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# G/O Media Finally Sells Kotaku
- URL: https://aftermath.site/kotaku-sale-keleops-go/
- Published: 2025-07-02T16:34:03.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-27T17:05:34.000Z
- Author: Riley MacLeod
- Tags: Media, News, g/o media, games journalism, journalism, kotaku, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-10-27 13:00

G/O Media has sold gaming site Kotaku to European company Keleops, which previously purchased Kotaku sister site Gizmodo in 2024.

[Axios](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/02/kotaku-sale-keleops-go-media?ref=aftermath.site) reports that the site's staff will stay on and that the new owner plans to make hires. The price of the deal was not disclosed.

In a press release sent to Aftermath, Keleops CEO Jean-Guillaume Kleis wrote, “We are thrilled to welcome the entire Kotaku team to Keleops." Kleis continued, “Kotaku isn’t just a brand—it’s a home for gamers and a place where the culture keeps moving forward. We are honored to shape its future."

Private equity firm Great Hill Partners (stay with me here) purchased Kotaku's parent company, then called Gizmodo Media Group, in [2019](https://www.greathillpartners.com/media/great-hill-partners-acquires-gizmodo-media-group?ref=aftermath.site) from Univision. Univision [purchased it](https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/univision-gawker-sold-135-million-1201838638/?ref=aftermath.site), then called Gawker Media Group, in 2016 after the company [declared bankruptcy](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/10/481565188/gawker-files-for-bankruptcy-it-faces-140-million-court-penalty?ref=aftermath.site) following a [verdict](https://www.espn.com/espn/story/%5F/id/15010575/hulk-hogan-wins-115-million-jury-gawker-lawsuit?ref=aftermath.site) in a trial with wrestler Hulk Hogan. Under G/O Media CEO and noted [herb](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/jim-spanfeller-is-a-herb-rise-fall-blog-post-deadspin.html?ref=aftermath.site) Jim Spanfeller, the sites saw [mass employee exoduses](https://web.archive.org/web/20190802151610/https://deadspin.com/this-is-how-things-work-now-at-g-o-media-1836908201/) (including the founders of Aftermath), pages choked with [ads](https://www.thedailybeast.com/farmers-insurance-pulls-million-dollar-ad-campaign-with-go-media-after-editorial-staff-raises-hell/?ref=aftermath.site), and frequent conflict between staff and leadership, including a[ union strike in 2022.](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/gizmodo-media-strike.html?ref=aftermath.site)

Following Kotaku EIC Stephen Totilo's departure in early [2021](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/02/05/kotaku-stephen-totilo-resigns/?ref=aftermath.site), I served as interim EIC until the hire of [Patricia Hernandez](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/05/27/new-kotaku-editor-chief-patricia-hernandez/?ref=aftermath.site) in June of that year. Hernandez was reportedly [fired](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/go-media-fires-kotaku-editor-in-chief-patricia-hernandez?ref=aftermath.site) in August of 2023\. Subsequent EIC Jen Glennon resigned in March [2024](https://aftermath.site/kotaku-eic-resigns-over-new-editorial-edict/) after leadership attempted to institute new rules emphasizing guides coverage, never Kotaku's focus area, over news. Kotaku saw [layoffs](https://aftermath.site/kotaku-layoffs-go-media/) later that year.

The Root is now the only site in G/O's stable. IGN owner [Ziff Davis](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/13/business/media/lifehacker-ziff-davis.html?ref=aftermath.site) bought Lifehacker in 2023\. [Paste bought Jezebel](https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/jezebel-acquired-paste-magazine-1235812182/?ref=aftermath.site), following its closure and staff layoffs, in 2023, as well as [The A/V Club](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/paste-magazine/paste-media-acquires-av-club?ref=aftermath.site) in 2024\. Deadspin was sold to a [gambling media company](https://www.404media.co/who-owns-deadspin-now-lineup-publishing/?ref=aftermath.site) in 2024, after its staff was also laid off (and well after its former staff [quit en masse](https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/775548069/after-days-of-resignations-the-last-of-the-deadspin-staff-have-quit?ref=aftermath.site) and formed [Defector](https://defector.com/?ref=aftermath.site)). [The Onion](https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/the-onion-sold-global-tetrahedron-1235982383/?ref=aftermath.site) was sold in 2024 and is run by former NBC reporter Ben Collins. Static Media bought [The Takeout](https://www.axios.com/pro/media-deals/2024/03/26/go-media-av-club-takeout-sale?ref=aftermath.site) in 2024 and [Jalopnik](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/static-media-drives-further-into-auto-vertical-with-acquisition-of-jalopnik-302383435.html?ref=aftermath.site) in 2025\. Most recently, G/O sold [Quartz and commerce site The Inventory](https://www.axios.com/2025/04/04/quartz-sold-redbrick-go-media?ref=aftermath.site) in 2025.

While G/O still owns The Root, it also issued a [statement](https://g-omedia.com/?ref=aftermath.site) suggesting it's winding down operations, with Spanfeller writing that "it became clear to our investors that it was time to move on." Spanfeller also couldn't resist taking a shot at the union, praising unions for "add\[ing\] value to editorial employees’ positions" while also writing that "the core methods that unions work with (or rather against) companies working hard to change with the times is counterproductive to both their membership as well as the companies as a whole.”

Hopefully Kotaku employees do not care what Jim Spanfeller has to say, because he is no longer their boss! I am simply thrilled for Kotaku's staff and excited for their future; Gizmodo appears to be thriving, and I'm hopeful Kotaku will do the same. I'm looking forward to the site's talented journalists getting back to making a good outlet that people like without having to fight executives and private equity goons to do it.

*This story has been updated*.