Editing GameSpot

{{short description|American video game website}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[GameStop]], the video game retailer}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox website
| name = GameSpot
| logo =  [[File:Logo of GameSpot.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_upright    = 0.8
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1996|5|1}}
| founder = {{ubl|Pete Deemer|Vince Broady|Jon Epstein}}
| location_city = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| parent = {{ubl|SpotMedia (1996–1997)|[[ZDNET]] (1997–2000)|[[CNET]] (2000–2008)|[[CBS Interactive]] (2008–2020)|[[Red Ventures]] (2020–2022)|[[Fandom (website)|Fandom, Inc.]] (2022–present)}}
| url = {{URL|gamespot.com}}
| type = [[Video game journalism]]
| registration = Optional (free and [[subscription business model|paid]])
| owner = 
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1996|1|13}} (Spotmedia)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=GameSpot.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info – DomainTools |url=http://whois.domaintools.com/gamespot.com |access-date=February 15, 2016 |website=[[WHOIS]]}}</ref>
| current_status = Active
}}

'''''GameSpot''''' is an American [[video game|video gaming]] website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition to the information produced by ''GameSpot'' staff, the site also allows users to write their own reviews, blogs, and post on the site's forums. It has been owned by [[Fandom (website)|Fandom, Inc.]] since October 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Fandom Acquires Leading Entertainment & Gaming Brands Including… |url=https://about.fandom.com/news/fandom-acquires-leading-entertainment-gaming-brands-including-gamespot-tv-guide-and-metacritic |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2004, ''GameSpot'' won "Best Gaming Website" as chosen by the viewers in [[Spike TV]]'s second ''Video Game Award Show'',<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Spike TV Announces Winners of 'Video Game Awards 2004' |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2004/12/14/spike-tv-announces-winners-of-video-game-awards-2004-17429/20041214spiketv01/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230421012942/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2004/12/14/spike-tv-announces-winners-of-video-game-awards-2004-17429/20041214spiketv01/ |archive-date=2023-04-21 |website=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref> and has won [[Webby Awards]] several times. The domain ''GameSpot.com'' attracted at least 60 million visitors annually by October 2008 according to a [[Compete.com]] study.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Site Profile for GameSpot.com |url=http://siteanalytics.compete.com/gamespot.com?metric=uv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019081558/http://siteanalytics.compete.com/gamespot.com/?metric=uv |archive-date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2008-05-18 |website=SiteAnalytics.Compete.com}}</ref>

==History==
In January 1996, Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein quit their positions at [[IDG]] and founded SpotMedia Communications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=D.I.C.E. Awards by Video Game Details |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idGame=559 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605212436/http://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idGame=559 |archive-date=2018-06-05 |access-date=2019-08-17 |website=Interactive.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grabowicz |first=Paul |title=Course Number: Ba278 |url=http://courses.haas.berkeley.edu/descriptions/Descriptions/BA278-2_Spring01.htm |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Berkeley.edu |publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]]}}</ref><ref name="Wired">{{Cite magazine |last=Farnady |first=Kate |date=February 6, 1997 |title=Research Dream Job: Online Gaming Zine |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/02/research-dream-job-online-gaming-zine/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102072826/https://www.wired.com/1997/02/research-dream-job-online-gaming-zine/ |archive-date=2020-01-02 |access-date=2023-04-20}}</ref> SpotMedia then launched ''GameSpot'' on May 1, 1996.<ref name="Wired" /> Originally, ''GameSpot'' focused solely on [[personal computer]] games, so a sister site, ''VideoGameSpot'', was launched on December 1, 1996.<ref name="Wired" /><ref name="Navarro">{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Alex |date=July 14, 2006 |title=Burning Questions: July 14, 2006 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6154109/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930080927/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154109.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=March 23, 2007 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> Eventually ''VideoGameSpot'', then renamed ''VideoGames.com'', was merged into ''GameSpot''.<ref name="Navarro" />

