New owner of Polygon committed to doing what is best for the platform

mpany acquired it, and the future of the site, I got on the phone with Valnet’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Rony Arzoumanian.

Polygon is a “triple-A gaming brand” that Valnet has been of “high interest” for “some time,” Arzoumanian said. Valnet’s gaming portfolio also includes GameRant, TheGamer, Fextralife, DualShockers, Hardcore Gamer, and OpenCritic. Arzoumanian said the company is “bullish” on gaming coverage and sees potential for Polygon to be even more successful.

Valnet wants to ensure that Polygon has the “deepest” coverage of the gaming space and is investing in rebuilding the team and operations to build Polygon for the next five to ten years. Around 10 existing Polygon staffers are moving over to the site’s new owner, and Valnet is looking to recruit additional “triple-A” writers and editors for Polygon.

The sale resulted in the departure or layoff of most of Polygon’s staff, including former editor-in-chief Chris Plante. Valnet plans to keep Polygon’s archives available and has no plans to introduce AI-generated stories onto the site.

Looking ahead, Valnet aims to maintain course and keep investing in the Polygon brand. Arzoumanian indicated that he doesn’t expect significant changes a year from now and deferred to the operations side of Valnet on specific decisions like switching to scored reviews.

Overall, Valnet’s acquisition of Polygon signals a new chapter for the gaming and entertainment site, with a focus on growth, deep coverage, and investing in the brand’s future.