Over 100 GameStop employees laid off, including Game Informer editorial staff
GRAPEVINE, Tex. (Heartland Newsfeed) — In a press release Tuesday, GameStop announced the layoff of over a hundred employees as part of an ongoing company initiative.
The job cuts, as part of the company’s Reboot initiative to reform the company for future longevity and allowed for financial performance improvements, involved multiple divisions within the company from the corporate headquarters in Grapevine, Tex. to Game Informer magazine staffers.
A statement to gaming website GameSpot stated that more than 120 staff positions were impacted, a reduction of approximately 14% of the company’s workforce.
The Reboot initiative was implemented after the company failed to sell in 2018, citing struggles to compete against the growing digital gaming marketplace, which has led to pushing a greater emphasis on used game and pop culture collectible sales — which is slowing the company’s decline, not stopping it.
The release described the difficult, yet necessary, changes — which were needed to reduce costs and optimize the business to meet future objectives and fulfill factors for success. It added their appreciation for those who were dedicated to their service while employed by them and have committed to supporting them during their job transition.
Among those laid off were 19 full-time members of Game Informer’s editorial team, seven of which have made announcements on Twitter that they received their pink slips: managing editor Matt Bertz, senior editor Imran Khan, senior associate editors Kyle Hilliard and Jeff Marchiafava and associate editors Suriel Vazquez, Elise Favis and Javy Gwaltney.
Today GameStop informed me that I don’t work at Game Informer anymore. I was very proud to manage and work alongside that incredible team of editors, designers, writers, podcasters, programmers, videographers, and gamers. They will always be fam to me.
— mattbertz (@mattbertz) August 20, 2019
My position at Game Informer was eliminated today. Thank you to all the readers, the fans who have sent me nice messages over the years, my colleagues, and everyone in the industry who made me feel welcome. You all made this the best experience of my life.
— Imran Khan (@imranzomg) August 20, 2019
I was laid off from Game Informer this morning which was surprising and heartbreaking. Writing for the magazine gave me some of the best experiences of my life. I absolutely adore everyone I worked with and consider them genuine friends.
— Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard) August 20, 2019
While I’m on fucking vacation.
— Jeff Marchiafava (@GIJeffM) August 20, 2019
I was laid off this morning so today was my last at Game Informer. Thanks to everyone who’s made this whole experience a blast over the years, let me know if you have leads on potential work, and unionize your workplace.
— Suriel (@SurielVazquez) August 20, 2019
I was laid off and today is my last day at Game Informer…along with a handful of colleagues. I’m heartbroken. I loved my work so much. But if you know of anywhere that’s hiring, give me a heads up. Thanks to everyone who has read my words. <3
— Elise Favis (@elisefavis) August 20, 2019
Javy Gwaltney also got laid off today. amazingly talented writer. i knew him from his Interactive Fiction Fund before he started, and was glad to hear he got picked up by GI. he is a force for good in this industry and i love him.
— The Benign Bumbler (@leovader) August 20, 2019
Game Informer editor-in-chief Andy McNamara also tweeted that he was “trying to get things right with my people” and stated that he “needs to focus on his GI family” at this time, especially those impacted by the layoffs.
I appreciate all the love. I see it. I feel it. I am trying to get things right with my people. I love Game Informer, its people and its readers more than any corporation could, and I will address all the issues when I can, but for now I need to focus on my GI family.
— Andy McNamara (@GI_AndyMc) August 20, 2019
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.
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