On January 6, 1997, SpotMedia and publisher [[Ziff Davis]] announced a $20 million agreement allowing the publisher to run content from ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' and ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' on SpotMedia's websites.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/01/zd-spotmedia-to-create-online-gaming-goliath/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523184643/https://www.wired.com/1997/01/zd-spotmedia-to-create-online-gaming-goliath/ |title=ZD, SpotMedia to Create Online Gaming Goliath |last=Brown |first=Janelle |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=January 3, 1997 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> By the following month, Ziff Davis's substantial financial infusion enabled ''GameSpot'' to grow to 45 employees.<ref name="Wired" /> Upon the May 11, 1998 launch of Ziff Davis's cable channel [[ZDTV]], a program by ''GameSpot'' was projected for a mid-summer release,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711004004/https://www.zdnet.com/article/zdtv-launches-monday/ |title=ZDTV launches Monday |first=Martha |last=Stone |website=ZDNet |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=May 8, 1998 |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> and would premiere as ''[[GameSpot TV]]'' on July 4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320175525/https://kotaku.com/5991439/internet-killed-the-video-star-the-extraordinary-journey-of-adam-sessler |title=Internet Killed The Video Star: The Extraordinary Journey Of Adam Sessler |last=Schreier |first=Jason |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Gawker Media]] |date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 1999, ''[[PC Magazine]]'' named ''GameSpot'' one of the hundred best websites, alongside competitors ''[[IGN]]'' and ''[[CNET Gamecenter]]''.<ref name="pcmagtop100">{{Cite journal |last=Willmott, Don |date=February 9, 1999 |title=The 100 Top Web Sites |journal=[[PC Magazine]] |volume=18 |page=114 |number=3}}</ref>

On July 19, 2000, [[CNET]] announced its acquisition of [[ZDNET]], putting ''GameSpot'' and ''Gamecenter'' under the same parent company.<ref name="eurocnet">{{cite web |author=Vaggabond |date=July 19, 2000 |title=Cnet buys ZDnet |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_28565 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523191403/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_28565 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |work=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> That December, ''[[The New York Times]]'' declared ''GameSpot'' and ''Gamecenter'' the "''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' and ''[[Newsweek]]'' of gaming sites".<ref name="nytimescenter">{{Cite web |last=Olafson |first=Peter |date=December 7, 2000 |title=Basics; Sites Keep Up with Games and Gamers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/07/technology/basics-sites-keep-up-with-games-and-gamers.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180523185648/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/07/technology/basics-sites-keep-up-with-games-and-gamers.html |archive-date=2018-05-23 |access-date=2018-05-27 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In February 2001, ''GameSpot'' was spared from a redundancy reduction effort by CNET which shuttered ''Gamecenter''.<ref name="chronicle1">{{cite web |author=Fost, Dan |date=February 15, 2001 |title=Heavy Lifting Begins for Cnet |url=https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Heavy-Lifting-Begins-for-Cnet-Dot-com-downturn-2951969.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523184059/https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Heavy-Lifting-Begins-for-Cnet-Dot-com-downturn-2951969.php |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name="registergc">{{cite web |author=Smith, Andrew |date=February 7, 2001 |title=CNET shuts Gamecenter |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/02/07/cnet_shuts_gamecenter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204094044/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/02/07/cnet_shuts_gamecenter/ |archive-date=December 4, 2004 |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref>

In October 2005, ''GameSpot'' adopted a new design similar to that of [[TV.com]], now considered a sister site to ''GameSpot''.<ref>{{Cite web |author=GameSpot Staff |date=November 2, 2005 |title=GameSpot Redesign: Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamespot-redesign-frequently-asked-questions/1100-6134513/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018065355/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamespot-redesign-frequently-asked-questions/1100-6134513/ |archive-date=2013-10-18 |access-date=2006-09-29}}</ref> ''GameSpot'' ran a few different paid subscriptions from 2006 to 2013, but is no longer running those.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GameSpot Staff |date=February 23, 2006 |title=GameSpot Revamps Subscription Model |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamespot-revamps-subscription-model/1100-6144748/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124754/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamespot-revamps-subscription-model/1100-6144748/ |archive-date=2018-01-15 |access-date=2018-01-14 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref><ref name="signup">{{Cite web |title=GameSpot Sign-Up Page |url=http://www.gamespot.com/signup/index.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321212959/http://www.gamespot.com/signup/index.php |archive-date=2007-03-21 |access-date=2007-04-03 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Lark |date=January 9, 2013 |title=GameSpot's Paid Subscription Service is Ending: FAQ |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/gamespots-paid-subscription-service-is-ending-faq-6402038/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206100619/http://www.gamespot.com/features/gamespots-paid-subscription-service-is-ending-faq-6402038/ |archive-date=2013-02-06 |access-date=2013-01-22 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> In June 2008, ''GameSpot''{{'}}s parent company CNET was acquired by [[CBS Corporation]], and ''GameSpot'' along with CNET's other online assets were managed by the [[CBS Interactive]] division.<ref name="cbs">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=3503 |title=CBS CORPORATION COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CNET NETWORKS; MERGES OPERATIONS INTO NEW, EXPANDED CBS INTERACTIVE BUSINESS UNIT |publisher=CBS Corporation |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=June 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829001159/http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=3503 |archive-date=August 29, 2008 }}</ref>

A new layout change was adopted in October 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swipe Up Game |url=https://expoodle.com/experience/swipe-up |access-date=2021-09-29 |website=Expoodle.com}}</ref>

