Walmart-Backed Restart Gaming Site Loses Entire Editorial Team

Restart, a gaming‑focused media site that debuted in late 2024 with sponsorship from Walmart, announced the dismissal of its entire editorial staff on Friday. The news was first reported by Brandy Berthelson, the site’s former editor‑in‑chief, who posted that all writers and editors had been let go, a claim later echoed by additional employees on social media. The layoffs effectively shut down the outlet’s core content operation just months after its launch.

Restart is owned by Moonrock, a content‑marketing agency, and its editorial mission page described the venture as “powered by Walmart.” The partnership involved embedding purchase links that directed readers to Walmart using a partner tracking code; however, the site received no commission from sales generated through those links. The abrupt termination of the editorial team raises questions about the sustainability of the model, and the development was reported by The Verge.