{"id":94117,"date":"2025-05-02T02:36:26","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T02:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/02\/gaming-website-polgyon-sold-to-valnet-and-hit-with-layoffs\/"},"modified":"2025-05-02T02:36:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T02:36:26","slug":"gaming-website-polgyon-sold-to-valnet-and-hit-with-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/02\/gaming-website-polgyon-sold-to-valnet-and-hit-with-layoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaming Website Polgyon Sold To Valnet And Hit With Layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The video game website Polygon<\/em> has been sold to click-farm powerhouse Valnet and much of its masthead has been laid off, Kotaku<\/em> has learned. The sale was subsequently announced in a press release<\/a><\/span>. Multiple staff members have posted online about losing their jobs or about colleagues now being out of work. <\/p>\n

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Minecraft Movie Song Sets Record as Shortest Track Ever on Billboard Hot 100<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2018m no longer with Polygon<\/em>. If you\u2019re hiring, please consider the many talented writers and editors now on the market,\u201d posted Polygon<\/em> co-founder and EIC Chris Plante<\/a><\/span>. \u201cEvery one of them deserves a spot on your staff. I won\u2019t be talking more about the sale because I wasn\u2019t involved. Going to hang out with my kid. Taking wins where I can.\u201d <\/p>\n

The sale was confirmed in a press release which did not mention the layoffs. The price of the deal was not disclosed. Sources tell Kotaku <\/em>that Deputy Editor Maddy Myers and Games Editor Zo\u00eb Hannah are among those that remain at Polygon. Executive Editor Chelsea Stark said the layoffs<\/a><\/span> included over 20 staff. Vox Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll say more later, but I no longer have a job,\u201d shared Senior Reporter Nicole Carpenter<\/a><\/span>. \u201cI\u2019m looking for work, as are so many of my amazing colleagues. I have lots of ideas and things I\u2019d like to write. I\u2019m really in shock.\u201d \u201cI had a great time working at Polygon<\/em>,\u201d posted Senior Writer Michael McWhertor<\/a><\/span>. \u201cPlease let me know if you have any cool job openings!\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 2012 under Vox Media, the site quickly established itself as one of the premier outlets for original reviews, reporting, and cultural analysis in the world of gaming. Polygon<\/em>\u2019s coverage of video games, movies, TV, comics, and board games are some of the best around, while its forward-looking design sensibility helped elevate the way stories were presented and told online.<\/p>\n

Valnet is based in Montreal and operates Screen Rant<\/em>, Game Rant<\/em>, Comic Book Resources<\/em>, and other mass aggregators. The company is run by Hassan Youssef, who got his start in digital media with online porn websites. \u201cThe addition of Polygon not only strengthens our editorial muscle but also amplifies our ability to deliver unmatched value to both audiences and advertisers,\u201d Youssef said in a press release today.<\/p>\n

In a report earlier this year by TheWrap<\/em><\/a><\/span>, many former contributors accused Valnet\u2019s current media holdings of being exploitative content mills. \u201cIn journalism, there are really bad jobs. And then there is a place like Valnet,\u201d a former Collider <\/em>contributor told TheWrap<\/em>. \u201c[It\u2019s] one of the worst places that I\u2019ve ever worked and is probably one of the worst journalism publications I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Valnet responded to the investigation by suing TheWrap<\/em><\/a><\/span> for libel claiming the reporting was full of errors and had caused the company\u2019s founder \u201ctremendous emotional distress, affecting (among other things) his mood, temperament and his ability to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Vox Media Union blasted the sale and layoffs which occurred as it bargains over its next contract. \u201cArguably even more demoralizing is Vox Media\u2019s decision to sell a lauded games website to a company known for alleged exploitative conditions and for devaluing rigorous journalism in favor of churning out content,\u201d it wrote in a statement<\/a><\/span>. \u201cVox Media\u2019s lack of respect for Polygon\u2019s reputation in games media, the hard work and passion of its staff, and the robust community of gamers and fans who support it could not be clearer.\u201d<\/p>\n

It continued, \u201cLosing Polygon<\/em> to such a company is not just a loss for Vox Media, but for our industry and internet culture as a whole. From a sustainability perspective, it makes little financial or long-term sense, and speaks to a lack of care and consideration for this company and its staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Update 5\/1\/2025 5:06 p.m. ET: <\/strong>Vox SVP Chris Grant, who was Polygon<\/em>\u2019s founding Editor-in-Chief<\/em>, shared insight into the deal and is apparent frustration with it on Bluesky<\/a><\/span>. \u201c14 years ago I pitched what would become Polygon to a startup called Sports Blogs Inc on the unfurnished third floor of a DC townhome,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI held a laptop on my knees and went through a deck. Today that same company\u2014now called Vox Media\u2014sold Polygon to Valnet.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cTheir press release proudly calls Polygon a \u2018premium gaming publication\u2019 but Valnet literally refused to meet with me or answer a single question of mine throughout this process. They were wildly incurious about how a gaming publication even becomes \u2018premium.\u2019 I really, truly (!) hope that the remaining Polygon team gets a chance to continue the work we all cared about so much! But somehow this is the end of my journey with the thing I created.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy most heartfelt thanks to the entire team, I\u2019m so sorry things ended this way.\u201d\ufeff<\/p>\n

Update 5\/1\/2025 12:19 p.m. ET: Added comments from the official press release. <\/em><\/p>\n

Update 5\/1\/2025 4:13 p.m. ET: Added a statement from the <\/em>Vox union. <\/em><\/p>\n

Update 5\/1\/2025 4:50 p.m. ET: Added mention of Valnet\u2019s lawsuit. <\/em><\/p>\n

.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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