CNET was sold to [[Red Ventures]] in October 2020.<ref name="redventures-acquisition-prnewswire">{{Cite web|title=Red Ventures Announces Closing of Acquisition of CNET Media Group|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-ventures-announces-closing-of-acquisition-of-cnet-media-group-301163922.html|date=2020-10-30|access-date=2020-11-06|website=PR Newswire|language=en|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608220527/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-ventures-announces-closing-of-acquisition-of-cnet-media-group-301163922.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, [[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] acquired ''GameSpot'', along with [[Metacritic]], [[TV Guide]], [[GameFAQs]], [[Giant Bomb]], Cord Cutters News, and [[Comic Vine]] from Red Ventures.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="fandom">{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=October 3, 2022 |title=TV Guide, Metacritic, GameSpot Acquired by Fandom in $55M Deal With Red Ventures |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/tv-guide-metacritic-gamespot-acquisition-fandom-1235231819/ |access-date=October 3, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In January 2023, 40-50 employees were affected by a round of layoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=2023-01-19 |title=Layoffs Hit GameSpot, Giant Bomb Just Months After Fandom Buys Them |url=https://kotaku.com/giant-bomb-gamespot-metacritic-fandom-layoffs-1850008228 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref> More layoffs at GameSpot took place in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |date=2024-01-31 |title=GameSpot lays off portion of staff |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamespot-lays-off-portion-of-staff |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

===International history===
''GameSpot UK'' (United Kingdom) was started in October 1997 and operated until mid-2002, offering content that was oriented for the British market that often differed from that of the U.S. site. During this period, ''GameSpot UK'' won the 1999 PPAi (Periodical Publishers Association interactive) award for best website,<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameSpot UK Winner, PPAi Awards 1999 |url=http://www.ukaop.org.uk/Events/Annual-Awards/110#ppai1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233911/http://www.ukaop.org.uk/Events/Annual-Awards/110#ppai1999 |archive-date=2007-09-26 |access-date=2006-10-07 |website=UKAOP.com}}</ref> and was short listed in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameSpot UK Short Listed, PPAi Awards 2001 |url=http://www.ukaop.org.uk/Events/Annual-Awards/110#ppai2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233911/http://www.ukaop.org.uk/Events/Annual-Awards/110#ppai2001 |archive-date=2007-09-26 |access-date=2006-10-07 |website=UKAOP.com}}</ref> ''[[PC Gaming World]]'' was considered a "sister print magazine" and some content appeared on both ''GameSpot UK'' and ''PC Gaming World''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameSpot UK: Computer Games News, Reviews, Demos, and Strategy Guides |url=http://www.gamespot.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815053201/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/ |archive-date=2000-08-15 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=GameSpot UK |publisher=[[ZDNET]] |quote=Some of the material on this site also appears in our sister print magazine}}</ref> Following the purchase of [[ZDNet]] by [[CNET]], GameSpot UK was merged with the main US site. On April 24, 2006, ''GameSpot UK'' was relaunched.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Lisa |date=April 24, 2006 |title=GameSpot UK Launches |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=947 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611045243/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/947/Gamespot-UK-launches |archive-date=2007-06-11 |access-date=2006-11-01 |website=MCVUK.com}}</ref>

