Polygon, a gaming site formerly owned by Vox Media, has been acquired by Valnet, a media conglomerate with interests in gaming, entertainment, sports, and more. Rony Arzoumanian, Valnet’s head of mergers and acquisitions, spoke about the deal and its implications for Polygon.
Arzoumanian stated that Valnet is “bullish” on gaming coverage and sees potential in Polygon, which he considers a “triple-A gaming brand.” He declined to share details about the acquisition terms but emphasized that Valnet will ensure Polygon has “deepest” coverage of the gaming space. The new owner plans to rebuild the team, invest in operations, and maintain quality for at least five years.
Notably, most staff members left or were laid off following the sale, including former editor-in-chief Chris Plante. Arzoumanian acknowledged concerns from Chris Grant, Vox Media’s group publisher of The Verge and Polygon, who claimed Valnet refused to meet with him during the transition.
However, Arzoumanian assured that Valnet will keep Polygon’s archives available, unlike some other publications. He also denied plans to introduce AI-generated stories, contradicting recent trends at other media outlets. Valnet aims to maintain its course and invest in the brand over the next year, with no significant changes expected.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for Polygon under Valnet’s ownership.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/660635/polygon-valnet-vox-media-new-owner-interview