A page is turning for video game journalism in France. After more than 20 years of loyal service, the editorial staff of Gamekult bows out.
In a message posted on social networks, those concerned explain that “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that as of December 7, the editorial staff will gradually leave Gamekult. We measure the magnitude of this news. Although taken almost unanimously, this decision reflects the personal journey of each journalist editor, image reporter, residents and freelancers”.
The end of an era
In addition to their statement on Twitter, it was during one of their “Call me the director” streams on Twitch that the director Puyo and his acolyte Father Fidalbion announced that almost all Gamekult members have made the decision to leave the editorial staff as of December 7. The site will continue to exist despite everything, recruitments would be in progress to repopulate all these positions left vacant, but that’s good a page that turns for the Gamekult that we have known and appreciated for more than 20 years.
They insist that it is not a failure of the “subscription formula” (about 12,000 to date), and that their “decision and situation depend on many other factors”. and lamenting “the increasingly hostile economic and media context for the independence of the video game press”.
Incompatible methods
Since the announcement in June by TF1 of the sale of its digital division, of which Gamekult was a part, to Reworld Media (Auto Plus, Grazia, Science & Vie), the fate of Gamekult was at the center of the questions. Launched in 2000, the specialized site is highly appreciated by its community of readers and subscribers, who identify it as one of the few to investigate the video game industry. Atypical editorial line and in-depth articles, the independence of Gamekult does not match the Reworld method at all.
Already warned years ago by Releaseworking for Reworld would be “the death”, where “no recognition, no respect” journalism would not be displayed. Indeed, Reworld’s methods aim to make profitable sites acquired at low cost as quickly as possible and have been criticized in the media, with in particular the proliferation of advertisements in the content and the poor management of staff, forced to resign or burn-out.
An identity radically opposed to the future legendary ex-team of Gamekult that we salute, and to whom we wish good luck in their future adventures.