IGN Entertainment acquires Eurogamer, GI, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun and more

IGN Entertainment has acquired the Gamer Network family of digital brands for an undisclosed sum. As a result of the acquisition, some redundancies have been made across the UK-based organisation.

[darthv72]

Well this can only mean one thing... more job layoffs even in the publication industry.

[Jin_Sakai]

“Layoffs occuring“

Yep. IGN now has a monopoly in the gaming media.

“As a result of the acquisition, some redundancies have been made across the UK-based organisation.”

“Gamer Network's publications are GamesIndustry.biz, Eurogamer (including six local language editions), Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247 and Dicebreaker. The business also holds shares in Outside Xbox, Digital Foundry and Hookshot (which operates Nintendolife, PushSquare, PureXbox and Time Extension).”

“IGN Entertainment is the division of Ziff Davis that includes IGN, MapGenie, HowLongToBeat, and Humble Bundle. It has acquired the websites from PAX and New York Comic-Con organiser ReedPop, which initially bought the Gamer Network business in 2018.“

[Jingsing]

When say IGN you mean Microsoft's chief propagandist.

[VenomUK]

Surprising news, also a little sad as the magazine era is over and the website era is slowly coming to an end. But it must be said that many of the bastards who work at these places have operated as a mafia to control opinion on not only what can be said about games, but who can be allowed to talk about them, and what can be allowed to feature in them or not. As said above, redundancies are coming, Eurogamer pays the highest salaries for a team of staff who for some their output is minimal. Eurogamer also campaigned against Hogwarts Legacy and refused to review it -, the site took a hit. PAX has probably thought to cut its losses. Some job layoffs? I know of some of these people and they took pride in excluding - I will shed no tears.

[S2Killinit]

This is good news for Microsoft. IGN is like their advertisement arm.

[Abear21]

This is exactly what Microsoft needs to better their image, control over the narrative by having the same message come from different colors umbrellas that are all really made by the same company.

[Simon_the_sorcerer]

You're right about every single thing that you said...

[-Foxtrot]

All this means is a collective hive mind when reporting the news

They’ll discuss with each other how to handle topics and what kind of headlines to go with so they can fire round after round of whatever point they want to make

And the sad thing is over the many years even to the old GameGate days they love making gamers look bad as a collective. Anything for a hit piece.

[victorMaje]

Narrative control. I don’t like this at all.
Independent reviewers will be more important than ever.

[Eonjay]

Its actual censorship.

[JEECE]

"They’ll discuss with each other how to handle topics and what kind of headlines to go with so they can fire round after round of whatever point they want to make."

You say this like it will be a new thing that they didn't already do.

[OtterX]

Yea, I had actually just seen today on Linkedin that a GamesIndustry.biz guy was talking about being laid off. I didn't read all of his post, but I bet it's because of this. That's a shame to hear. :\

[MestreRothN4G]

All praise the late stage capitalism God, the only real One
\o/

[Babadook7]

Hopefully the IGNorant journalists get the boot and not EG.

[Petebloodyonion]

Probably Microsoft's fault!
They surely gave IGN the idea.
What's next IGN Pass?

But joke aside let's hope that this makes the news better compared to some of IGN branches

[Jingsing]

Microsoft and IGN work quite closely so it isn't a stretch to say this is a move to control the gaming press to get everyone singing from the Microsoft hymn sheet. Not a good look at all. It is transparent stuff like this which is backfiring in Microsoft's face. First they want control of all the games now the media.

[crazyCoconuts]

While there's obviously a desire to preserve add revenue and early access to review copies, I doubt there's the level of conspiracy here that you imply. I mean there's no direct link between MS and IGN right?

[Petebloodyonion]

You're probably right!!!!
Here's MS evil plan
1) Make sure that Hellblade 2 receives inflated reviews.
2) Fire all the ppl across UK who gave Starfield the justified 6/10 reviews
3) Make sure that Game industry.biz stops giving Sony's president a tribute to spew their lies and have them talk to Sarah Bonds and Todd Howard only.
4) Control the majority of players for the GOTY award so MS wins from now on.

PPL needs to know about this!

[Jingsing]

@crazyCoconuts The world has moved on from "direct links" as companies were easily caught doing that. These days corporations can merely operate as a cartel through shared mutual interest which is not strictly kosher either but is also more difficult to prove. It's the fundamental flaw with big corporations in the US economy today and no one in power is addressing it.

[Lightning77]

Is there proof to anything you're saying?

I've never heard of anything like this or is this N4G once again make believing stuff outta thin air again?

