Better Offline – The Interview: Steve Burke of GamersNexus
Podcast: Better Offline by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Host: Ed Zitron
Guest: Steve Burke (GamersNexus)
Release Date: October 15, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode marks the first long-form, in-person interview on Better Offline. Host Ed Zitron visits North Carolina to speak with Steve Burke, founder and host of GamersNexus—one of the most trusted and scientifically-rigorous hardware review channels on YouTube. They explore GamersNexus’s history, the evolution of hardware journalism, the realities of the YouTube platform, industry dynamics, gaming’s future (including topics like AI and Linux), and critical issues in tech advocacy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins and Growth of GamersNexus
- Early Days (02:46-04:29)
- Steve started in 2008 with game reviews, trailer analyses, and convention interviews.
- Indie games, especially through Steam’s Greenlight, were a focus before hardware became central.
- Attending conventions like PAX catalyzed the decision to pursue content creation full-time.
“After I got home from [PAX], I decided this is kind of the only thing I want to do...eventually just dropped out [of college] and started doing more of those.” – Steve Burke (03:56)
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Shifting to Hardware & Scientific Testing (04:29-07:27)
- Started as a text-based site with PC build guides; YouTube was secondary at first.
- Initial viral success included a power supply “paperclip test” video.
- Hardware coverage took off with YouTube’s growth and community demand for in-depth, visual walkthroughs.
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Website vs. YouTube (07:30-10:07)
- Website mothballed around 2018 due to workload; later revived with help from Wendell (Level1Techs) for content preservation and accessibility.
“We run it without any form of banner ads, which is...true today too. We got rid of the ads when we reintroduced the website.” – Steve Burke (05:14)
2. Working in the YouTube Ecosystem
- On “The Algorithm” (10:07-11:38)
- Steve likens YouTube to water—essential but opaque, and not worth “chasing the algorithm.”
- Focus remains on content integrity, not platform whims.
“It’s kind of a fool’s errand to chase...the algorithm too much because [it] stifles creative focus.” – Steve Burke (10:52)
- Relationship with YouTube as a Platform (12:04-13:22)
- Direct communication is rare; channel reps are inconsistent and get rotated out quickly.
- The 45/55 ad revenue split is considered fair due to high infrastructure costs, provided creative freedom is preserved.
“The best I have is a liaison...He’s a great guy...but he does it because he’s a nice guy.” — Steve Burke (13:07)
3. Monetization and Sustainability
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Revenue Breakdown (15:16-15:49)
- Main revenue streams: merchandise, Patreon, self-sold ads, and AdSense (YouTube ads).
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Persisting with Writing (15:54-16:06)
- For nearly a decade, Steve focused on writing, only shifting to YouTube as the main job after about 2018.
4. Community and Knowledge Building
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Approach to Testing & Education (21:02-26:15)
- Hardware community is collaborative and science-focused, with engineers like Tom Peterson (Intel) often sharing expertise.
- Close-knit cooperation exists with other creators like Louis Rossman and Hardware Unboxed.
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Maintaining Fun and Cadence (21:41-23:17)
- Steve emphasizes balancing heavy investigative stories with lighter, fun content to prevent burnout.
“You just don’t want to lose the fun of it, you know.” – Steve Burke (22:27)
5. Investigative Reporting & Industry Impact
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Chaos and Methodology in Field Reporting (24:11-26:16)
- Coverage of hardware black markets and tariffs involved chaotic, on-the-ground reporting—deemed both taxing and exhilarating.
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Testing Rigor (26:25-28:13)
- Example: A CPU cooler review entails 40–60 hours per product; major investigations (e.g., motherboard failures, black market GPUs) can require 200–400+ hours.
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Manufacturer Relations and Accountability (29:19-34:11)
- Most hardware firms maintain maturity, accepting criticism; roles like “tech marketing” act as necessary bridges between reviewers and internal teams.
6. Consumer Advocacy
- Warranty and Customer Service Exposés (33:07-36:05)
- Notable GamersNexus coverage pressured companies like ASUS and Newegg to address their poor customer support/warranty practices.
- Steve insists on interviewing true decision-makers to ensure accountability.
“Nothing against you, you’re not the guy. And so they eventually got us to the right guy, which is something I try to remember...go to executive levels if possible.” – Steve Burke (34:11)
7. Industry Trends and Controversies
Electronic Arts (EA) & Questionable Acquisitions (39:51-45:33)
- EA’s “Getting Worse” (40:07-44:22)
- Both Ed and Steve voice skepticism about PE and government-linked (notably Saudi and Kushner-managed US PE) acquisition of major game publishers.
“It is just...weird for government or government connected entities to start acquiring video game companies.” – Steve Burke (41:07)
- Data Privacy and Risk
- Anti-cheat software could, in theory, be misused for surveillance—no evidence it is happening yet, but the possibility is real.
Intel, Nvidia, and US Government (45:46-55:12)
- Recent events saw government pressure, stock turbulence, and government/Nvidia stakes in Intel as part of “national security” strategy.
