The News No One Wants to Write
It’s become an all-too-common story in the gaming world, and it never gets easier to hear. On October 22, the video game website TheGamer suffered widespread editorial layoffs, with numerous talented writers, editors, and creators announcing on social media that they had been let go. According to reports from former employees, the cuts were deep, with the site’s entire features team being eliminated in one fell swoop. The site has been “decimated,” according to some who were affected.
This isn’t just a corporate reshuffle; it’s a devastating blow to the people who pour their passion into covering the industry we love. And it’s another flashing red light for the health of games journalism as a whole. While TheGamer will reportedly continue to exist in a stripped-down form, the loss of so many distinct voices is a tragedy for the site and its readers.
The Valnet Effect
The decision came from TheGamer’s parent company, Valnet, a Montreal-based media giant that owns a vast portfolio of websites, including Game Rant, OpenCritic, and, as of earlier this year, the formerly revered site Polygon. Valnet’s acquisition of Polygon also resulted in significant layoffs, and the company has developed a reputation for operating its sites like content mills. Critics argue that Valnet’s model often prioritizes SEO-driven, high-volume, low-cost articles over in-depth, quality journalism.
Many of the laid-off staff took to social media to share the heartbreaking news. Jade King, the site’s features lead, confirmed her entire team was gone. News editor Rhiannon Bevan, who remains at the company, wrote, “TheGamer is losing so much talent today, it breaks my heart. On a personal and professional level, I cannot put the loss into words.” These are not just employees; they are passionate creators who, according to colleagues, had to jump through incredible hoops to produce good work within a challenging system.
A Sickly Industry
The layoffs at TheGamer are not happening in a vacuum. They are the latest chapter in a brutal, multi-year culling of games media. According to recent data, the global pool of full-time games journalists at major publications has shrunk by a staggering 25% in just the last two years. Over 1,200 full-time journalists have left the industry and not returned. If you include freelancers and part-time writers, that number swells to over 4,000 departures since late 2023.
We’ve seen this story play out time and time again. Major outlets like IGN and Eurogamer have suffered job losses. Giant Bomb faced a massive staff exodus before its remaining members bought the brand back to run it as a fan-supported site. Now, TheGamer joins the list. The traditional, ad-supported model for online journalism is crumbling, and corporate consolidation under companies like Valnet is accelerating the decline, often leaving a hollowed-out version of a once-great publication in its wake.
FAQs
What happened at TheGamer?
The gaming news and features website suffered massive layoffs on October 22, 2025. A significant portion of the editorial staff was let go, including the entire features department.
Who owns TheGamer?
TheGamer is owned by Valnet, a large Canadian media company that also owns other popular sites like Game Rant, Screen Rant, and recently acquired Polygon.
Why were there layoffs?
The official reason given was a restructuring or “reshuffle.” However, this is part of a wider trend of cost-cutting and consolidation across games media and is consistent with Valnet’s actions after acquiring other websites.
Is TheGamer shutting down?
No. According to reports, the site will continue to operate, but with a much smaller, “slimmed-down” team. The full extent of the changes to its content strategy is not yet clear.
Is this a common problem in games journalism?
Yes, unfortunately. The industry has been hit by a wave of layoffs and site closures for the past few years. Data shows a significant decline in the number of working games journalists, affecting outlets big and small.
Who is Valnet?
Valnet is a digital media investment company that specializes in acquiring and monetizing a large portfolio of entertainment and news websites. Their business model is often criticized for prioritizing search engine optimization and content volume over deep, investigative journalism.
Conclusion
Every time a round of layoffs like this happens, the gaming world loses something valuable. It loses diverse perspectives, critical analysis, and the unique voices that help us make sense of this massive, complicated hobby. While it’s easy to be cynical about “gaming journalism,” the reality is that the people losing their jobs are often passionate, talented, and trying to do good work under increasingly difficult circumstances. The gutting of TheGamer is a loss for everyone who cares about games, and a stark warning about the precarious future of the media that covers them.