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# Laid off IGN veterans launch independent podcast network X Button
- URL: https://www.verticalslice.news/laid-off-ign-veterans-launch-independent-podcast-network-x-button/
- Published: 2026-10-20T09:45:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-20T09:46:46.000Z
- Description: An onslaught of layoffs at corporate-owned publications are reshaping the game media landscape.
- Author: Chris Kerr
- Tags: News, Game Media

Game media veterans Brian Altano, Max Scoville, and Seth Macy have launched independent video game podcast network, [X Button](https://www.patreon.com/cw/XButtonShow?ref=verticalslice.news), after being laid off by IGN.

The Ziff Davis-owned publication laid off employees across multiple departments in September, including some of its most senior talent. Altano, for instance, worked at IGN for almost 18 years. Scoville spent 11 years at the company, and Macy was an IGN employee for almost a decade.

Four members of the IGN Creators Guild union were also impacted by the cuts. [In a statement issued to Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/sources-ign-layoffs-hit-multiple-departments-and-long-time-hosts-2000734361?ref=verticalslice.news), the union said "core parts of IGN’s operation continue to be stripped away."

Bouncing back quickly under the X Button banner, Altano, Scoville, and Macy will produce two new weekly video game shows, the X Button Video Game Podcast and Ninfriendo 64\. 

The former is billed as a general rundown and discussion of game industry news and more, while (no prizes for correct guesses here) the latter will dial in on all things Nintendo. A third show unrelated to video games is also currently in the works. 

"We used to work for IGN. That still feels weird to put in the past tense. See, every day we got up and created videos, podcasts, articles, live shows, and more, all for the world’s biggest video game website," [wrote the X Button crew in a Patreon post](https://www.patreon.com/cw/XButtonShow?ref=verticalslice.news). "\[...\] And then, we got let go. Careers we put so much passion, love, and expertise into for so long vanished instantly. We lost it all, suddenly and unexpectedly. And it really, really sucked.

"But then, we got thousands of comments and messages telling us to keep going. So we’re picking up the pieces and doing just that. And we’re bringing our community, our peers, and our years of experience with us."

The trio will support X Button through [paid monthly memberships](https://www.patreon.com/cw/XButtonShow/membership?ref=verticalslice.news) that cost between £4/month and £154.50/month.