Chris Kerr launches Vertical Slice, aiming for 500 paying subscribers

Chris Kerr, former senior editor at Game Developer, launched Vertical Slice today. The ad-free trade outlet runs on reader subscriptions starting at £7.45 per month. Kerr's break-even target is 500 monthly or 650 annual subscribers, matching his old salary. Beyond that, Kerr plans to funnel all remaining revenue back into the publication.

Subscription pricing starts at £7.45 per month, aimed at developers and executives.
The site carries no advertising except sponsorship of its design-document archive, The Repository.
A third-party sales agency keeps sponsorship deals separate from editorial reporting.
"It's to dispel the notion that journalism is a low-grade commodity to be consumed freely." - Chris Kerr, Founder, Vertical Slice

Kerr is Vertical Slice's only staff member, funded entirely by personal savings.
He has already commissioned freelance work from ex-Polygon reporter Nicole Carpenter.
Kerr says millions read his Game Developer articles, but few chose to pay.
Break-even would fund a regular freelancer, then a podcast and eventual newsroom growth.

Vertical Slice stays free to read until November 2, when the paywall activates.

For Publishers & Developers: Prepare comms responses for labor and misconduct investigations that advertiser relationships cannot soften.
For Service Vendors: Pitch design-archive sponsorship as your direct trade-media route to developer buyers.