Restart, a games media website that launched in late 2024 with Walmart's sponsorship, 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: "When we mention a game, we'll provide purchase links that will take you to Walmart using a partner tracking code. This link provides us with 0% of the sale if you decide to buy the product, but it does help Walmart see exactly how customers arrived at the product."

According to that page, Restart operated as an "independent site" and said that Walmart "doesn't influence our editorial direction." Of course, because nothing says independence like a retail giant paying the bills.

Basically, Restart was Walmart's take on something like Game Informer, which used to be owned by GameStop. A few months before Restart's launch, GameStop shut Game Informer down, though it's since been revived under new ownership. So the pattern is clear: retail-owned gaming media is a risky venture.

Berthelson says she is "not able" to discuss details of the layoffs. One laid-off staffer tells The Verge that they signed a severance agreement with Moonrock. So the silence is contractual, not just professional.

As of this writing, Restart remains online. It's unclear if Walmart and Moonrock will continue operating the site following the layoffs, and if so, what that will look like. Walmart and Moonrock didn't immediately reply to requests for comment. Perhaps they're too busy counting their 0% sales.