Game Informer magazine, the longest-running gaming magazine in the U.S., has been shut down by its parent company, GameStop. This unexpected closure ends the 33-year legacy of the magazine and removes its entire digital archive.
“After 33 thrilling years of bringing you the latest news, reviews, and insights from the ever-evolving world of gaming, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Game Informer,” reads a statement posted on Game Informer’s website and X account on Friday. “While our presses may stop, the passion for gaming that we’ve cultivated together will continue to live on,” the statement continued.
Game Informer, which started publishing in 1991, was known for its in-depth cover stories, exclusive interviews, and comprehensive reviews. The magazine also had a significant online presence, with a website, weekly podcast, and online video documentaries. Now, the GameInformer.com domain redirects to a landing page with the shutdown announcement, and all internal links forward to this page, making previously published content inaccessible.
Kyle Hilliard, ex-Game Informer content director, shared that the magazine was more than halfway done with its next issue when the shutdown news came. “Game Informer has been closed down by GameStop and the entire, incredibly talented staff (including myself) have all been laid off,” Hilliard posted on X. He also mentioned that at least one staffer was on a work trip when the news broke.
Former video producer Ben Hanson expressed his anger on X, stating, “I’m furious about the end of Game Informer. It was an incredible 33-year run and then GameStop pumps out this phony/empty farewell message.”
The sudden closure also means that issue number 367, featuring a Dragon Age: The Veilguard cover story, will be Game Informer’s last. This unexpected decision left employees with no chance to archive their work before the website was taken offline, reflecting a troubling trend in digital media. Paramount recently took down the MTV News website along with its digital archives, leading to the loss of years of interviews and content.
GameStop’s Struggles and Future Outlook
GameStop acquired Game Informer in 2000 and integrated it with its rewards program, providing subscribers with a yearly subscription to the magazine. However, as GameStop struggled with the industry’s shift from physical to digital media, it became a burden on the magazine. CEO Ryan Cohen, who called for “extreme frugality” amid ongoing financial troubles, has continued to cut jobs across the company.
Andy McNamara, longtime editor-in-chief who left in 2020, reflected on the closure, “As someone who was there at issue one and spent most of their life fighting and scratching and clawing for GI, it breaks my heart to see it end. GI will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Featured Image courtesy of Screenshot from Game Informer/GameStop
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