GameStop lays off 120, 14% of total staff

Original story August 20, 2019: In addition to the layoffs of "many" staff at Game Informer reported on this morning, it appears GameStop has eliminated a total of 120 positions across its headquarters, various offices, and the publication.

Forbes reports that this represents approximately 14% of the company's total workforce removed in a move GameStop says is to "reduce costs and better align the organization with our efforts to optimize the business to meet our future objectives and success factors."

Though details are murky about how much of Game Informer was affected, writers Elise Favis, Kyle Hilliard, Imran Khan, Jeff Marchiafava, Suriel Vazquez, Matthew Bertz, and Javy Gwaltney have confirmed on social media platforms that their positions were eliminated today. On Twitter, features editor Kimberley Wallace said she "lost half of my family today." Prior to today, Game Informer employed 19 on its masthead.

This is the latest in a more than yearlong series of struggles at GameStop, which has seen floundering financials, a failed sale, the shutdown and assumption of the ThinkGeek brand, a plan to revamp physical stores, and which just another round of layoffs affecting over 50 earlier this month.

Update August 21, 2019: Game Informer editor-in-chief Andy McNamara has published an official statement on yesterday's layoffs, alongside a tweet confirming that both the print and digital publication would continue as before.

I'm saddened by yesterday's news; the Game Informer team means the world to me," said McNamara. "You, our readers who have supported us over the years - mean the world to us. I can't thank them or you enough.

"We appreciate the love that has poured out for GI and the affected team members: Matt Bertz, Elise Favis, Javy Gwaltney, Kyle Hilliard, Imran Khan, Jeff Marchiafava, and Suriel Vazquez. They are so talented and so passionate - please support them if you are hiring. Each of them has my highest, most glowing recommendation."

McNamara additionally included the full text of the statement from parent company GameStop on the layoffs, which reads as follows:

"As part of the previously announced GameStop Reboot initiative to transform our business for the future and improve our financial performance, we can confirm a workforce reduction was implemented impacting more than 120 corporate staff positions, representing approximately 14% of our total associate base at our company headquarters as well as at some other offices.

"While these changes are difficult, they were necessary to reduce costs and better align the organization with our efforts to optimize the business to meet our future objectives and success factors. We recognize that this is a difficult day for our company and particularly for those associates impacted. We appreciate their dedication and service to GameStop and are committed to supporting them during this time of transition."