WALMART-BACKED GAMING SITE RESTART CUTS ENTIRE EDITORIAL STAFF

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

FRI, AUG 7, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Restart, a gaming media site launched in late 2024 and sponsored by Walmart, has laid off its entire editorial team. The cuts were announced Friday by former editor-in-chief Brandy Berthelson.

Restart operated as a content marketing venture through Moonrock, a content agency, with Walmart listed as a primary backer. The site's editorial mission emphasized providing purchase links when mentioning games—a model that positioned it as both media outlet and retail extension. Multiple staff members confirmed layoffs on social media following Berthelson's announcement. The timing marks a dramatic reversal for a site that only launched months earlier with backing from one of the world's largest retailers. Walmart has been expanding its gaming footprint in recent years, but the Restart experiment appears to have ended quickly. The layoffs raise questions about the viability of retail-sponsored gaming media and whether Walmart will continue investing in this content strategy.

■ SOURCES

► The Verge

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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