The gaming site sponsored by Walmart lays off its editorial staff

# The gaming site sponsored by Walmart lays off its editorial staff Source: [https://www.theverge.com/games/977056/restart-gaming-site-walmart-moonrock-layoffs](https://www.theverge.com/games/977056/restart-gaming-site-walmart-moonrock-layoffs) Restart’s former editor\-in\-chief says the ‘entire editorial team’ has been cut\. Restart’s former editor\-in\-chief says the ‘entire editorial team’ has been cut\. by Aug 7, 2026, 10:05 PM UTC   Image: The Verge [](https://www.theverge.com/authors/jay-peters) Jay Peters is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more\. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme\. *Restart*, a games media website launched[in late 2024](https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/17/24323309/walmart-restart-run-game-informer-ziff-davis-buyouts)that was sponsored by Walmart, has laid off its “entire editorial team,” according to[a Friday post](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:qir7w72of6577cnzgh3xr3mb/post/3msjehfgngc2d?ref_src=embed)from Brandy Berthelson, the site’s former editor\-in\-chief\. Other staffers[have](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:s4uzm3jecxyczihggkp3dyfb/post/3msjbx77d2s2u?ref_src=embed)[also](https://bsky.app/profile/imrankhan.bsky.social/post/3msjbnppvgs24)[posted](https://bsky.app/profile/mylesobenza.bsky.social/post/3msjc5tsq2c2l)about being laid off\. *Restart*is operated by Moonrock, a content marketing agency, though its[editorial mission page says](https://www.restart.run/editorial-mission)it’s “powered” by Walmart\. That page outlines how Walmart is \(or was\) involved: > When we mention a game, we’ll provide purchase links that will take you to Walmart using a partner tracking code\. This link provides us with 0% of the sale if you decide to buy the product, but it does help Walmart see exactly how customers arrived at the product\.According to that page,*Restart*operated as an “independent site” and said that Walmart “doesn’t influence our editorial direction\.” According to that page, Restart operated as an “independent site” and said that Walmart “doesn’t influence our editorial direction\.” Basically,*Restart*was Walmart’s take on something like*Game Informer*, which*used*to be owned by GameStop\. A few months before the launch of*Restart*,[GameStop shut*Game Informer*down](https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/2/24212016/game-informer-shutting-down-layoffs-gamestop), though it’s[since been revived](https://www.theverge.com/news/635915/game-informer-return-gunzilla-games)under new ownership\. Berthelson says she is[“not able”](https://bsky.app/profile/brandyberthelson.bsky.social/post/3msjit7fl7s2d)to discuss details of the layoffs\. One laid off staffer tells*The Verge*that they signed a severance agreement with Moonrock\. As of this writing,*Restart*[remains online](https://www.restart.run/)\. It’s unclear if Walmart and Moonrock will continue operating the site following the layoffs, and if so, what that will look like\. Walmart and Moonrock didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment\. **Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\. - Jay Peters ## The Verge Daily A free daily digest of the news that matters most\.