IGN’s 2025 Black Friday Deals Team: Your Ultimate Guide
▼ Summary
– The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience and will actively hunt for the best Black Friday deals to guide shoppers.
– Eric Song, the Commerce Manager, leads daily gaming and tech deal searches and has a background in deal hunting since 2007.
– Robert Anderson, Senior Commerce Editor, specializes in gaming deals and hard-to-find discounts on items like Pokémon cards and 4K Blu-rays.
– Chris Reed brings 15 years of writing experience and seven years of Black Friday coverage, focusing on LEGO, Apple, and gaming deals.
– The team includes additional members like Seth Macy, Jacob Kienlen, Blythe Dujardin, and Lindsey Salzer, each contributing expertise in areas such as social commerce, SEO, streaming, and audience development.
For savvy shoppers looking to maximize their holiday savings, the IGN Deals team brings over three decades of collective expertise directly to your screen this Black Friday season. Our dedicated specialists work year-round to master the craft of uncovering exceptional discounts, ensuring you spend less time searching and more time enjoying the latest games, tech, and entertainment. We streamline the entire process, delivering curated offers on the products you genuinely want.
Allow us to introduce the seasoned professionals who make it all happen.
Eric Song, Commerce Manager Eric launched his career hunting for bargains at Techbargains in 2007, later advancing into management positions at LogicBuy and ExtremeTech. He joined IGN in 2016, where he now leads the commerce team in tracking down the finest daily deals in gaming and technology. His passion for discounts doesn’t end with the workday; he’s constantly on the lookout for personal bargains, recently scoring a LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon set for a remarkable $200 due to a Target pricing error. Beyond deal hunting, Eric enjoys virtual adventures in Genshin Impact, fitness sessions with Beat Saber, and kayak fishing in the Pacific Ocean.
Robert Anderson, Senior Commerce Editor Robert has dedicated nearly seven years to IGN, initially covering UK broadband and mobile contracts before becoming the site’s go-to gaming deals authority. His bargain-finding talents have also benefited several sister publications, including Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, and PCMag. While gaming deals are his specialty, Robert has a particular talent for locating hard-to-find discounts on Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering trading cards, 4K UHD Blu-rays, and comics. In his downtime, he’s often found playing Darkest Dungeon on his Steam Deck with a hot cup of tea.
Robert’s Key Areas:
- Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering TCGs
- 4K UHD Blu-rays and Comics
- Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation
- Steam Deck
Chris Reed, Commerce Editor With a professional writing career spanning 15 years, Chris first discovered his calling after getting an iPod Touch and thinking, “I could review these games.” He quickly became a mobile gaming editor and later covered console and PC titles for outlets like GameSpot. His innate talent for spotting great values made him a perfect fit for his current role as an IGN commerce editor. Chris has been reporting on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for seven years, consistently identifying the top available offers.
Chris’s Specialties:
- LEGO and Apple Products
- Board Games
- PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo
- 4K UHD Blu-rays
Seth G. Macy, Sr. Social Commerce Producer Seth began his professional gaming journalism in 2009 at 1UP.com, freelanced for IGN news in 2014, and joined full-time in 2018. He has since advanced to his current role as Senior Social Commerce Producer. Since the start of 2025, he has expanded IGN Deals’ social following by 38,000, an 11% annual growth, through timely posts and engaging graphics. Seth also frequently appears in IGN’s video content, thanks to his relatable and charismatic presence.
Seth’s Expertise Includes:
- Nintendo and Retro Gaming
- PlayStation
- LEGO and Video Games
- 4K UHD Blu-rays
Jacob Kienlen, Senior SEO Strategist Jacob has over eight years of professional writing experience and a lifelong habit of clipping coupons. He started at Digital Trends, where he naturally gravitated toward covering tech deals and discounts, eventually leading the team’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday efforts for two years. At IGN, he contributes to major content initiatives and supports sales event coverage, with a special focus on tracking overarching sales trends at giants like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.
Blythe Dujardin, SEO Coordinator As the newest member of the IGN Deals team, Blythe joined in 2024 after two years at a digital marketing agency. She supports general content strategy and plays a vital role during major sales events. With a serious case of FOMO if she misses a discount, she primarily monitors streaming service deals for platforms like Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Crunchyroll. A collector at heart, she also scouts for physical media bargains on books, DVDs, and Magic: The Gathering cards from retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Lindsey Salzer, Director of Audience Development and Commerce Lindsey brings more than ten years of experience in digital marketing, SEO, and audience development to her role. She currently oversees IGN’s affiliate business, making certain the audience receives top-tier shopping advice on the latest tech, gadgets, toys, and games. During Black Friday, she takes a hands-on approach, supporting the team to optimize and promote expert-curated deals. Her bargain-hunting instincts run deep, cultivated from childhood thrift shopping trips with her mother, and she remains an avid fan of resale platforms like Depop and eBay.
(Source: IGN)
