Independent tabletop news outlet Rascal News has announced a price increase for its subscription service, offering a stark look at the economic reality facing digital publishers in 2025. 2026 isn’t going to be easier.
In a transparent address to their readers (affectionately dubbed “anklebiters”), the team revealed that their “Friendly NPC” subscription tier will rise from USD $5 to $6 per month. The change is scheduled to take effect on January 5th, following their holiday break.
Crucially, this price adjustment only applies to new subscribers. In a move that respects their early supporters, Rascal confirmed that existing backers will see no change to their payments, even if their subscription lapses by accident.
“We need to gain altitude”
Rascal’s statement was open about the pressures they face, noting that for the first time since their launch in early 2024, they experienced negative growth in October and November.
The outlet stated:
People have less money to spend on luxuries, such as recurring subscriptions to websites, and we’re all waiting for the broader effects of US economic ‘policy’ to come home to roost. Both create an uncomfortable atmosphere in which to ask anyone for more money.”
While the site has maintained a “runway”, they noted that the current economic climate “desiccates everyone’s fun money.” The modest increase is an attempt to secure the raises the team missed out on in 2025 and to bolster their budget for freelancers.
To soften the blow, Rascal is introducing the “Rascal Reading Club,” a new podcast available to higher-tier “Party Member” subscribers. The show will feature the team reviewing GM advice sections from various roleplaying games, such as Mothership and Vampire: The Masquerade.
They are also running a “Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!” holiday promotion. New subscribers who join before January 5th can get their first two months for just $1, effectively locking in the lower rate before the price hike.
The “AI Overview” Crisis
Rascal is not an isolated case. The entire ecosystem of independent tabletop journalism is currently being hammered by a perfect storm of inflation and the aggressive encroachment of generative AI.
Earlier this year, Tabletop Gaming News published a dramatic editorial regarding the “death of the internet“. The core issue is that AI scraping and Google’s “AI Overviews” are cannibalising traffic. Instead of clicking through to the websites that actually break news or write reviews, users are served automated summaries directly on search pages.
This disconnects creators from their audience. When search engines stop sending traffic to the sources of their information, independent sites wither. We have already seen the closure or “zombification” of major outlets, and the squeeze is now tightening on the indie alternatives that rose to fill the void.
A Call to Arms from Geek Native
Geek Native is facing these same headwinds. We are committed to keeping our news, reviews, and roleplaying coverage free for everyone to read. We do not want to lock our articles behind a paywall.
However, the “AI tax” on our traffic is real. If you value independent coverage of the hobby we all love, we need your help to keep the lights on.
We are asking our readers to consider joining our Patreon. Even a small monthly contribution helps us weather the volatility of the current internet landscape. We recently posted our monthly “Patreon call to arms” to help us select the next RPG Publisher Spotlight. By becoming a Patron, you not only support us but get a direct vote in who we feature next.
The era of passive internet consumption is ending. If you want independent websites to exist in 2026, you must support them directly.
- Support Rascal News: Subscribe here
- Support Geek Native: Join our Patreon
