Update Next Week

The development team at Team Ninja prepares fresh content for Nioh 3 that offers even more ways to enjoy the popular samurai action experience.

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GTA 5 Leak May Have Revealed Protagonist from Canceled Rockstar Game

A discovery in the GTA 5 files currently offers a rare look at a lead character from a project that never saw a full release.

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Rumor: Halo Campaign Evolved is 'Pretty Much' Content Complete

New rumors about Halo: Campaign Evolved suggest that the franchise project has reached a major milestone in its overall development cycle.

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The Duskbloods Switch 2 Release Window Leaked

A leak seemingly reveals the launch window for when the anticipated FromSoftware exclusive The Duskbloods will hit the Nintendo Switch 2.

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God of War Creator David Jaffe Accuses Crimson Desert Goblins of Being Anti-Semitic

David Jaffe points out some specific details about the Goblin character designs in Crimson Desert while calling out problematic tropes.

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Xbox Launches Spring Sale 2026

The yearly Xbox Spring Sale currently offers a wide range of digital deals on the Microsoft Store for players to browse until mid-month.

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'No Staying Power' The First Descendant Receives Bad News from Nexon CEO

The latest financial update from Nexon's CEO currently hints at some significant changes for the future of The First Descendant.

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The Division 3 Gets Positive Update

A recent interview offers fresh details on the progress of the studio developing the next major chapter in The Division series.