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# IGN Ownership Chooses Busiest Time For Games Media In Years To Lay A Bunch Of People Off [Update]
- URL: https://aftermath.site/ign-layoffs-altano-macy/
- Published: 2026-09-14T22:04:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T00:04:30.000Z
- Description: Those impacted include Brian Altano and Seth Macy
- Author: Luke Plunkett
- Tags: Video Games, Media, video games media, ign, Labor, journalism, video game journalism, layoffs

Ziff Davis, the media company that currently owns IGN (along with Eurogamer, RPS and more) has laid off a number of IGN staff just two months ahead of the launch of *Grand Theft Auto VI*, one of the most colossal news-generating video game releases of all time.

As[ first reported by Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/sources-ign-layoffs-hit-multiple-departments-and-long-time-hosts-2000734361?ref=aftermath.site), the layoffs "have hit multiple departments across the video game website’s business", most prominently affecting the popular and long-serving video presenters Seth Macy and Brian Altano. Tech writer Bo Moore has[ since shared he has also been laid off](https://bsky.app/profile/usebomswisely.bsky.social/post/3mvj2jn3c5b2f?ref=aftermath.site), on the same day his coverage of Valve's Steam Frame launch was on the site's front page. 

> I just got laid off.
> 
> — Seth Macy From the State of Maine (@SethFromMaine) [September 14, 2026](https://x.com/SethFromMaine/status/2099570611580174425?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=aftermath.site)

This is not the first time Ziff Davis have conducted sweeping rounds of layoffs at what is still the world's most popular video games website.[ IGN's union last year engaged in a workplace strategy of "no more, no less"](https://aftermath.site/ign-layoffs-union-action-ziff-davis/) after [job cuts](https://aftermath.site/ign-layoffs-ziff-davis/) and buyouts left many sectors of the network stretching to cover the work of those no longer there, while[ just a few months back several tech workers were also let go](https://aftermath.site/ign-summer-game-fest-layoffs-union/). There have also been several rounds of layoffs across the sites Ziff Davis [purchased from the Gamer Network in 2024](https://aftermath.site/ign-gamer-network-eurogamer-gamesindustrybiz-layoffs/), including at [GamesIndustry](https://aftermath.site/ziff-davis-ign-gamesindustrybiz-humble-buyouts/), [Eurogamer](https://aftermath.site/eurogamer-layoffss-ign/), and RockPaperShotgun.

IGN’s union has yet to comment on the layoffs. We’ve reached out to them for comment.

**Update 7:20pm:** IGN Creators Guild [has issued a statement](https://bsky.app/profile/ignunion.bsky.social/post/3mvjakes7rs2u?ref=aftermath.site) which reads:

> Today was an awful day at IGN. We were blindsided by the layoff of four union members and many more people across the organization who contributed years of their careers to making IGN an unparalleled voice in games and entertainment.  
>  
> With each successive layoff, core parts of IGN's operation continue to be stripped away. Today, IGN has decided to do away with many of our talented producers, editors, hosts, and other crucial roles, both within and out of the union. How many layoffs will occur before we no longer recognize the company we work for and the content that we make?  
>  
> While we recognize the challenges the media industry is facing as a whole, it is difficult to understand how laying off valuable employees better positions us to meet those challenges. In turn, remaining employees bear additional workloads worsened by anxiety over the ever-looming threat of another layoff.  
>  
> We are devastated, angry, and heartbroken for our colleagues.

Speaking to Aftermath, IGN Creators Guild leadership say the union were not told about the layoffs in advance, even though in previous rounds they had at least been given a courtesy heads-up. This meant it took the Creators Guild most of the day just to find out who, exactly, had been laid off both inside and outside the union; at time of publishing they estimate four union employees were affected today, with another pending a decision in November. 

That worker's status is pending because the union say the employee was given an ultimatum to either move to Los Angeles– despite owning a home and having kids in school in their home city--or be laid off.

Creators Guild leadership expressed concern that today's layoffs (and a new remote work policy beginning next month) could potentially be the result of a push to get IGN's remaining workforce to return to the office, as all those affected today were remote employees.