Brian Altano and Seth Macy, who were among the employees recently laid off by IGN, are launching a new independent podcast network called X Button. They are joined by former IGN colleague Max Scoville. The network will host its shows on Patreon.
The trio aims to continue their work in gaming commentary, news, and discussion through their new venture. "We’ll cover video game news, new game releases, and the classic games we still love today, all with the insight, passion, and humor you expect from us by now," reads the About page for the flagship podcast, X Button. The network also plans to feature industry peers, game developers, and voice actors as guests. Another podcast, Ninfriendo 64, will focus specifically on Nintendo content.
Altano and Scoville previously cohosted IGN’s PlayStation show "Beyond!", while Macy was a cohost of the Nintendo-themed podcast "NVC". Following the recent layoffs and restructuring, "Beyond!" is currently on hiatus, and "NVC" will no longer publish weekly episodes. Other IGN podcasts, such as "Unlocked" and "Game Scoop," are also affected, with "Game Scoop" reportedly being the only show to continue regular publication. Staff were reportedly informed that other shows were not generating sufficient revenue to justify continued weekly resources.
The move comes as IGN appears to be scaling back its podcast operations. This is a notable shift for a platform that was an early adopter of the podcast medium. Other media organizations, like The Ringer and Vox Media Podcast Network, have recently expanded their podcasting efforts, with some even securing deals to air content on streaming platforms. Networks like Kinda Funny, also founded by former IGN staff, have demonstrated the potential for independent podcasting to be a lucrative endeavor.
Altano and Macy addressed their departures in the inaugural episode of their new show, expressing the unexpected nature of their layoffs and the subsequent decision to forge a new path. "Careers we put so much passion, love, and expertise into for so long vanished instantly," they stated in a pitch to potential subscribers. "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."