Walmart-Sponsored Gaming Site Restart Cuts Entire Editorial Staff
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The gaming media venture, operated by Moonrock, has laid off its full editorial team just months after its late 2024 launch.
As first reported by The Verge, the editorial team at Restart—a Walmart-sponsored gaming media site launched in late 2024—has been laid off in its entirety.
Brandy Berthelson, the site's former editor-in-chief, confirmed the cuts in a Friday post. Other employees also reported being laid off, and one former staffer told The Verge they signed a severance agreement with Moonrock, the content marketing agency that operates the site.
While the site's editorial mission page stated that Restart functioned as an independent entity and that Walmart did not influence editorial direction, the site was explicitly "powered" by the retail giant. The partnership focused on driving traffic to Walmart via partner tracking codes on game purchase links, which allowed Walmart to track customer acquisition paths without providing the site a percentage of the sales.
As of the reporting by The Verge, the website remains online, though it is unclear how Walmart and Moonrock intend to operate the site moving forward. Neither company immediately responded to requests for comment. Berthelson stated she is unable to discuss the specific details regarding the layoffs.