Alyssa Mercante Departs Kotaku, Potentially Hired By Sweet Baby Inc...

Alyssa Mercante’s Departure from Kotaku: A Sign of the Industry Healing, or more Nefarious Games at Play...?

We see you, Alyssa...

In a move that will surly surprise some... and bring relief to many, Alyssa Mercante has announced her departure from Kotaku after two years as senior editor. While her statement frames the decision as one of some kinda 'personal choice' and 'reflection', there are unmistakable hints suggesting that her exit might have been less voluntary than she would like to imply. But there are plenty of tangible breadcrumbs to see exactly what is happening next... and all signs point to: Sweet Baby Inc.

Mercante’s farewell statement praises Kotaku’s editorial integrity and resilience (hahaha - I know, I know...), but behind that veil of gratitude, it is hard not to notice the undertones of her abrupt exit. Typically, when editors leave their posts on positive terms, there are clearer indicators of future prospects or collaboration announcements. Instead, Mercante’s vague mention of “some things coming down the pike” raises ...eyebrows.

For those familiar with her tenure at Kotaku, the reaction to her departure has fantastic, the internet is rejoicing - but there’s a notable sense of concern as well from many gamers. The criticisms of her approach to journalism often centered on her heavy biases, focus on sensationalism, and a tendency to push divisive narratives that never resonated with a broad gaming audience on the whole. Her reputation as someone more interested in championing personal agendas over comprehensive, balanced coverage became THE point of contention within the community during here 2-year tenure there.'

Coincidentally, this event aligns almost perfectly with the recent reelection of Donald Trump, an outcome that has already started to create ripple effects in various sectors throughout the entire world, including gaming. Whether by coincidence... or consequence, there’s a noticeable shift toward recalibrating the direction of the industry away from identity-driven content and back towards entertainment, innovation, and community-focused discourse. Trump’s impact, especially with his straightforward stance on media and cultural narratives, has already emboldened gamers who wish for way less politically charged environments and far more enjoyable, escapist gaming experiences.

It’s no secret that over the past few years, mainstream gaming outlets have shifted towards editorial content that strays far away from any kind of pure game analysis and dives into sociopolitical commentary... ultimately polarizing their readership at the end of the day. Mercante embodied this trend magnificently (to a fault), but many now see her departure as part of a potential broader reset in the gaming media landscape. As she leaves Kotaku, industry insiders and gamers alike have expressed a cautious hope that this signals a potential return to what many miss: authentic, unbiased, game-focused journalism.... BUT, and its a very big BUT...

Amid the news of Alyssa Mercante’s departure from Kotaku, it aligns with her tweeting about how she was already on her way to Canada (above), potentially exploring new opportunities at companies such as Sweet Baby Inc. or Compulsion Games.

This speculation is not without precedent—Mercante has long been perceived as running hard defensive and sympathetic coverage for Sweet Baby Inc., protecting them from any kind of criticism and trying her best to bolster their terrible public image...

For many, this move feels like a predictable shift in a long-standing pattern of journalistic favoritism and industry alignment. It’s a reminder to all that the gaming world is, in many ways, one big, interconnected club where alliances are leveraged, stories are spun, and credibility is questioned. These people care not for games, only to continue failing upward in the industry that will ultimately collapse onto itself.

And while they might try to operate behind a facade of progressivism and integrity, gamers have learned - we already see right through it.

In real-time, we are seeing an industry that at least on the surface, appears to be correcting itself, shedding the more divisive figures in favor of creators and journalists who prioritize the core passion of the community. The departure of Mercante is seen as part of this broader realignment - at least for the time being. Social media reactions and community discussions have revealed an extremely celebratory tone among gamers, who view her abrupt exit as a net positive sign that the gaming world may slowly be returning to a healthier state. With cautious optimism...

While Alyssa Mercante moves on to whatever comes next in her career, one thing is clear: her absence won’t be mourned by those who saw her work as a barrier to authentic, fair coverage. Instead, her exit represents a huge step towards revitalizing an industry that has spent far too long focused on trivial controversy rather than what brought it to prominence in the first place—great games, passionate players, and genuine dialogue. If she eds up at Sweet Baby Inc., or one of the companies they partner with, great. It will be that much easier to track exactly who has been compromised, and I will continue to inform you guys of exactly what is happening behind the scenes.

The industry is, indeed, healing. And for many, that is a win very much worth celebrating.

~Smash