Large Number of Journalists Laid Off at Polygon and Giant Bomb

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On Thursday, May 1st 2025, gaming journalism took a hit when Vox Media sold Polygon to Valnet, the owner of Game Rant and TheGamer, leading to numerous layoffs. Concurrently, Fandom announced layoffs at Giant Bomb, a popular gaming portal, as part of a “strategic reset.” These changes, which affected experienced journalists like Polygon co-founder Chris Plante and writer Nicole Carpenter, have raised concerns about the state of gaming journalism and its impact on the gaming industry.

Founded in 2012, Polygon was a key player in gaming journalism initially, visited by over 6 million monthly users in the US. Valnet’s acquisition resulted in at least 25 layoffs, including well-known names like Chris Plante, Michael McWhertor, and Petrana Radulovic, although Deputy Editor Maddy Myers and Games Editor Zoë Hannah remained. Giant Bomb, beloved for its personality-driven content, also experienced layoffs, including journalist Jeff Grubb, while Fandom halted its live streaming activities.

Gaming journalism is going through difficult times, with many portals struggling to survive. The Washington Post’s Launcher and Vice’s Waypoint were shut down in 2023, while Game Informer closed in 2024 before a partial revival this year. According to The Wrap, Valnet often replaces full-time employees with freelancers and focuses on click-driven articles. With unstable advertising revenue and increasing competition from YouTubers and influencers, sustainable business models are hard to achieve.