[crazyCoconuts]

@jing if you have proof then I stand corrected.
Otherwise it seems like more conspiratorial thinking to explain what could otherwise be explained by natural forces of market economies.
Don't get me wrong, I believe there is bias all over and unsavory influences. I just don't think it's all centrally planned by evil villains in a smoke-filled room

[S2Killinit]

I don't think anyone has proof but my personal experience corroborates what he is saying about IGN being in MS’s corner for whatever reason.

Granted, Last time I visited IGN regularly was years ago, I literally stopped once I realized the huge bias they showed in favor of xbox. Their pages for the two consoles were fundamentally different. When they would invite xbox president he was treated completely different than when Shuhei Yoshida was invited. The xbox pres was treated as one of their own. There was just too many examples, it wasn’t even much of a secret.

[Jingsing]

@Lighting77 The proof is in the pudding, "Partnerships for Events: Microsoft and IGN partner for specific events or showcases." "Sponsored Segments: Microsoft has sponsored segments within IGN's showcases." "Industry Relationships: Microsoft and IGN, as major players in the gaming industry, simply have good working relationships. This leads to collaborations on shows & joint announcements without any ownership involved." They just had an event together recently. The crux of it is money is being exchanged for favors, when that happens editorial independence goes out the window.

There was controversy about Microsoft having involvement with Polygon in the past and it proved to be real and effected their editorial bias. "Investment in Web3 Startup: Microsoft's venture capital arm, M12, participated in a $20 million funding round for Space and Time, a Web3 data warehousing platform, alongside Polygon (amongst other investors) "

[shinoff2183]

I mean news did come out the same day hellblade did.

Jk

[Petebloodyonion]

The embargo was to make sure IGN had time to finalize the deal and make sure Eurogamer gave this game a 5 stars instead of a 3.

Man, how devious and low can Microsoft go just to promote Gamepass
I heard that it costs a ton of money to MS and they will raise the price of Gamepass by a lot of money just to compensate
true story

[Christopher]

Oh boy! If we've learned one thing about recent news, corporate shrinkage of an industry via buyouts from those at top only leads to good things for employees and consumers!

[Aloymetal]

100%!!
IGN and Eurogamer...A match made in heaven!!

[thesoftware730]

Aloy!
Yes, good credible websites, I agree, it is a good match.

IGN is one of the most trusted gaming sites, weather you like it or not, but I know because they don't fit the N4G goofiness bubble, they can't be good.

[shinoff2183]

I left ign years ago. Used to be on the ign forums all the time. I left there and found here. Not sure if you remember but this place used to be pretty bad for Sony fans. 360 was king for a few years. Anyone I don't quite remember but ign changed. Whatever the fk it was it seemed for the worse.

[VenomUK]

You’re right Christopher, just look at how N4G has improved since the buyout. .

[Huey_My_D_Long]

I think the consolidation is an issue. the whole conspiracy angle n4g guys are playing at by saying MS gave IGN money for this is annoying, but overall the Consolidation is not a good move.

[Christopher]

I'm not on the bribing for reviews thing. Scores themselves should be ignored entirely as far as I'm concerned. But, consolidation is not helping anyone but to solidify IGN even more than ever before. Less competition at the top.

[Lexreborn2]

Ummmm not sure that’s a good thing that all these review sites are under the same umbrella. There’s no guarantee that they will maintain a non-bias opinion not paid for by the highest bidder.

[MrNinosan]

They haven't been non-bias since GamePass was crowned "best service in gaming".

[Amplitude]

You can go much farther back than that. Never forget the Kane and Lynch 2 review drama

Edit: wait that was GameSpot. Still though - don't trust these websites for anything. Find YouTubers like who's opinions you agree with and watch them instead. GaminylGames, Minimme, Digital Foundry, GMan, whatever. All better than these ad-filled "reviews" from people who are forced to play games and score with an arbitrary number

[MrNinosan]

@Amplitude
Digital Foundry has lost my trust ever since they got that MS money, but other than that, I'm with you.

If I'm on the fence of a game, I wait till the reviewers that share my taste has given their opinion.

[Cockney]

@MrNinosan
I didn't blame Microsoft for inviting digital foundry to expressly launch their new hardware, I mean good move by them getting a non bias technology focused influencer to gush about the series x, my issue is they took them up on their offer, taking a blatant sweetener like that really irks me, ever since I view their content with a pinch of salt

[Charal]

Ouch, that does not sounds good for Eurogamer.
With so much of the industry media that will more or less follow the same editorial line, it will be harder and harder to distinguish PR from actual journalism in a couple of years.

