GI.biz touched on this a minute ago: not only the fact that all these sites are permanently indebted to the whims of SEO but that the future of many of them is entirely dependent on a very small pool of hit games, and if those hits don't come (or don't come at the right time, or are released by publishers who are indifferent to assisting you in producing timely Content) then they're completely fucked: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/starfield-review-controversy-traces-game-journalisms-orbital-decay-this-week-in-business
I do wonder what a lot of these sites might look like if their owners would get out of the way of the people they employ, but there are a lot of people who've worked in that sector for decades who've only ever vaguely gestured in the direction of progress by way of perfunctory once-every-so-often "gee I think this industry might not be conducive to meaningful critique" pieces. and as long as those people are still around, or too scared for their career to agitate for change, I'd almost rather these sites just implode.
that or I can just go on not reading them, same as everyone else
