Giant Bomb Sold to Long-Time Staff, Goes Independent Again

Giant Bomb has been sold by Fandom and is returning to its independent roots under the ownership of its long-time staff.

The announcement came during the site’s PAX East panel, ending weeks of uncertainty about its future.

The new owners include Jeff Grubb, Jeff Bakalar, Dan Ryckert, Mike Minotti, and Jan Ochoa—all long-time contributors to the site.

They confirmed that the sale was finalized with mutual support from Fandom, which described the move as a “strategic decision.”

“Giant Bomb is now owned by the people who make Giant Bomb,” said Grubb and Bakalar in a joint statement. “All the support we receive now goes directly to this team.”

Subscriptions Now Directly Support the Team

Going forward, Giant Bomb will rely on community support through subscriptions, which are increasing from $5 to $10 per month. Grubb emphasized that every dollar now goes directly to the people creating the content.

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Fandom’s Statement and Past Tensions

Fandom, which had acquired Giant Bomb in 2022, released a statement expressing support for the transition:

“We’re confident Giant Bomb is in good hands, and its legacy will live on with Jeff and Jeff.”

The sale follows recent friction between Giant Bomb staff and Fandom. Content creators had pushed back against restrictive brand guidelines, including limitations on language and tone—elements that fans felt were part of Giant Bomb’s identity.

The conflict reached a peak when the 888th episode of the Giant Bombcast was pulled shortly after release. In the episode, the hosts openly mocked Fandom’s new rules. This was followed by public resignations and statements from key team members.

What’s Next?

The newly independent Giant Bomb plans to share more about its future direction soon. For now, it’s clear that the site will return to its creator-led model, with an emphasis on community-driven support and uncensored content.