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Reposted by Bert Pearce

IGN Union

@ignunion.bsky.social

Today, IGN laid off eight extremely valuable members of our union and workforce via directive from our parent company, Ziff Davis. This, after two incredibly successful live events IGN Live and SDCC, and yet another corporate acquisition.

Please take a moment to read and share our full statement:

Today, IGN Entertainment announced that it would be laying off eight members of the IGN Creators Guild.

This is 12% of our bargaining unit, and comes just days after our sister union, the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, underwent similar layoffs impacting 15% of their members. It also comes just months after our multibillion-dollar parent company, Ziff Davis, instituted a company-wide buyout that shrunk our unit numbers, with the express intent of avoiding future layoffs. And it comes just a little over one year after three of our members were laid off almost immediately after our union went public.

The company has told us that the reason for this layoff stems from a Ziff Davis-mandate to cut costs despite several quarters in a row of year-over-year revenue increases, to which IGN Entertainment responded by coming for our members' jobs. 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 the last few months, our members have been absolutely essential to major events and livestreams, including San Diego ComicCon, Summer of Gaming, and IGN Live. Every single person impacted today was involved in and critical to the success of those events.

Meanwhile, IGN Entertainment continues to spend money on costly acquisitions, only to turn around and gut those companies in the same way it is cutting away at IGN itself. For instance, last year, it acquired Gamer Network, and almost immediately laid off a number of staff critical to making those sites successful. The company has not responded to the union's questions about whether its budget for future acquisitions is being reconsidered as a cost-saving measure alongside these other apparently necessary personnel cuts.

At a time when it is more necessary than ever to support its creators, IGN Entertainment is choosing to eliminate the individuals who ensure IGN remains competitive as generative AI

threatens our reach. We have been told that expert opinion pieces, original interviews, and work that leverages our staff's deep knowledge of gaming, tech, and entertainment are all essential to combating AI summarization and regurgitation of our work. Management has responded by cutting several individuals who do that exact work, as well as others whose job it is to ensure that these written and video pieces are published in a speedy manner — another component of combating AI we're told is critical.

This continued cycle of repeated, aggressive cuts to our staff and being asked to do more with less, only for management to continue to spend on new business it isn't interested in sustaining cannot continue. We will enforce our interim agreement that guarantees better severance and other protections to laid off members, as well as demand additional support for those impacted. We will continue to bargain over our first contract with the aim of enshrining even better protections against further layoffs, working conditions continuously degraded by understaffing, and the encroachment of generative AI. And we won't stop fighting to ensure IGN remains the best destination for trustworthy, original, exciting, and creative work covering video games, entertainment, and tech.

While IGN Entertainment management may not value us, we value one another and the incredible work we can do together. Behind the articles, videos, social posts, playlists, and maps of IGN are human beings, not just numbers on a spreadsheet to be pushed around when some number at the top isn't big enough. Without us, there is no IGN.

August 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

“I am an adult…” he whispers to himself while buying three different bottles of vitamin gummies.

June 17, 2025 at 7:48 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Today's fun word discovery: malapropism

def: the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context

ex: "Jesus healing those leopards"

Definition of MALAPROPISM

the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context; malaprop… Se...

www.merriam-webster.com

June 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Look at this cute AF future Providence home of the Pearces 😍

Front of the first floor of a two-story brick with a vibrant green lawn, flowers, and a tree.

June 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

KT Clark

@ktclark2025.bsky.social

Now available on Amazon! 🏳️‍🌈

June 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

Actually hawkakux

@darachbeo.bsky.social

I'm setting my card game about cruising and kink to 50% off for all of pride month! There are still community copies available as well for anyone who would like to check it out before paying or if you just can't afford to buy games right now.
darachbeo.itch.io/trade

TRADE by darachbeo

A tarot-inspired, deck-based RPG about cruising.

darachbeo.itch.io

June 1, 2025 at 10:39 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Reclaiming my powers one hair at a time.

Portrait selfie of Bert, a bearded man with a short haircut, gray shirt, and a cross-body bag strap across his chest poses in front of a brick wall.

June 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Here’s your chonky himbo of the day. Everyone, this is Odie.

Glassy-eyed, fat Pembroke Welsh Corgi sits patiently on a tile floor with his tongue out waiting for a treat.

June 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

This one is hitting me DAILY.

Neutral background with black text that says The two worst feelings in the world are not having a job and having a job.

May 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Shoutout to the IRS for using time travel to send their scary letters from the future. @alt-irs.altgov.info, is this a “normal” practice? It feels pretty shady.

Section of a typed letter showing the date June 2 2025 and part of a heading that says Seize Levy Your Property. The date of the posting is May 27 2025.

May 28, 2025 at 1:09 AM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

For being my favorite game ever made, I sure AF don’t remember any of what’s happening in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom as I’m playing through it again. I guess I’m at least getting my $70-worth. Thanks ADHD!

May 28, 2025 at 12:46 AM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

I just watched a few episodes of Bluey since so many people rave about it. I can confirm that the dad on the show is bee keeping age.

May 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

My replacement Xbox controller arrived. Considering the size of this box, I can only assume it’s one of the original Duke controllers. Normal human size chair for reference.

Brown cardboard box on top of a dining table with a chair pushed under the table. The box is as long as the width of the chair and nearly as long.

May 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

Mike

@mjsant.bsky.social

#Target The answer is easy. Put DEI back in place explain the tariffs and your liberal customer base will be more understanding about it. They might have to buy a bit less but it’s better than them buying nothing. You’re not wining over conservative Walmart shoppers. Costco isn’t having this problem

CNN @cnn.com · May 21

Target was already facing a very public revolt from some of its most loyal customers. Now it’s warning about tariffs: cnn.it/3SeHgxu

Target’s problems are escalating | CNN Business

Target’s was already facing a very public revolt from some of its most loyal customers. Now it’s warning about tariffs.

cnn.it

May 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

Since seeing a spinal vertebrate inside of an open surgical wound live in person, I can now confirm that I am a technology Asian and decidedly NOT a healthcare Asian.

May 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

Smartypants

@smartypantsshow.bsky.social

Philly and New York: DO BETTER 🫵

March 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

Shawn-Michael Monroe

@theshawno.bsky.social

Just something I believe expressed in the place I can. I hope it helps those that need a pick up today

Quote from Timp and the Blueberry Vikings Book 2: Even as yer world burns, you must take heart. Use your hope, courage, and love to connect.”

February 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

There is only one band on my bucket list. After their breakup, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see them in concert. Their music is nearly a daily part of my life. My dog is named after them. The @rilokileyofficial.bsky.social reunion tour is officially happening and I might pass out from happiness.

Rilo Kiley @rilokileyofficial.bsky.social · Jan 27

it’s happening! just like heaven festival 2025 announced and there’s more to come! sign up for our mailing list at rilokiley.lnk.to/list to get updates.

January 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM

Reposted by Bert Pearce

Scream Queens Coaster Community

@screamqueenscc.bsky.social

January 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM

Bert Pearce

@bertpearce.bsky.social

My new Safari best friend is uBlacklist. There's a button underneath each search result that lets me blacklist an entire website to keep it from showing up in my internet searches. Amazon, Walmart, the sites that have those AI-generated articles...byeeeee