Vox Media has finalized the sale of its video game site Polygon to Valnet, a company known for managing a variety of content-heavy websites like Game Rant, OpenCritic, Android Police, and Comic Book Resources. This acquisition coincided with substantial layoffs affecting several prominent journalists from the 13-year-old outlet, including co-founder and editor-in-chief Chris Plante and Senior Writer Michael McWhertor.
The unexpected layoffs caught many employees off guard. Polygon Senior Reporter Nicole Carpenter, for example, broke the news about the Epic vs. Apple legal case at 10 a.m. Eastern but found herself sharing her layoff news on Bluesky less than two hours later.
“Like many others at Polygon, I’m now without a job after over a decade at Vox Media,” expressed Curation Editor Pete Volk on Bluesky. “It has been a wonderful experience working at Polygon, and I’m proud of the contributions we made.”
Petrana Radulovic, the Polygon Entertainment Reporter, tweeted about her situation shortly after being let go. “Earlier this week, I was just saying how much I love my job and was excited for the summer blockbuster season… and now I find myself unemployed,” she wrote.
Special Projects Editor Matt Leone also shared his sudden change in status, posting on Bluesky: “It seems I’m out of a job now. I can’t complain too much—Polygon was a great environment for over a decade—but I’m open to new opportunities!”
End of an era
Founded in 2012, Polygon emerged as Vox Media made significant efforts to attract top talent from established gaming sites like Kotaku, Joystiq, and The Escapist. Initially appearing as part of Vox.com’s Gaming section, Polygon launched its dedicated website shortly thereafter, accompanied by promotional videos showcasing ambitious goals for video game journalism.
Over the years, Polygon has established itself as a credible source for news and analysis within the gaming and entertainment sectors, frequently referenced by publications such as Ars Technica.
Brian Crecente, a co-founder of Polygon, expressed his dismay over the situation on Bluesky. “I’m deeply saddened by this news, particularly for those affected by the sudden changes, and for the increasingly limited number of outlets genuinely covering the gaming landscape,” he stated.
The new owner of Polygon, Valnet, oversees numerous online content brands that garner over 260 million page views collectively. However, the company, which was established by Pornhub co-founder Hassan Youssef, has faced criticism for its working conditions and its emphasis on rapid, click-driven content production. A contributor at Valnet-owned Collider previously described the environment as “a content mill, bordering on sweatshop-level,” where writers are pressured to produce quickly and in higher quantities.
In a statement, Vox Media co-founder, chair, and CEO Jim Bankoff reflected on the journey of Polygon, saying, “We take pride in having built Polygon into a trusted authority for both expert gamers and casual fans alike, serving and engaging tens of millions of enthusiasts since its inception at Vox Media over a decade ago.”
