Walmart-sponsored gaming site Restart cuts editorial staff
Former editor-in-chief Brandy Berthelson confirms the dismissal of all editorial personnel at the affiliate-driven media platform, leaving the site’s operational future uncertain.
Restart, a gaming media website launched in late 2024 and sponsored by Walmart, has laid off its entire editorial team. The announcement was made on Friday by Brandy Berthelson, the site’s former editor-in-chief, who confirmed that all editorial staff had been cut. Other employees have also posted online regarding their departure, with one former staffer confirming to The Verge that they had signed a severance agreement with Moonrock, the content marketing agency that operates the platform.
The outlet was structured as an independent site with an editorial mission page stating that Walmart did not influence its editorial direction. However, the business model relied heavily on Walmart providing affiliate links. When games were featured, purchase links directed users to Walmart using a partner tracking code. The site’s guidelines noted that while this provided no commission to the outlet, it allowed Walmart to track customer acquisition paths.
Restart’s operational model drew comparisons to Game Informer, which was previously owned by GameStop. GameStop shut down Game Informer a few months prior to Restart’s launch, although the publication has since been revived under new ownership. Restart remained online as of the time of reporting, though it is unclear whether Walmart and Moonrock will continue to operate the website following the departure of the editorial staff.
Berthelson stated she was not able to discuss further details regarding the layoffs. Requests for comment sent to Walmart and Moonrock did not receive immediate responses. The specific operational structure or future of the site, if it continues, remains unknown.
The event is categorised under media and retail, despite some retrieval contexts erroneously classifying it under artificial-intelligence. The relationship between the layoffs and the site’s future status is speculative until confirmed by the involved parties.