- Steve expresses confusion and suspicion about the rapid sequence of political and financial machinations.
“I don’t know what’s happening anymore.” – Steve Burke (47:56)
- Nvidia’s Leverage and Business Practices
- Nvidia uses allocation as leverage over board partners, influencing market behavior.
- Concerns raised about possible future practices in mobile/laptop market—aligning to Nvidia/Intel’s timing and potential for less competition.
8. AI and the Hardware Landscape
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On Testing AI GPUs (56:00-58:43)
- Limited ability to test enterprise AI (H100, etc.) at GamersNexus’s practical scale.
- LLM and AI workloads are highly variable and difficult to benchmark consistently.
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Views on AI’s Impact (59:06-62:52)
- Steve sees some value in LLMs for translation and complex phrasing.
- Expresses deep concern about weaponization: misinformation bots, comment spam, and erosion of knowledge infrastructure.
“The thing that was concerning was...it’s pulling context from the video transcript and forming a sentence that makes sense...to scam someone.” – Steve Burke (62:18)
- Bot Traffic, The "Dead Internet" Theory, and Loss of Knowledge (64:52-66:32)
- Citing reports of bot traffic making up 50% of internet activity—Steve predicts a coming loss in information quality and accessibility.
“This is like Library of Alexandria is on fire problem...the death of the Internet.” – Steve Burke (65:30)
- Industry Incentives and AI (67:19-68:18)
- Platforms may not be motivated to curb bots due to inflated engagement numbers or data collection purposes.
9. Technology, Testing, and the Future
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Limits and Aspirations in Testing (91:04-93:13)
- Aspires to more granular transient power testing for CPUs/GPUs, but limited by software and data storage/processing.
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Linux Gaming and Microsoft’s Trajectory (93:18-97:45)
- Linux is becoming a true alternative due to Microsoft's increasing data collection (Windows Recall, Windows 11 telemetry).
- Thanks to SteamOS/Proton, Linux gaming is nearly mainstream—biggest hurdles are dailies/apps compatibility and driver support.
“My biggest concern with Windows is the slow intrusion of spyware.” – Steve Burke (93:33)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Chasing the YouTube Algorithm
“I think it’s kind of a fool’s errand to chase [the algorithm] too much because...you stop producing the content for the purpose it was intended and you start producing the content to be a farm.”
— Steve Burke (11:05) -
On Bot Comments and the Dead Internet
“There have been times where I’m not sure if it’s a bot or a real person... it’s creating the appearance of a real dialogue... to scam someone.”
— Steve Burke (62:18) -
On Scientific Testing
“If you only knew the name of this thing sooner, you could have bought it. And all of your testing is effectively new to you. You’ve had to kind of build it and learn it yourself.”
— Steve Burke (81:44)
Important Timestamps for Segments
- GamersNexus Genesis & Growth
[02:46] – [06:30] - Switch to Hardware Testing
[06:30] – [10:07] - YouTube as Platform & Algorithm
[10:07] – [13:45] - Revenue Model Discussion
[15:16] – [15:54] - Community Dynamics & Scientific Testing
[21:02] – [22:27] - Maintaining Joy in Coverage
[22:27] – [23:17] - Investigations & BN Video Process
[24:11] – [28:13] - Manufacturer Relations & Advocacy
[29:19] – [34:34] - EA, Data Risk, and Anti-Cheat Concerns
[39:51] – [43:39] - Intel/Nvidia/US Government Dynamics
[45:46] – [55:00] - Enterprise AI Testing Challenges
[56:00] – [58:43] - AI, Misinformation, and Bot Scourge
[59:06] – [66:17] - Linux vs. Windows
[93:18] – [97:14] - Handhelds & Market Innovation
[97:45] – [103:27] - Technological Excitement & GPU Monopoly
[103:27] – [107:35]
Flow & Tone
Ed Zitron and Steve Burke share a conversational, candid, and occasionally sardonic tone. They move from lighthearted nostalgia about PC gaming and building (EverQuest, Lemmings) to deep dives into testing methodology, industry politics, and the dangers of unchecked technological progress. The conversation is peppered with both technical expertise and policy critiques, making the episode accessible but richly detailed for enthusiasts and concerned consumers alike.
Conclusion: What’s Next for GamersNexus?
- Expansion into consumer advocacy content and enhanced methodologies for gaming benchmarks, introducing new metrics like “animation error.”
- Long-term focus on video preservation, rigorous scientific testing, and public-interest reporting.
“We’re taking a moment right now to try and find... is there anything new here we can do?” – Steve Burke (110:46)
For further engagement with Steve and Ed:
- Visit the GamersNexus website for detailed hardware testing
- Subscribe to Better Offline and Ed Zitron’s newsletter for more tech analysis and interviews
- Join discussions on Discord or Reddit (details at the end of the episode)
Summary prepared to inform listeners and non-listeners alike, highlighting the episode’s rich exploration of tech industry realities, hardware journalism, and the challenges facing online communities and consumers today.