We at NerdLeaks are flagging a troubling development in games media pay models that, if true, would fundamentally change how writers and editors at TheGamer are compensated. Per Kotaku, new contracts rolled out by Valnet impose a strict performance structure that could leave staff unpaid unless their pieces hit a minimum view threshold.
What Was Reported
Per Kotaku, staff at TheGamer were issued new contracts on May 21 that implemented a so-called "Pay Per Session" or performance-based bonus system which went into effect on May 22. The contracts, Kotaku reports, were visible in TheGamer’s Slack and were reviewed by Kotaku staff.
The core elements alleged in the contracts are specific and stark: writers would earn $5 per 1,000 “sessions” (clicks) and editors would earn $3 per 1,000 sessions. Those per-1k rates reportedly only apply to the first “15 days per post”, meaning any views after that window would not generate pay under this structure. Critically, Kotaku reports that the system sets a minimum article viewership threshold for payment, which could result in pieces that receive fewer than the required number of sessions generating no pay at all.
Per Kotaku, Lex Luddy — former junior editor at TheGamer and editor in chief of Startmenu — shared details in public posts and told Kotaku that “almost everyone” at TheGamer is classified as contract “freelancer,” meaning many staff could be subject to the new terms. Luddy reportedly said half of TheGamer’s writers were in “open revolt” over the contracts while others attempted to contact Valnet representatives.
Source and Credibility
We are treating these claims cautiously but seriously. Per Kotaku, the outlet was able to view a copy of the newly outlined contracts in TheGamer’s official Slack and quotes staff and former staff directly. Kotaku also cites Luddy’s posts on Bluesky and includes direct quotations attributed to him about how the new terms differ from previous agreements, where pay-per-view bonuses were additive to base pay.
Valnet is named in the documents and in Kotaku’s reporting. Per Kotaku, Valnet was founded by Hassan Youssef and Sam Youssef in 2012, and the pair were previously owners of Brazzers and “silent partners” of Pornhub. Kotaku also notes a history of negative reputation for Valnet in gaming newsrooms and cites prior claims about how the company treats staff and freelancers.
Take this with a pinch of salt: we are relaying what Kotaku reports and attributing claims where they appear. Per Kotaku, Valnet did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and some details—such as exactly which staff received the contracts and how many people will sign—remain contested within TheGamer’s team.
What It Could Mean
If the terms Kotaku describes are implemented across TheGamer, the practical effect would be to shift risk from publisher to writer in a dramatic way. Per the report, pay that used to be additive to base wages would become contingent on hitting session thresholds, and writers who spend hours on reporting could walk away with nothing if their pieces don’t hit the minimum.
Per Kotaku, some staff are characterising the move as a form of “soft-layoffs” that could encourage permalance contractors to leave voluntarily rather than accept potentially unlivable effective rates. Kotaku also quotes Luddy saying that many writers are concerned about the feasibility of a system where “eight hours of work might not gain traction and result in zero pay.”
Kotaku further links the timing of the contracts to broader traffic challenges: Luddy reportedly pointed to Google SEO changes hitting TheGamer hard, the prevalence of AI search engines, and the fact that Google allegedly announced it was shifting to an AI chatbot-type interface. If those factors are driving reduced clicks, a pay-only-on-clicks model could accelerate churn among writers.
Why This Matters
This is about more than one title or one publisher — per Kotaku, the move would touch the livelihoods of many writers and editors classified as contractors at TheGamer. If implemented, the contracts described would reshape incentives around headlines, clickability, and short-term performance over editorial stability. That raises questions about reporting quality, newsroom morale, and the sustainability of written games coverage under pay-per-click conditions.
We’ll be watching this closely and will update readers as more confirmations or responses from Valnet and TheGamer staff become available. For now, take these claims with a grain of skepticism and an eye toward the human cost if they prove accurate — because per Kotaku, many people at TheGamer are already alarmed.
