Fact check: The website Polygon was gutted following it sale to Valnet. For gamers who the site's staff writers have openly despised for the past decade, absolutely nothing of value has been lost.

1. Summary of the results

The claim that Polygon was "gutted" following its sale to Valnet is substantially accurate. Multiple sources confirm that significant layoffs occurred, including the departure of co-founder Chris Plante and numerous senior journalists ^{[1] [1]}. The Writers Guild of America East characterized the sale as "devastating" and part of a broader pattern of layoffs ^[2]. The timing was particularly notable as it occurred just before the expiration of the union contract ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:

• Valnet has been specifically characterized as a "content mill" known for producing clickbait content ^[4]
• The company has a documented reputation for "exploitative work conditions and quick-churn, clickbait content" ^[1]
• The scale of the layoffs was significant, with over 20 staff members being affected ^[5]
• The Vox Media Union has described this as a significant loss for the industry as a whole ^[5]
• The sale was particularly sudden and traumatic for employees ^{[1] [6]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains several problematic elements and biases:

• The claim that "absolutely nothing of value has been lost" is a subjective opinion that contradicts professional assessments from industry organizations. The Writers Guild of America East and Vox Media Union both characterized this as a significant loss for journalism ^{[2] [5]}
• The assertion that "site's staff writers have openly despised gamers for the past decade" is not supported by any of the provided sources and appears to be an inflammatory opinion
• The statement appears to celebrate the professional misfortune of journalists, which overlooks the human impact documented in multiple sources, including the shock and disappointment expressed by affected staff members ^[6]

This appears to be a case where personal antagonism toward the publication is being used to justify or celebrate what multiple professional organizations have characterized as a concerning development in gaming journalism ^{[4] [5]}.