Gaming Website Polgyon Sold To Valnet And Hit With Layoffs

The online game web site Polygon has been bought to click-farm powerhouse Valnet and far of its masthead has been laid off, Kotaku has discovered. The sale was subsequently announced in a press release. A number of workers members have posted on-line about dropping their jobs or about colleagues now being out of labor.

“I‘m now not with Polygon. In case you’re hiring, please take into account the numerous proficient writers and editors now in the marketplace,” posted Polygon co-founder and EIC Chris Plante. “Each one in all them deserves a spot in your workers. I gained’t be speaking extra concerning the sale as a result of I wasn’t concerned. Going to hang around with my child. Taking wins the place I can.”

The sale was confirmed in a press launch which didn’t point out the layoffs. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Sources inform Kotaku that Deputy Editor Maddy Myers and Video games Editor Zoë Hannah are amongst people who stay at Polygon. Government Editor Chelsea Stark said the layoffs included over 20 workers. Vox Media didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

“I’ll say extra later, however I now not have a job,” shared Senior Reporter Nicole Carpenter. “I’m in search of work, as are so a lot of my wonderful colleagues. I’ve plenty of concepts and issues I’d like to put in writing. I’m actually in shock.” “I had a good time working at Polygon,” posted Senior Writer Michael McWhertor. “Please let me know in case you have any cool job openings!”

Based in 2012 underneath Vox Media, the location shortly established itself as one of many premier shops for authentic evaluations, reporting, and cultural evaluation on the planet of gaming. Polygon’s protection of video video games, films, TV, comics, and board video games are among the finest round, whereas its forward-looking design sensibility helped elevate the way in which tales have been offered and advised on-line.

Valnet relies in Montreal and operates Display screen Rant, Recreation Rant, Comedian E book Sources, and different mass aggregators. The corporate is run by Hassan Youssef, who received his begin in digital media with on-line porn web sites. “The addition of Polygon not solely strengthens our editorial muscle but in addition amplifies our capacity to ship unmatched worth to each audiences and advertisers,” Youssef mentioned in a press launch at the moment.

In a report earlier this year by TheWrap, many former contributors accused Valnet’s present media holdings of being exploitative content material mills. “In journalism, there are actually dangerous jobs. After which there’s a place like Valnet,” a former Collider contributor advised TheWrap. “[It’s] one of many worst locations that I’ve ever labored and might be one of many worst journalism publications I’ve ever seen.”

Valnet responded to the investigation by suing TheWrap for libel claiming the reporting was filled with errors and had triggered the corporate’s founder “great emotional misery, affecting (amongst different issues) his temper, temperament and his capacity to sleep.”

The Vox Media Union blasted the sale and layoffs which occurred because it bargains over its subsequent contract. “Arguably much more demoralizing is Vox Media’s resolution to promote a lauded video games web site to an organization identified for alleged exploitative situations and for devaluing rigorous journalism in favor of churning out content material,” it wrote in a statement. “Vox Media’s lack of respect for Polygon’s repute in video games media, the exhausting work and keenness of its workers, and the strong neighborhood of avid gamers and followers who assist it couldn’t be clearer.”

It continued, “Dropping Polygon to such an organization is not only a loss for Vox Media, however for our trade and web tradition as a complete. From a sustainability perspective, it makes little monetary or long-term sense, and speaks to an absence of care and consideration for this firm and its workers.”

Replace 5/1/2025 5:06 p.m. ET: Vox SVP Chris Grant, who was Polygon’s founding Editor-in-Chief, shared perception into the deal and is obvious frustration with it on Bluesky. “14 years in the past I pitched what would change into Polygon to a startup known as Sports activities Blogs Inc on the unfurnished third ground of a DC townhome,” he wrote. “I held a laptop computer on my knees and went by a deck. As we speak that very same firm—now known as Vox Media—bought Polygon to Valnet.”

He continued, “Their press launch proudly calls Polygon a ‘premium gaming publication’ however Valnet actually refused to fulfill with me or reply a single query of mine all through this course of. They have been wildly incurious about how a gaming publication even turns into ‘premium.’ I actually, actually (!) hope that the remaining Polygon workforce will get an opportunity to proceed the work all of us cared about a lot! However someway that is the top of my journey with the factor I created.”

“My most heartfelt due to your complete workforce, I’m so sorry issues ended this manner.”

Replace 5/1/2025 12:19 p.m. ET: Added feedback from the official press launch.

Replace 5/1/2025 4:13 p.m. ET: Added an announcement from the Vox union.

Replace 5/1/2025 4:50 p.m. ET: Added point out of Valnet’s lawsuit.

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