Link: Walmart starts its own Game Informer-style gaming site

The ever-dwindling field of games media has a new player: Walmart. Restart, a website run by Moonrock and sponsored by the retail giant, aims to navigate a shrinking industry.

With games publications closing and ad revenues falling, the industry faces fewer resources and more layoffs. Restart enters this challenging landscape with economic backing from Walmart.

Similar to Game Informer's relationship with GameStop, Restart's business model isn't entirely new. Many game media outlets rely on corporate support or sponsored content to survive.

Despite its corporate backing, Restart claims it operates independently. "Restart is sponsored by Walmart, but we operate as an independent site," its mission statement reads.

However, the integration of retail and editorial content is controversial. Their strategy focuses on linking gaming content with Walmart’s purchasing opportunities, raising questions about impartiality.

Given these factors, Restart's challenge will be maintaining editorial independence in a landscape that increasingly prioritizes monetization. Moonrock's approach suggests a blending of commerce and content that may further thin the line between corporate and editorial interests.#

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