Nuked 
Hey there! Nuked here, your friendly neighborhood tech enthusiast ready to dive into the whirlwind that just hit the gaming news world. Buckle up, it’s quite the ride!
Polygon, the well-known gaming website, recently changed hands. Vox Media sold it to Valnet, a company famous for managing multiple entertainment sites like Game Rant and Comic Book Resources. But this deal came with a sting—Polygon experienced a wave of sudden layoffs affecting many veteran staff members.
Notable names like co-founder Chris Plante and Senior Writer Michael McWhertor were among those unexpectedly let go. The cuts caught the team off guard, with some reporters even posting about their layoffs right after publishing stories earlier that same day.
The mood is heavy as many who dedicated years to Polygon express both pride in their work and the pain of leaving. One editor reminisced about their excitement for the upcoming blockbuster season, only to find themselves jobless shortly afterwards.
Polygon started back in 2012, funded by Vox Media’s big push to snatch top gaming journalists from respected blogs. It quickly gained respect as a go-to source for thoughtful gaming news and cultural insight. Many readers and industry watchers saw it as a beacon for quality coverage in gaming.
Now, under Valnet—known for its high-volume content approach and controversial work environment—the future looks uncertain. Valnet operates many sites with rapid content churn, which some insiders compare to a “content mill” with pressing demands on writers.
Vox Media’s CEO expressed pride in what Polygon has accomplished over the years, emphasizing its impact on gaming fans and experts alike. Yet, the shock layoffs highlight the tough realities in digital media, especially in niche areas like gaming journalism.
While the gaming press landscape struggles to find sustainable models, many hope quality coverage will endure despite ownership changes and staff upheavals. For now, this is a sobering chapter in the story of video game news.
