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 introduced in a press launch. A number of workers members have posted on-line about dropping their jobs or about colleagues now being out of labor.
“I‘m not with Polygon. In the event you’re hiring, please think about the various proficient writers and editors now in the marketplace,” posted Polygon co-founder and EIC Chris Plante. “Each considered one of them deserves a spot in your workers. I gained’t be speaking extra in regards to 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 worth of the deal was not disclosed. Sources inform Kotaku that Deputy Editor Maddy Myers and Video games Editor Zoë Hannah are amongst those who stay at Polygon. Government Editor Chelsea Stark stated the layoffs included over 20 workers. Vox Media didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
“I’ll say extra later, however I not have a job,” shared Senior Reporter Nicole Carpenter. “I’m on the lookout for work, as are so lots of my wonderful colleagues. I’ve plenty of concepts and issues I’d like to write down. I’m actually in shock.” “I had a good time working at Polygon,” posted Senior Author Michael McWhertor. “Please let me know when you’ve got any cool job openings!”
Based in 2012 underneath Vox Media, the location shortly established itself as one of many premier retailers for unique evaluations, reporting, and cultural evaluation on the earth of gaming. Polygon’s protection of video video games, films, TV, comics, and board video games are a few of the finest round, whereas its forward-looking design sensibility helped elevate the best way tales had been introduced and instructed on-line.
Valnet is predicated in Montreal and operates Display Rant, Sport Rant, Comedian E-book Assets, and different mass aggregators. The corporate is run by Hassan Youssef, who obtained his begin in digital media with on-line porn web sites. “The addition of Polygon not solely strengthens our editorial muscle but additionally amplifies our capacity to ship unmatched worth to each audiences and advertisers,” Youssef stated in a press launch immediately.
In a report earlier this 12 months by TheWrap, many former contributors accused Valnet’s present media holdings of being exploitative content material mills. “In journalism, there are actually unhealthy jobs. After which there’s a place like Valnet,” a former Collider contributor instructed 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 brought on 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 determination 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 an announcement. “Vox Media’s lack of respect for Polygon’s status in video games media, the arduous work and fervour of its workers, and the sturdy group of players and followers who help it couldn’t be clearer.”
It continued, “Shedding Polygon to such an organization is not only a loss for Vox Media, however for our trade and web tradition as an entire. 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 clear frustration with it on Bluesky. “14 years in the past I pitched what would turn into Polygon to a startup referred to 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 via a deck. Right now that very same firm—now referred to 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 had been wildly incurious about how a gaming publication even turns into ‘premium.’ I actually, really (!) hope that the remaining Polygon workforce will get an opportunity to proceed the work all of us cared about a lot! However by some means that is the top of my journey with the factor I created.”
“My most heartfelt because of your entire workforce, I’m so sorry issues ended this fashion.”
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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