Video game website Polygon has been sold to click-farm powerhouse Valnet, with over 20 staff members laid off as part of the deal. The sale was announced in a press release that did not mention the layoffs. Deputy Editor Maddy Myers and Games Editor Zoë Hannah are among those who remain at Polygon.
Co-founder Chris Plante, who is no longer with the site, expressed his support for other former employees looking for work. “I’ll say more later, but I no longer have a job,” shared Senior Reporter Nicole Carpenter, in a statement. Senior Writer Michael McWhertor also posted about leaving the site, saying he has ideas and would like to write.
Polygon was founded in 2012 under Vox Media as one of the premier outlets for original reviews, reporting, and cultural analysis in gaming. Its forward-looking design sensibility helped elevate online storytelling.
Valnet, based in Montreal, operates Screen Rant, Game Rant, Comic Book Resources, and other mass aggregators. The company’s founder, Hassan Youssef, has faced criticism from former contributors who accused Valnet of being exploitative content mills.
Source: https://kotaku.com/polygon-sold-vox-media-valnet-layoffs-digital-gaming-1851778655