The renowned gaming website polygon was sold by Vox Media to the controversial media company Valnet. Shortly after the deal, a large part of the editorial team was released – without warning. The founder is also shocked.
Polygon shock: Gaming page goes to Clickbait giant
Polygon, a website that has been established for over ten years around video games, films, comics and digital pop culture, belongs to the Canadian media company Valnet. The previous owner, Vox Media, sold the platform – apparently without informing the employees concerned in good time or involving the process. Over 20 employees were released immediately after the takeover.
Long -standing managers also lost their positions. This was not publicly not made by the companies themselves, but by personal contributions to those affected on platforms such as Bluesky and X. Chris Plante, co -founder and long -time editor -in -chief, wrote: “I will not say anything else for sale because I was not involved.” Founder Chris Grant was also shocked.
Since its foundation in 2012, Polygon had made a name for itself with detailed game tests, journalistically sound analyzes and creative forms of representation – aspects that are now presumably under discussion under Valnet. Because the new owner operates portals such as screen rant or comic book resources, which are known for mass -produced, search engine -optimized content. According to a previous report by Thewrap a former employee Valnet described as “one of the worst journalistic publications that I have ever worked”.
It is a company without clear goals or morality that presents itself as a safe harbor for young and experienced authors, but in the end it pays miserable wages and forces its employees to produce clickbait waste in producing thewrap of former Valnet employees
Noted
In the official press release, Valnet Managing Director Hassan Youssef emphasizes the strategic value of buying: Polygon should expand the company’s “editorial strength”. Loud Kotaku the first thing that reported on the layoffs remained with a few leaders in the platform. Details on the purchase amount are not known.
The process also comes across criticism within the media industry: the Vox Media union called the sale “demoralizing” and a loss “for the entire Internet culture”. Chris Grant, once the founding of Polygon, commented even more clearly: “Valnet has refused to speak to me or even to answer one question.” For many, the question now arises whether polygon can continue to exist under the new owner in its previous form.
