Walmart-Backed Gaming Site Restart.run Lays Off Entire Editorial Team

Restart.run, a gaming news website created in December 2024 by gaming strategy and content marketing agency Moonrock, launched with the tagline “independent gaming news powered by Walmart.” The site focused on new game releases, reviews, and previews.

However, that editorial operation has come to an abrupt end. Brandy Berthelson, the editor-in-chief, announced on Bluesky last Friday that she and the “entire editorial team” had been laid off that day.

Several colleagues also confirmed their departures on social media, including editors Jesse Vitelli and Imran Khan, as well as deals writer Myles Obenza. Berthelson, who said her 20-year career in games media was over, added, “I’ll always be a gamer, but it’s time for a change.”

The exact number of affected employees remains unclear. The site’s staff page lists 10 names, but that appears to include freelancers and other contributors.

Walmart and Moonrock did not respond to requests for comment, and Berthelson declined to comment further, pointing to a recent report on the situation.