adminRebekah Valentine is joining Kotaku as Senior Reporter, a notable newsroom appointment as the gaming publication grows under new ownership. Keleops Media, which acquired Kotaku from G/O Media in July 2025, says the site’s traffic has doubled since the acquisition and that additional hires are planned.
Rebekah Valentine joins Kotaku as Senior Reporter
Valentine’s appointment is Kotaku’s first significant hire since the sale. She has previously worked at IGN and covered the games industry, bringing experience in business reporting as well as stories about the communities surrounding independent games such as Blue Prince and Baby Steps.
Image credit: Kotaku
Mylène Poncet, Managing Director for Kotaku and Gizmodo, said the publication’s audience and traffic have grown since Keleops took ownership. The company sees the hiring as a way to build on that progress and bring experienced reporters into the newsroom. Keleops has indicated that Valentine is the first of several planned additions.
Focus on original reporting and games-industry coverage
Interim Editor-in-Chief Ethan Gach highlighted Valentine’s background in business reporting and her coverage of dedicated gaming communities. He also described her arrival as an opportunity to develop new areas of coverage for Kotaku.
Gach said the publication wants original reporting and scoops to become central to its work, rather than occasional goals. He pointed to the value of explaining the games industry’s inner workings for readers, particularly at a time when, in his view, the industry can be difficult to understand from the outside.
For readers, that editorial direction could mean more in-depth reporting alongside regular gaming news. Original stories can provide context that short announcements alone may not offer, so look for reporting that explains the people, decisions, and business developments behind major industry headlines.
What Valentine’s role may include
Valentine expects her work to include straightforward news coverage as well as a more consistent stream of longer investigative reports. She also noted that Kotaku gives writers room to experiment with voice, tone, and style, leaving scope for criticism and other forms of writing.
Gach described the planned hires as a way to give the newsroom more capacity to follow industry tips and complete stories that might otherwise be delayed by the demands of daily publishing. He also emphasized that reporting is collaborative: additional staff can help a team investigate leads, verify information, and bring complex stories to publication.
Why the hire matters for Kotaku
Gach credited Keleops’ investment and understanding of Kotaku’s identity with helping the publication expand. He also said that investment brings responsibility, including a need to use resources carefully and maintain high editorial standards. In his view, strong reporting and analysis matter not only to readers but to the wider gaming industry.
The appointment of Rebekah Valentine at Kotaku is therefore part of a broader effort to grow the newsroom and strengthen its original coverage. Keleops’ reported traffic gains and plans for further hires provide context for the move, while the publication’s stated priorities point to more reporting on the business and culture of games.
