As the AA Crew prepare to hit Nuremberg for IWA 2026 it’s time for us to break cover and let you in on what we’ve been alluding to for a while now, that it’s once again time for AIRSOFT ACTION to EVOLVE!
In an ever-changing media environment it is time for change, and sadly the first part of that change is that our current Editorial Director Bill has decided that it’s time he stood down and spent more time in the “safe zone of life” pursuing other personal and professional projects.
Six years ago we made the transition to full digital-only publication of the monthly magazine, and Bill was integral to that move which proved to be one of the most successful decisions that we could ever have imagined, with many more thousands of you tuning in from all over the globe on the 15th of every month to get your regular fix of airsoft joy online.
However, just like a player in-game, we have to keep moving forward and taking ground, and this is especially true in the world of digital publishing. Many of our industry partners and regular readers have asked us to provide more regular online articles and reviews in addition to our successful magazine format, and we have listened…
It’s become very apparent to us that the way airsoft content is consumed continues to change, and that has been reflected by the hugely increased traffic we’ve seen for our daily web news, something that has already been recognised by both the industry and the player community and we’re very proud of that!
In light of this, as he stands down, Bill shared his thoughts with us…
“It’s a somewhat exciting yet melancholy day for me as I prepare to head off to Germany for IWA, but it’s time that I looked to the future again, and as such it’s also time for me to pass on the torch that I’ve carried so successfully in relation to AIRSOFT ACTION for the past ten years to those that I know can carry things forward in a meaningful way.
In the last six years that I’ve spent leading an absolutely fabulous group of friends and contributors I’ve transitioned from an old-skool pen and paper journo to an Editorial Director with a multiple- award-winning digital publication under my belt, but I know that there’s more to be done, and I know in my heart that it needs a new generation of content creators to realise the next evolution of AIRSOFT ACTION effectively.
Over Christmas Nige and I discussed this in-depth, and in January I tendered my resignation with a view to taking a slightly slower pace in life and working on some passion-projects of my own. Both Nige and I are now in our sixties, and through a global pandemic and my own personal battle with cancer we’ve continued to run a very successful small business together, but we both feel it is now time to bow out gracefully and let the younger guys roll on with the same passion that we have devoted to AIRSOFT ACTION.
To this end we have made the decision to shut down AIRSOFT ACTION in its current format, and this will happen at the end of March once ISSUE 184 has been published and we have honoured all our financial commitments to our advertising partners.
However… THIS IS NOT THE END OF AIRSOFT ACTION!
Bill went on to say that…
“Although Nige and I will be heading to ENDEX ourselves I have already ensured that the magazine will continue with the same excellent writing team as now, but with a new management team in place, and in a different format with increased weight placed on our website-based daily content whilst the digital magazine format remains firmly in place.
A handover has already been instigated, one which will include our full back catalogue of digital issues so that these can continue the legacy of the ‘old AA’ as it transitions to ‘new AA’, and a discussion is ongoing at the moment within the contributors group to decide upon an exciting, all-new format for content realisation… of course this will need a little time to achieve, and there will be a short organisational pause at the end of March before AIRSOFT ACTION re-launches later this year!
There is a timeline for this, of course there is, and things will start to happen at IWA as I advise our industry partners and friends of what will be happening in the future, and I look forward to sharing this in person with many of you at the show.
This really is massively exciting and positive news, and although I part ways with you all with a heavy heart, I hope that you will all commit to be a part of things as AIRSOFT ACTION evolves yet again… Im working right now to ensure that this transition takes place smoothly, and with the new management team I know that the future will be magnificent, and that the legacy of AIRSOFT ACTION will be in safe hands!
My time with you all, my splendid and capable AA Crew and AA Legionnaires, all of my wonderful and innovative industry partners, and all of the many, many fabulous airsofters I’ve played alongside over the years all over the world has been amazing, and together we have achieved absolute airsoft greatness; those memories, and my memories of all the airsoft adventures I have undertaken and shared with you all will always remain very special indeed.
Thank you for every single one of them.
Will I be giving up airsoft? No way! I’m sure you’ll still see occasional articles from me in the ‘new AA’ and elsewhere, and other projects mean that airsoft will remain as sacred to me as it ever has been, as important a part of my life as it has been over the past thirty-plus years… as the saying goes ‘I have served, and I will be of service.’
See you out there…
Wild Bill Out.”
So there it is… we’d like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to both Nige and Bill, and indeed all of those who have contributed to the magazine, for their commitment not only to creating and publishing AIRSOFT ACTION over the last fifteen years, but to keeping a truly independent media voice alive for the airsoft community all over the world.
Bill leaves some pretty massive shoes to fill as he’s done so much for both the magazine and in relation to bringing the global airsoft community together, and he WILL be missed, although we’re glad to hear he won’t be leaving us completely yet!
We believe that you’ll join us in wishing both Bill and Nige all the very best for their future endeavours, and of course we’ll keep you fully up to date with developments in relation to the “New AA Crew” as AIRSOFT ACTION moves on and evolves positively yet again, continuing and expanding upon the legacy that our “planks owners” have created!
