Gerstmann, GameSpot part ways

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Dec 3, 2007 9:18 pm PT

[UPDATE] After nearly 11 years of news, reviews, and previews, editorial director's tenure ends; GameSpot editors address controversy surrounding his departure; latest podcast inside.

[UPDATE] Since this story was first published Wednesday, GameSpot editors Alex Navarro, Ryan Davis, Ricardo Torres, and Ryan MacDonald have appeared on the HotSpot podcast to discuss Jeff Gerstmann's departure. You can hear it on the official HotSpot page or via the links below. The original story is as follows.

HotSpot -12/4/07

GameSpot editors speak about Jeff Gerstmann's departure.

The past week marked the end of an era at GameSpot. After over a decade in a variety of editorial roles, Jeff Gerstmann's tenure as editorial director has ended.

"Jeff was a central figure in the creation and evolution of GameSpot, having written hundreds of previews and reviews, and anchoring much of our multimedia content," said Ricardo Torres, editorial director of previews and events. "The award-winning editorial team he leaves behind wish him nothing but good luck in his future endeavors."

Due to legal constraints and the company policy of GameSpot parent CNET Networks, details of Gerstmann's departure cannot be disclosed publicly. However, contrary to widespread and unproven reports, his exit was not a result of pressure from an advertiser.

"Neither CNET Networks nor GameSpot has ever allowed its advertising business to affect its editorial content," said Greg Brannan, CNET Networks Entertainment's vice president of programming. "The accusations in the media that it has done so are unsubstantiated and untrue. Jeff's departure stemmed from internal reasons unrelated to any buyer of advertising on GameSpot."

"Though he will be missed by his colleagues, Jeff's leaving does not affect GameSpot's core mission of delivering the most timely news, video content, in-depth previews, and unbiased reviews in games journalism," said Ryan MacDonald, executive producer of GameSpot Live. "GameSpot is an institution, and its code of ethics and duty to its users remains unchanged."

Tune in later in the week to hear editors' tributes to Gerstmann on GameSpot's weekly Webcast, On the Spot.

3870 Comments

  • vidiexas

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 9:31 am PT

    Damn Greg and Jeff out i miss those gta or nfs reviews

  • Shtinky

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:58 pm PT

    we're no strangers to love
    you know the rules, and so do I

  • red0584

    Posted Jan 14, 2009 12:38 pm PT

    *sniff*

  • Mikethechimp

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 7:47 am PT

    Neva forget.

  • roxyg

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 5:44 pm PT

    Almost a year until this was posted. What a shame. -.-

  • Lias444

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 4:29 pm PT

    this sucks, he was the best reviewer

  • LazyGamer_24

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    @Veritys
    Actually his gamertag is GiantBombing or something like that.

  • ston3henge

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 6:36 pm PT

    With the amount of marketing posts on the forums that the mods refuse to deal with, is it any wonder this is over money? Cry all you want on a podcast, come off as sincere as you like... we can all smell the blood in the water and the rot of the garbage. Lose one, that's an aberration... lose TWO of your best, and something is most definitely WRONG.

  • Heminem

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 7:11 am PT

    gamespot and cnet are full of bs

  • guerillaKZ2

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    nooooooooooooo! i thought that grestmann was the best person on gamespot

  • willimate

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 6:51 am PT

    who needs a truth from gerstmann that why he was fired, can any of you tell me?

  • Veritys

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:58 am PT

    Oh and if anyones wandering, his gamertag is GameSpotting

  • Veritys

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 7:56 am PT

    Everything we read here has to be now questioned. Is the game really good? How much push did the advertisers have in its rating? We just lost a bunch of good guys here over the past month. Im with you Atom, adios Cnet!

  • necrolok

    Posted Mar 3, 2008 8:02 am PT

    S*** Happens. Large companies do what they do. We just survive. Change is invevitable, adapt or not, your choice. Personally this sucks.

  • GalenMyra

    Posted Feb 13, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    die and burn in hell gamespot...

