IGN Lays Off 12% of Creators Guild Following Ziff Davis’ Company-Wide Buyouts

IGN laid off eight members of its Creators Guild, representing 12% of its bargaining unit, according to the official public statement provided by the company. IGN’s sister company, Zif Davis Creators Guild, underwent similar layoffs affecting 15% of its members. The news follows the parent company, Ziff Davis, instituting company-wide buyouts with the communicated intent of avoiding future layoffs. 

Within the public statement, IGN Creators Guild communicated its surprise regarding the news. 

“This is perplexing to us, as we are told again and again that IGN Entertainment has had a tremendously successful year thus far thanks to their hard work. In just a few months, our members have been absolutely essential to major events and livestreams,” IGN Creators Guild communicated. 

According to the public statement, each member who was laid off was critical to the success of the gaming events that took place over the last couple of months. The public statement voices frustrations over the layoffs, stating that during times when supporting its creators is most essential, IGN Entertainment chose to instead eliminate individuals who ensure IGN remains competitive as generative AI continues to threaten the company’s reach. 

Despite having been told that expert opinion pieces, original interviews, and work utilizing deep knowledge of gaming, tech, and entertainment remains essential to combating AI summarization content, the jobs cut were for individuals who did that exact work. 

“While IGN Entertainment management may not value us, we value one another and the incredible work we can do together. […] Without us, there is no IGN,” the public statement shared. 

The IGN Creators Guild is a union of IGN’s creative teams that contribute to the website and its associated channels.