IGN, the popular gaming website, has acquired the Gamer Network group of websites, including influential sites like Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun, and VG247. This major acquisition has raised concerns about consolidation in the industry, as larger companies buying smaller ones often leads to layoffs and job duplication. Xbox’s acquisition of Bethesda serves as a recent example of this trend. The Gamer Network group had been up for sale after its previous owner, ReedPop, decided to part ways with it. As a result, several senior staff members have already left the sites, and more job losses are expected.
The Gamer Network includes Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247, GamesIndustry.biz, and Dicebreaker. It also has shares in Hookshot, which operates Nintendo Life, Push Square, Pure Xbox, and Time Extension, as well as Outside Xbox and Digital Foundry. While IGN won’t fully own Digital Foundry, it is expected to continue running their content through Eurogamer. VGC, another site contracted by Gamer Network, is privately owned and not part of the sale.
The acquisition has already resulted in layoffs, with Rock Paper Shotgun’s deputy editor, Alice Bell, being among those affected. This news has sparked discussions about the changing media landscape in the UK gaming industry, with only a few dedicated sites remaining independent from American companies. Gamer Network, previously a family business until 2018, was sold to ReedPop, which focused more on live events like EGX and MCM. The decision to sell the website business was not unexpected.
The exact amount IGN paid for the sites and the full extent of the job losses are currently unknown. This acquisition reflects a troubling trend in the gaming industry, where a single company owning multiple sites can have a negative impact on consumers and employees alike. It remains to be seen how this consolidation will affect the UK gaming media landscape in the long run.
