IGN owner Ziff Davis has cut several prominent video game journalists and podcast hosts, including Seth Macy and Brian Altano, according to reporting by Kotaku.
Industry Impact of IGN’s Latest Staff Reductions
The video game website reduced its workforce across multiple business departments, according to Kotaku. Long-time staff members and public faces of the network lost their jobs during the cuts. Brian Altano, who worked at the outlet since 2009 and hosted the PlayStation podcast Beyond, was among those let go. Seth Macy, a senior commerce team editor and host of Nintendo Voice Chat, confirmed his departure on X.
Other departments felt the immediate impact of the restructuring. Bo Moore, senior manager of tech coverage, posted on Bluesky that he was laid off on a major publishing day. According to Moore, his team covered Valve’s Steam Frame launch, editing seven stories despite his own layoff notification.
Did You Know?
Ziff Davis acquired a portfolio of gaming outlets in 2024, including Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun, and has instituted sporadic editorial cuts since the acquisition.
Timing and Precedent of Ziff Davis Restructuring
The timing of these cuts mirrors previous reductions at the publisher. According to an IGN Creators Guild member speaking to Aftermath, the company has a habit of executing layoffs immediately following successful promotional events. This round follows IGN Live, the site’s annual Los Angeles event coinciding with Summer Game Fest, and an on-site coverage blitz at San Diego Comic-Con.
A smaller group of employees, including engineers, was similarly laid off just days after IGN Live concluded earlier in the year. Executive departures have also marked the timeline; previous publisher John Davison exited the company just over a year ago and was not formally replaced, according to industry reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was affected by the recent IGN layoffs?
Prominent staff members including long-time video host Brian Altano, senior commerce team editor Seth Macy, and senior manager of tech coverage Bo Moore were among those laid off, according to reports from Kotaku and staff posts on social media.
Who owns IGN?
IGN is owned by Ziff Davis, which acquired other gaming publications like Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun in 2024.
When did these layoffs occur?
The latest cuts were reported in September 2026, following a previous round of engineering layoffs that occurred shortly after the IGN Live event.
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