Another independent gaming website has bitten the dust, sadly: Shacknews has been acquired by online rental shop GameFly. As part of the deal, all related sites such as Fileshack have been absorbed as well.

The bright side, if the press release is to be believed, is editorial staff and direction will remain unchanged, and it's pledged the site will be "bolstered with additional resources".

"GameFly has demonstrated a true understanding of and commitment to Shacknews' gaming culture," said Shacknews founder Steve Gibson, who added that the decision to sell the company was not based on financial problems. "We are confident GameFly will protect the legacy and community we've established, while at the same time providing much needed resources to expand into new and exciting areas that would not otherwise be possible."

Shacknews has been around for 14 years, and has become quite popular with game enthusiasts over time.

"We purchased Shacknews because it's a great site," said GameFly co-founder Sean Spector. "We believe we can help expand its reach--we're not looking to twist and turn the site into something else."

"With its avid, engaged community and commitment to providing an independent voice for gamers seeking the most accurate and up-to-date news and information, it goes to the core of our vision as a company, which is to be the ultimate resource for the entire gaming community," added GameFly CEO David Hodess.