Kotaku's Predicted Downfall: Post-Election Shakeup Proves Gamers Were Right
Kotaku, a long-time fixture in gaming journalism, for better, and as of at least a decade now, worse... is facing the fallout many in the gaming community saw coming. Following the 2024 U.S. elections, G/O Media—the parent company of Kotaku—announced significant layoffs, decimating the site’s staff. This comes on the heels of my October 23, 2024, tweet where I predicted with confidence:
“I’m confident Kotaku and many other fake news outlets with zero integrity will be out of business shortly following this date by pure coincidence, of course…”
Now, as I predicted with extreme accuracy, Kotaku is experiencing its moment of reckoning. And by pure coincidence, of course, the timing couldn't be more clear...
The Fallout: Voices of Laid-Off Writers
The news of Kotaku’s layoffs has sent ripples through its staff and... beyond. Willa Rowe, yet another one of Kotaku’s 'Trans' writers, took to social media, saying:
Hey! I was just laid off from Kotaku. Don't know what is next for me.
I never even got to write an introduction post on Kotaku, let alone a goodbye post or partake in end-of-year conversations at the site... That shit was kind of a dream not gonna lie. Sorry, shit sucks and it's all hitting.
Gonna take time to process and figure shit out but if you are a pr person please keep in touch and maybe add my email (in bio) to your lists!
Her colleague, Moises Taveras, echoed the sentiment with blunt honesty:
“lmao i slept in and woke up to the news that I’ve been laid off from Kotaku!”
Meanwhile, Carolyn Petit, another 'trans' Kotaku writer that has somehow retained his position, highlighted the deeper issues within G/O Media’s management, saying:
“G/O Media’s management is once again punishing workers for its own bad decisions. Management mandated that some writers stick to ‘service’ posts, and now that the numbers aren’t panning out (surprise, surprise!), two of those writers have been laid off. Cruel and misguided.”
These candid statements not only reveal the emotional toll of the layoffs but also reflect a long-standing issue within Kotaku and its parent company—a consistent pattern of terrible employees that continue to blame their lack of talent on poor management decisions masked by short-term strategies that ultimately backfire... Yeah, big shocker, the very same people that have no clue how to be accountable for anything are once again, passing the proverbial buck.
This isn't to say that G/O Media is innocent in all this, far from it, but let's just say, they all made the perfect ingredients for a shit sandwich.
The Management Mentality: Explained by Carolyn Petit
Carolyn Petit's comment highlights what he perceives as an underlying issue at Kotaku: management disconnected from what gamers truly want. While he raises valid points about G/O Media’s strategic missteps, this ultimately reads as yet another attempt to try to deflect accountability and pass the blame. The directive to focus on “service” posts—content aimed at boosting traffic through SEO tactics—shows how management prioritized quantity over substance. Instead of acknowledging how both editorial choices and writers contributed to the decline, he tries so hard to push narrative shifts solely to the management as the scapegoat.
Petit's remark, “Management mandated that some writers stick to ‘service’ posts, and now that the numbers aren’t panning out (surprise, surprise!), two of those writers have been laid off” proves the deeply toxic cycle buried within the company, yet this overlooks the scarier reality: a shared responsibility for content direction. The strategy may have been shortsighted, but writers aren't blameless when quality lacks trust... Audiences disengage, and loyalty fades. Focusing solely on management without acknowledging editorial choices misses the complete picture and continues a pattern of avoiding introspection within Kotaku’s culture. It's exactly why they are spiraling downward and no hope for a turnaround with keeping people like Carl on as Sr. Editors.
Alyssa Mercante’s Convenient Departure
In the midst of these 'official' layoffs, Alyssa Mercante announced her own departure from Kotaku which I spoke about earlier:
While she tried her best to frame it as leaving on her own accord, the timing of her exit alongside the layoffs raises eyebrows... It's not really difficult to see this as a strategic move by management, either forcing her out quietly or allowing her to save face while other staff members were unceremoniously let go. The convenient timing proves that Kotaku was already bracing for more impact beyond just routine adjustments; they were setting the stage for deeper cuts and changes... and I don't think they're done yet.
Gamers’ Rejection of Kotaku: Years in the Making
For years, gamers everywhere have voiced their growing dissatisfaction with Kotaku’s "approach" to gaming journalism. Criticized for its extreme emphasis on social politics over games and perceived out-of-touch takes, Kotaku lost the trust of so many in the gaming community. They were hiring activists to push agendas over gamers to push the industry forward.
This erosion of trust was only exacerbated by their continued articles that many viewed as provocations designed to generate more controversy rather than provide genuine insight or entertainment for the reader. Pair that with how they were seemingly perfectly fine with their employees going after critics families for daring to have an opposing opinion? You got yourself a problem, bub. Our consistent pushback—whether through dwindling engagement, social media criticism, or moving to other, more balanced sources of gaming news (like SmashJT.com - sorry I had to) —signaled a clear message: change... or face irrelevance.
As predicted, Kotaku’s unwillingness to adapt and align itself with the core interests of its reading audience has culminated in its current state. Gamers want real journalism that reflected their interests, games, and culture... without feeling lectured or more importantly, misrepresented. Kotaku, however, doubled down and then tripled down on its approach, creating a wide gap that could not be reconciled.
The Self-Inflicted Wound
The recent layoffs at Kotaku aren't just an unfortunate event, but a predictable outcome of a long-standing strategy that prioritized fleeting trends and poorly executed management mandates over quality journalism and reader trust. Writers like Carolyn Petit have tried to show the missteps taken by management, such as the push for “service” content that ultimately did not sustain the business... but the reality is, it's the PEOPLE that make the company shine. Not the management. The layoff news, coupled with Mercante's sudden departure, paints a very clear picture of a company desperately trying to survive without understanding why it’s drowning.
The downfall of Kotaku, occurring right after the U.S. elections, might sound to some like a pure coincidence—but to those who have been following the site’s trajectory, it's just the inevitable conclusion of a brand that strayed WAY too far from what its audience ever wanted. In the end, gamers aren't surprised to see Kotaku burn, as they have long rejected its path along the way down.
~Smash