Thinking about it, may it explain their review score for Hellblade 2?

[Christopher]

***harder and harder to distinguish PR from actual journalism in a couple of years. ***

The age of gaming advertorials.

[Petebloodyonion]

You're right all of this is just to promote Hellblade 2 and inflate the score.
Also the why cuts are indeed coming to Eurogamer and other UK branches because they only gave Starfield an average score.

[Jingsing]

Shed the non US assets that are not favorable to Xbox keep the US assets that are. Microsoft are going to deliver crap and they are going to tell you their crap is good and you are going to buy it. That seems to be the strategy. At this point I just want them out of gaming as they are operating like cancer.

[VenomUK]

YouTubers ursurped the games media years ago.

[victorMaje]

Exactly right. No more journalists. Just 1 take regurgitated & paraphrased down the chain. Smh.

[Abear21]

Their marketing budget is nonexistent. Instead they will publish articles for you to click on this site to get information (biased propaganda) about their games and ad dollars from you here and on their website too.

This is the new marketing strategy

[Friendlygamer]

Eurogamer and Rock and paper had some of the worst takes I've ever read so making said sites worse will be challenging but i trust ign

[Phiidyn]

Oh good, more consolidation. Because that's what we consumers need; more corporate empires to dictate how we should spend our time and how we should shape our opinions.

The power dynamic in the corporate world is totally screwed up right now.

[Goosebumps]

Gutted that GamerBiz was apart of this. It's going to turn into a clickbait, ad spammed site. It was one of the last places you could read up on developer news and comments, without a PR filter. GG I guess.

[MrNinosan]

IGN thanks MS for the money to purchase the whole industry so even more reviews can be controlled the "right" direction.

Well played MS.

[dumahim]

Hopefully DF will end their relationship with Eurogamer and just put their articles on their own site going forward.

[GamingSinceForever]

Looks like IGN is going to now control the narrative. Can’t have IGN and Eurogamer having differing opinions on something critical. Like they stated there is also some redundancy that will be dealt with accordingly.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Gee thanks ign that's just what we wanted.

[thesoftware730]

I swear for gaming, that is supposed to be fun you guys complain about everything, Lord have mercy! every single thing that happens, you guys form conspiracy theories, and then bitch and moan about your own conspiracy.

[Eonjay]

I find your lack of concern for things like consolidation, layoffs, rising costs, and rampant advertising really odd. Imagine that in order to get good press now you HAVE to satisfy the right people. It bullies publishers into conforming. If you get blacklisted from one major publication, now that carries to others who are actually all owned by the same people. It may sound like a conspiracy theory, but the ability to control information is the power to impose your will. And the danger is real.

[thesoftware730]

Look Eonjay I get it, I understand the way the world and situation works,

layoffs suck, it's hardly new, and it will never be a happy situation, but it has been going on for like 4-5 years now and every time we have this gigantic blowout like the world is about to end. The pandemic really changed the world in many ways, and to some extent things are trying to balance out.

rising cost sucks, but it is affecting the world, not just video games, like you know food is essential and games are not, there is so much ways you can save money, sales, sub services, second hand, borrowing from friends, or just waiting for a general price drop, and in this case why don't you just visit the gaming you like reading or feel the most in tune with, trust me there are 100s, what are you afraid of? Spinning what media? Is it that you guys think gaming sites will make MS win the console war?!! Hahaha, just stop.

I could care less personally(not saying it's good) about advertising, as I grew up with normal television and commercial were a thing, not now that you can pay for no commercial on streaming service people act like ads is the end of the world...it's such a trivial thing that you have to see a sprite logo in a game or a commercial for a game.

All I'm saying is that you guys overblow these issues, create situation and still purchase the games and console, and still read the website...if it's this much DANGER do your part and stop doing the very thing you preaching doom and gloom about. One small example is that many on here claim to have sub services, but still sign up for PS Plus and when a certain games come out sub to GP for a month or two... supporting the very thing they hate.

[shinoff2183]

The software730. I'm with you on everything up to the subscription thing. Alot of us said day 1 releases are bad. Not the subscription as a whole. I'm subscribed to both but pretty much waste my money since I typically buy what I'm playing. Anyway I think from what I've seen the lot of us say day 1 is the issue. It's showing to.

[The3faces]

Facts 💯

[Barlos]

Oh dear. This will affect Digital Foundry no doubt, as they're part of Eurogamer. They're about to lose a lot of credibility.

