G/O Media has sold Kotaku to Keleops, a digital publishing company

Keleops, a digital publishing firm, has purchased Kotaku from G/O Media through a confidential, all-cash transaction.

Axios has reported that Kotaku’s current editorial team will be retained, with plans to recruit more senior personnel.

Jean-Guillaume Kleis, CEO of Keleops, mentioned to Axios he has no plans for immediate changes and has not yet met with the editor-in-chief of Kotaku.

"We are excited to have the Kotaku team join Keleops," stated Kleis, emphasizing Kotaku’s role as a crucial hub for gaming enthusiasts and cultural advancements.

Kleis stated, "We are privileged to contribute to its future and incorporate such a distinguished gaming entity into our network, aligning with Keleops' expansive vision for the U.S. market."

He further outlined their intentions: "Building on our achievement with Gizmodo, we are eager to elevate Kotaku's prominence within the gaming community."

The previous year marked Keleops’ acquisition of Gizmodo from G/O Media.

Jim Spanfeller, CEO of G/O Media, expressed via email to Axios his satisfaction in finding an excellent new ownership for Kotaku and its staff, extending his best wishes to the team and Keleops.

Spanfeller also noted that G/O Media is progressing towards ceasing its operations, a decision influenced by its primary investor, Great Hill Partners.

He remarked, "Ultimately, considering both their business approaches and my personal future plans, this was the appropriate timing. However, the sale was not executed hastily or under pressure."

"Despite challenges in the digital content industry, we aimed for optimal outcomes for our stakeholders and employees," Spanfeller explained.

Kotaku became part of Univision Communications through its purchase of Gawker Media in 2016, which led to the formation of Gizmodo Media Group.

In 2019, Great Hill Partners acquired Gizmodo Media Group, rebranding it as G/O Media.

Under G/O Media, Kotaku encountered significant changes in its editorial leadership, including the reported dismissal of editor-in-chief Patricia Hernandez in August 2023, and Jen Glennon's appointment in October.

In March, Glennon resigned after alleged directives from G/O Media shifted Kotaku's focus from news to guides.

In Glennon’s resignation letter, she critiqued the decision to prioritize guides over news, deeming it inappropriate given the site’s infrastructure and contradicted by traffic data.

During 2022, a union representing employees from Kotaku and other G/O Media outlets initiated a strike demanding improvements in wages, parental leave, and healthcare, which concluded with an agreement after four days.