IGN, the well-known media and entertainment outlet, has announced the recent layoff of three employees from the IGN Creators Guild.
The individuals affected by this decision are
- Jesse B. Gill
- Francesca Rivera, and
- Joshua Yehl, all of whom have taken to social media to announce their departures.
Here’s the official confirmation –
Recently, @IGN Management shocked us by laying off 3 of our union members in yet another company reorg. We are currently in emergency negotiations attempting to protect their livelihoods.
Here’s where we sit, and how you can help: pic.twitter.com/Cb3DMhaBnT
— IGN Creators Guild (@IGNUnion) March 19, 2024
The news initially emerged on the popular gaming forum ResetEra, where a thread titled “IGN Fires Three Members of the IGN Creators Guild” sparked confusion and concern among the community. The forum thread, teeming with speculation and condolences, initially wrestled with unclear details regarding the identity of the employees laid off.
Further complicating the discourse was the inadvertent mention of Peer Schneider, IGN’s Chief Content Officer and co-founder, leading to a brief but intense period of misinformation among forum participants. It was later clarified that Peer Schneider was not among those laid off but was mentioned in the context of ongoing discussions the IGN Creators Guild wished to have concerning the layoffs.
Jesse B. Gill, Francesca Rivera, and Joshua Yehl, now-former staff members of IGN, have yet to disclose their next steps following their departure from the company. The layoffs have prompted discussions concerning job security in the gaming journalism industry, with many peers and fans expressing solidarity and support for those affected.