The gaming site sponsored by Walmart lays off its editorial staff
Restart, a gaming media website sponsored by Walmart and operated by Moonrock, has laid off its entire editorial staff. The site, which functioned as a content marketing vehicle, remains online despite the sudden termination of its writers.
Why it matters
The closure highlights the volatility of corporate-sponsored media models and the challenges of maintaining editorial independence within brand-funded journalism.
Restart, a games media website launched in late 2024 that was sponsored by Walmart, has laid off its “entire editorial team,” according to a Friday post from Brandy Berthelson, the site’s former editor-in-chief. Other staffers have also posted about being laid off.
Restart is operated by Moonrock, a content marketing agency, though its editorial mission page says it’s “powered” by Walmart. That page outlines how Walmart is (or was) involved:
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