  • AtomBomb

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 9:22 pm PT

    Man I am done with Gamespot. I mean some of the reviews have been out there, and I always come online for the reader reviews more than the GS reviews of a game. But I bet this will be axed soon also since it hurts a games chance of selling. This is outrageous, they can him haw and lie threw their teeth. But what it comes down to is the executioner trying to protect his/her A$$ at all cost. The bastards probably already got my next payment, but they can choke on it. I am cancelling my account here and going to a non C-Net site from here on.

  • Doubleruskie

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    So I decided not to sound off about this incident for two months for the sole reason that there have been plenty of people posting about it. And now with Navarro walking what the hell are you thinking, something is seriously wrong over there. When one employee has a problem you get rid of him but when it's a growing epidemic you look at replacing management, it's just good business sense. To be honest I didn't really like Jeff but enough is enough Kane & Lynch is the worst shooter I've played in along time, he was extremely generous with a 6. If Activision had whined enough about the 4.5 that Soldier of Fortune earned would you have fired Ocampo?

    I will never again look at Gamespot as an honest unbiased website or trust any of the reviews posted again because of this whole fiasco. WTF that's all I have to say, WTF!!!

  • paradigm68

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 7:01 pm PT

    wow guys we all know what happened! and i have been on this site since early 03..not relay in the mood to get on if i know this website just wants to run there money on there advertising and not there users.

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 1:03 pm PT

    C-c-crooked!

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 1:00 pm PT

    Damn it damn it damn it! Where's my autoerotic asphyxiation?

  • fmprodguy

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:29 pm PT

    FIRE JOSH LARSON!!!!!

  • fmprodguy

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:27 pm PT

    http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8587828&publicUserId=4561231

  • Dr_Doomsday112

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 2:10 pm PT

    WtF mate why did you fire jeff he dident do anything wrong this is bull s*** and i have to do this ******** to all the times i say swears but why this is one of the many reasons i hate gamespot they suspend and ban people for stupid reasons they fire there good editor for no reasons what so ever.This is another reason why i go to game trailers or ign for my gaming needs not gamespot i am only going here anymore to cheack news on brawl and spore when those games are realeased im leaving for good f*** you gamespot

  • MasterOfSprites

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 10:10 am PT

    I can't believe game spot would just up and fire their best editor.

  • silent_riku

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 8:34 pm PT

    I heard jeff was being hired by 1-UP? any truth to that? well if he does somehow start working for 1-UP I will surely move to that site.

  • nintendofan659

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 5:20 pm PT

    jeff was my 2n favorite editor

  • Mekky_9892

    Posted Jan 3, 2008 10:18 am PT

    I don't see the big deal this caused. They sacked him, so what?

  • Meianyu

    Posted Jan 1, 2008 11:25 pm PT

    i wish i knew his gamertag

  • BRETTJB99

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 12:38 pm PT

    This might actually stop me and others from visiting this site anyone

  • geirdaniel

    Posted Dec 29, 2007 3:08 am PT

    Im from Norway, and thats kinda far away but even here the news of Gerstmanns departure made it to one of my country's biggest newspaper. I know this is old news though, but I cant believe CNET or GS still havent given us more of an explanation on this matter. I'll probably be using GS(quit my subscription though in anger) as a site for news and such, but as far as reviews go: Tell us users the truth concerning this matter and maybe save some of the site's already scorned integrity. That is not much to ask for, concidering that many of us have been tuning in to this site for many years...

  • EvanSkanes

    Posted Dec 28, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    It was Kane and Lynch.

  • punkrockernick

    Posted Dec 28, 2007 5:14 pm PT

    So what game did Jeff review that might be the center of conspiracy? Somehow I missed the title of the game in all of this hoopla.

  • chineolee

    Posted Dec 27, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    This is insane. I've only just caught up with this...been on vacation on the moon for the past month. Seriously, this sucks. To my mind GS is now compromised beyond repair and cannot be relied on as an impartial source of game info.

  • ClavitoPAZ

    Posted Dec 27, 2007 1:16 am PT

    omg, keep this article alive!!!!! This is the only reason I come here now. For this!!!!

