“I used to be dropping my thoughts… It was unimaginable,” Woods says in describing the expertise of having the ability to announce his internet hosting job. “I’m only a random dude from Georgia who loves video video games and loves wrestling. So getting my WWE contract whereas sitting in the midst of a Walgreens in Orlando, Florida on the time doing like backflips, calling my mother and father… I had the very same response once I discovered I used to be going to be a bunch on G4.”
The TV community premiered in 2002 and coated all method of video games and geekery with exhibits like X-Play, G4TV.com, and Assault of the Present. The community launched the careers of many acquainted faces within the gaming trade you see in the present day together with Munn, Geoff Keighley, and extra.
However Woods is already a widely known persona, each from his work in WWE and as a persona and host across the gaming scene. And Woods says he intends to hold that power ahead into his G4 tenure.
“I really feel just like the factor that I’ve carried out and proceed to convey continuously to the desk since I’ve been within the gaming house is attempting to point out folks that we’re all the identical type of nerd. So, I really like wrestling again within the day — I nonetheless love wrestling now, clearly — however again within the day, sooner or later wrestling, like, wasn’t cool and also you get made enjoyable of for liking wrestling. The identical factor occurred with video video games.”
However now that gaming has exploded into the mainstream within the decade since G4 first launched, Woods says he’s excited to shine a light-weight on the sport house for a brand new viewers.
“With me being the primary host I routinely look totally different than everyone else that [appeared at the reunion special] and so I believe that in all of the talks that I’ve had with [G4] they very a lot perceive that illustration is essential. They perceive that previously 15, 10 years… the make-up of who’s within the gaming house has been altering.”
Each Woods and Kevin Sabbe describe G4 as a “clubhouse” the place everybody who loves and performs video games is accepted. And Sabbe suggests this may translate to G4’s reboot technique.Within the years since G4 left the air, video content material for video games has exploded on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. However a lot of the content material you see these days doesn’t a lot resemble what G4 did, which operated like a standard TV selection present.
So whereas the straightforward narrative could be what a “G4 vs. Twitch/YouTube” panorama would possibly appear like, the Reunion Particular included appearances from well-known Twitch streamers like DrLupo. And so this doesn’t look like a combat for G4.
“The plan is for us to be in every single place players already and to be a part of the neighborhood,” Sabbe says.
And whereas there have been no different casting information, Sabbe says future collaborations with streamers are within the playing cards, notably in the event that they’re serious about branching out into G4-style content material, which incorporates sketches and selection work.
“How can we complement the streaming neighborhood in partnerships with future expertise who possibly can’t do [TV-style content] on their very own? That’s one thing G4 affords, you’re taking a streamer who actually does wish to do some sketch comedy, however isn’t going to do this on their very own, we offer that house for our partnership for them to come back in and do these issues.”
There are not any particulars but on G4’s official return, however the plans for a relaunch are set for someday in 2021. Woods is currently playable in Gears 5 as properly, if you happen to’re excited to see him in motion and G4’s representatives confirmed that Woods continues to be signed on with WWE.
Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