[darthv72]

They should be unaffected as they use a bespoke means of reviewing and collecting the data they present which does not allow for outside influences.

Of course, I just made that all up because I wanted to use the word 'bespoke' in a fancy sounding sentence like Richard does.

[thesoftware730]

Ha! That is great! I have never actually used the work 'bespoke' in any form, let me try!!!

I guess I'm in the minority because IGN is bespoken to me, and I often, more than not agree with their reviews of games, and Movies.

Please tell me I used bespoken correctly!!!

[Barlos]

Yeah but you know that IGN will add a caveat or two and will definitely make changes. Maybe not in the here and now, but in the future, right?

Sorry I turned into an amalgamation of John and Rich there 🙃

[Barlos]

@thesoftware730 nice try, pretty close. I saw what you was getting at. It's bespoke, not bespoken. Basically it means a custom or unique thing. In darth's example he was saying that DF have a unique or custom made way of reviewing. Give them a watch it's one of Richard's favourite words, just like John says caveat all the time.

You did give me a chuckle though, so props for that 🤣

[Profchaos]

Oh no that means those numptys over at IGN who don't know the difference between a polygon and a pixel now own a share of digital foundry.

[Skuletor]

Oh no, the IGNorance is spreading.

[Rebel_Scum]

Cant wait to see Eurogamers article pun for this.

[Hereandthere]

Now i see why they gave hellblade 2 great scores, xbox is good friends with ign now a days.

[Good-Smurf]

Eurogamer gave it basically 10/10 lol and other than its graphics I failed to see why it deserved such a score.
All the glowing reviews actually makes all the sense now, Microsoft really did tried to control the gaming media didn't think I was right for one thing and when I do why does it had to be something this sinister?!

[Chocoburger]

Damn it, IGN was already too big for its own good. This is bad news, I do visit some of those sites, such as Digital Foundry and Time Extension.

We'll never know what's going on behind the scenes, and if they're being influenced in some way. This sucks!

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Cmon more consolidation this isn't going to be good now

[Good-Smurf]

I knew it became clear ever since IGN did that ID@Xbox showcase exclusively last month and yesterday the unusually glowing reviews of Hellblade II from both IGN and especially Eurogamer who was about to get acquired so they're have to be a good boy to their new masters.
I noticed weird damage control defending their review left and right from eurogamer staff like Chris Tapsell.

[Asterphoenix]

Good thing I don't take much notice of these journalists most of the times. Gamer reviews do more for me than corporate reviewers.

[gold_drake]

oh dear, im sure this leads to only good things /s

[SimpleDad]

This is a dying genre in game reviews. I believe all these publications were money struggling and prepared themselves to be bought.
You gonna tell me that you hanged around in their articles, watch their web page ads and argued in their comment sections?
Of course not, you just red the title and wrote here an essay.

Who reads Eurogamer?
We all know we like to count pixels on DF YouTube.

Dying genre.

Oh, and HellBlade 2 proves it. 10/10 articles. MY God. 5h walking game.

Have you seen Elden Ring DLC trailer? Yeah... I cried.

[Barlos]

IGN never, ever touch Gameranx!

[Markdn]

A Disaster for unbiased news and reviews. Oh well at least we only need to visit one site now to know the review scores on the others lol

[ooquis]

Get ready for more controversial 7/10 reviews.

[RiseNShine]

Terrrible news for journalism, different media should never be controlled by a single big company.

[Abear21]

Don’t google who controls all the news

[SoloGamer1]

welp.. if those companies werent woke and biased before, they definitely will be now 🙄😕

[anast]

Every game gets an 8 now.

[repsahj]

Expect more 10/10 reviews from MS games even it's crap and average.

[Abear21]

No wonder Eurogamer is so pro Microsoft lately, they are being bought by a company that is essentially owned by M$ and would have failed if not for their investments.

Oh IGN, selling out is exactly what I expected since they became a pop culture website and less about gaming.

[DustMan]

I miss the good old days of having a magazine subscription to IGN, and GamePro. Loved getting them in the mail as a kid. I'm not going to lie. I basically learned how to read because of gaming publications, and game manuals. Freaking shame that era is gone.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

That is... A lot of consolidation, having said that, I haven't used/trusted those sites in years, but I'm sure this won't be good for the industry or it's customers.

[VincentVanBro]

eurogamer was one of my absolute favorites for years. Can't wait to see how IGN ruins it.

[Abear21]

If they get them to stop using the word bespoke in every article it’ll be an improvement

[VincentVanBro]

Swing and a miss