  • adidasman159

    Posted Dec 25, 2007 5:37 pm PT

    I may have been a little late on hearing about this but I do not believe that any of us readers are stupid enough to believe that some gamespot posted article trying to cover up the real reasons behind the firing are going to fool any of your otherwise loyal readers.
    I used to visit this site every day looking for my news and reviews on the games that I buy. it is a shame that I and I hope many others will have to turn to other sources now to receive real UNBIASED reviews not dictated by advertisers.

    looks like I will have to go to IGN for news along with hopefully many other of Jeff's fans

  • brett4307

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 3:13 am PT

    I can't beleive this! Gamespot will never be the same, good luck Jeff, you rule!

  • sdcazares1980

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 7:33 pm PT

    I cannot believe that this was not nominated as one of the Biggest News of 2007.

  • omnislash_13

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 6:38 am PT

    This is such a travesty, i will acknowledge that i might be wrong here, but i firmly believe that this another example of companies with big bucks throwing their weight around cos something doesnt go their way. Jeff gives a down-right terrible review of a game that is made by a company who are affiliated with CNET who own Gamespot and then gets fired, thats a mighty large coincidence isnt it?

    They can make all the press releases they want saying they wont terminate an employee based on pressure from sponsors and advertisers but thats total B.S., every company in the world who like money caves to sponsers and avdertisers, it's how they make their money, i highly doubt Gamespot make anywhere near enough to fund themselves based on their subscription fees, cos im a free member and tbh im not really jealous of the people who can afford to pay to be a member. Also the company cant admit they do bow to sponsers, its just the thing they have to say in the circumstances.

    Instead of just silencing someone who opposes them they should have made a better game, and im not basing my opinion of it on his review, i saw adverts containing ACTUAL gameplay and raised an eyebrow, then i got to see it up close and was just appauled, it is a truly awful game.

    If they are buying good reviews then the entire process is total crap, i always believed that Gamespot was one of the few sites that gave an honest opinion, but apparently no-one can question the almighty publishers. Sad stuff, Jeff was cool.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 3:37 am PT

    "Though he will be missed by his colleagues, Jeff's leaving does not affect GameSpot's core mission of delivering the most timely news . . ." etc etc.

    Though he will be missed by his colleagues AND HIS HORDES OF FANS, now we will turn the end of this paragraph into an advertisment we hope you believe so you stick with us. HORAH !

    Still love you gamespot, but show a lil more heart. Ciao Gerstmann, happy trails . . . .

  • fabian2007

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    i never like that fat guy anyway,good for gamespot.but anyway gt is always better.

  • devilscry

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 3:08 am PT

    we're unfortunately never going to know what happened. Its not like someone from Gamespot's just gonna pop their head in and go "psssst, come here, this is what happened!" they'd lose their jobs. Also, you usually are held to not talk about why you're let go, just like in other jobs, its called slander and the Gertsmeister would be liable, possibly sued.

    unless someone, somewhere, comes out and says something annonymously its not going to happen. there was that one guy, i forgot what site it was, said he was an editor or employee with gamespot/cnet and gave his two cents, but you have to take it with a grain of salt being that its posted annonymously. Only thing you can really do at this point is form your own opinion in a situation where you really can't. Either way Gamespot's Cred takes a big hit and we're left minus one Great Editor....

  • DodgeDuty

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 12:41 am PT

    Now I have to go to IGN and Gamesradar

  • nightlights

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 5:44 pm PT

    Thats so gay I'm considering becoming a member of 1up.com instead now.

  • RHCPfan24

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 5:12 pm PT

    Huh...it is the 20th of December..........Still no news why Jeff is gone.................so, who here is enjoying Kane & Lynch?

  • vip_embryo

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 7:48 am PT

    so, 14 days ago this Bull5h1t was posted and so far.... We have NO REAL CLUES of wtf happened to Jeff.

  • d3c1m8r

    Posted Dec 17, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    B U L L S H I T

  • Stonetowerghost

    Posted Dec 15, 2007 8:41 pm PT

    I believe every word those guys said, but I also believe that there's simply no keeping the truth behind Jeff's departure quiet for long. Eventually, everyone will know what happened.

  • Sty1ez101

    Posted Dec 14, 2007 1:43 pm PT

    Definitely a turning point... Let the New Era begin. Jeff helped me save money on buying better games and renting the cheaper ones. and for his reviews helped people not buy crappy games like Hour of Victory and Kane & Lynch for launch price. How can you fire the guru of games.

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