Eurogamer, the long-standing British gaming publication, is undergoing significant editorial cuts following its acquisition by IGN Entertainment. Reports indicate that the layoffs have impacted the brand's most experienced editors and resulted in the dissolution of its entire four-person video team.
Wider Impact on Gamer Network
The restructuring extends beyond Eurogamer to other brands under the Gamer Network umbrella. Behind-the-scenes staff reductions have reportedly occurred at Outside Xbox, a popular video channel with a subscriber base exceeding 3.5 million.
These changes follow IGN's acquisition of the Gamer Network brands from ReedPop in May 2024. Since the takeover, the group has faced continued instability, including the closure of Dicebreaker and a significant exodus of talent from GamesIndustry.biz. Additionally, Digital Foundry successfully spun out to become an independent entity during this period of consolidation.
A Shrinking Industry Landscape
The recent layoffs highlight a turbulent period for games journalism as a whole. According to data from Press Engine, the global pool of video game journalists has contracted by 25% over the past two years, translating to a loss of over 1,200 writing positions.
Industry analysts point to a combination of factors driving this decline, including the post-pandemic market correction and algorithmic changes by Google that have affected traffic. Gareth Williams, co-founder of Press Engine, noted that a shift in advertising revenue and the proliferation of AI-generated content have further strained traditional media outlets.
As publications struggle to adapt to a landscape dominated by social media and service-based games, the future of specialist gaming media remains uncertain. The remaining staff at Gamer Network brands are reportedly concerned about the direction of these historic outlets, which have changed drastically in a short period.
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