In a similar fashion, ''GameSpot AU'' (Australia) existed on a local scale in the late 1990s with Australian-produced reviews. It ceased in 2003. When a local version of the main CNET portal, CNET.com.au was launched in 2003, GameSpot AU content was folded into CNET.com.au. The site was fully re-launched in mid-2006, with a specialized forum, local reviews, special features, local pricings in [[Australian dollar]]s, Australian release dates, and more local news.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===Gerstmann dismissal===
[[Jeff Gerstmann]], editorial director of the site, was fired on November 28, 2007 as a result of pressure from Eidos Interactive, a major advertiser; Eidos objected to the 6/10 review that Gerstmann had given ''[[Kane & Lynch: Dead Men]]'', a game they were heavily advertising on ''GameSpot'' at the time.<ref name="GiantBomb" /><ref name="kotakuGameSpot" /><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Peter|last1=Szuban|title=Reconstituting Vocabularies: User Generated Databases, Social Tagging, and Folksonomies in Giantbomb's Videogame Wiki Database|url=https://theijournal.ca/index.php/ijournal/article/view/32139|journal=The IJournal: Student Journal of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information|date=2018|issn=2561-7397|pages=41–49|volume=4|issue=1}}</ref> Both ''GameSpot'' and parent company CNET initially stated that his dismissal was unrelated to the review.<ref name="gsso">{{Cite web |last=GameSpot Staff |date=December 5, 2007 |title=Spot On: GameSpot on Gerstmann |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6183666.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725203926/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6183666.html |archive-date=2008-07-25 |access-date=2007-12-24 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref><ref name="cnetofficial">{{Cite web |last=Faylor |first=Chris |date=November 30, 2007 |title=CNET Denies 'External Pressure' Caused Gerstmann Termination |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/50157 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515212056/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/50157 |archive-date=2008-05-15 |access-date=2007-12-24 |website=Shacknews}}</ref> However, in March 2012, the non-disclosure agreement that forced Gerstmann to withhold the details of his termination was nullified. Not long after, ''[[Giant Bomb]]'' (a site Gerstmann founded after leaving ''GameSpot'') was being purchased by the same parent company as ''GameSpot'', and that they moved their headquarters into the same building. As part of this announcement, Gerstmann revealed that the firing was indeed related to threats of Eidos pulling advertising revenue away from ''GameSpot'' as a result of Gerstmann's poor review score, which was confirmed by ''GameSpot's'' Jon Davison.<ref name="GiantBomb">{{cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=March 15, 2012 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/exciting-news-from-your-friends-at-giant-bomb/1100-4035/ |title=Exciting News From Your Friends At Giant Bomb |publisher=[[Giant Bomb]] |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720165520/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/exciting-news-from-your-friends-at-giant-bomb/1100-4035/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kotakuGameSpot">{{cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=March 15, 2012 |url=https://kotaku.com/yes-a-games-writer-was-fired-over-review-scores-5893785 |title=Yes, a Games Writer was Fired Over Review Scores |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409220352/https://kotaku.com/yes-a-games-writer-was-fired-over-review-scores-5893785 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable staff==
* [[Greg Kasavin]] – executive editor and site director of ''GameSpot'', who left in 2007 to become a game developer. He became a producer at [[Electronic Arts|EA]] and [[2K Games]]. As of 2021, he was working for [[Supergiant Games]] as a writer and creative director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |date=January 19, 2007 |title=To Live and Die in L.A. |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pages/profile/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-24849433&user=GregK |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930082224/http://www.gamespot.com/pages/profile/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-24849433&user=GregK |archive-date=2007-09-30 |access-date=2007-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Supergiant Games |url=https://www.supergiantgames.com/team/|access-date=2021-11-19 |website=SuperGiantGames.com}}</ref>
* [[Jeff Gerstmann]] – editorial director of the site, dismissed from ''GameSpot'' on November 28, 2007, for undisclosed reasons, after which he started ''[[Giant Bomb]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeff Gerstmann - Virtual Fools |url=http://www.virtualfools.com/games/jeff-gerstmann/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314151801/http://www.virtualfools.com/games/jeff-gerstmann/ |archive-date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2008-04-15 |website=VirtualFools.com}}</ref> Following the announcement of the purchase of ''Giant Bomb'' by CBS Interactive on March 15, 2012, Jeff was allowed to reveal that he was dismissed by management as a result of publishers threatening to pull advertising revenue due to less-than-glowing review scores being awarded by ''GameSpot''{{'}}s editorial team.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Davison |first1=John |last2=Gerstmann |first2=Jeff |date=March 15, 2012 |title=GameSpot and Giant Bomb, Together |url=http://www.gamespot.com/video/gamespot-and-giant-bomb-together-6366598/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308124102/http://www.gamespot.com/video/gamespot-and-giant-bomb-together-6366598/ |archive-date=2013-03-08 |access-date=2018-01-14 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref>
* Danny O'Dwyer – video presenter of ''GameSpot'', founded crowdfunded game documentary company [[Noclip]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2013 |title=dannyodwyer's Blog - GameSpot |url=https://www.gamespot.com/profile/dannyodwyer/blog/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=GameSpot |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Chris Wanstrath]] – web developer of ''GameSpot'' who left in 2008 to start [[GitHub]], which became the world’s largest host service for software code.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Tom Huddleston |date=2018-06-04 |title=How this 33-year-old college dropout co-founded GitHub, which just sold to Microsoft for $7.5 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/04/chris-wanstrath-co-founded-github-which-microsoft-bought-for-billions.html |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In 2018 he sold GitHub to Microsoft for $7.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft finalizes its $7.5 billion GitHub acquisition |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-finalizes-its-7-5-billion-github-acquisition/ |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Game of the Year awards#GameSpot|GameSpot Game of the Year awards]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.gamespot.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000619190627/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/ GameSpot UK] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041026020036/http://www.gamespot.be/ GameSpot Belgium] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19990117002707/http://www.gamespot.fr/ GameSpot France] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19981201194209/http://www.zdnet.de/spiele/ GameSpot Germany] (archived)

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[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Video game Internet forums]]
[[Category:Video game news websites]]
[[Category:Webby Award winners]]
[[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Former CBS Interactive websites]]
[[Category:Fandom (website)]]
[[Category:Spike Video Game Award winners]]