Video game magazine Game Informer has announced its closure after 33 years of publication. The news was published on Game Informer’s Twitter/X on Friday, August 2.
The publication was reportedly shuttered by parent company GameStop, the video game retailer, alongside laying off all its staff. Allegedly, all staff were informed of the layoffs at around noon today, with some employees only finding out through posts on social media after the announcement. GameStop has not released a comment at this time.
Image Credit: GameStop
The closure ends 33 years of monthly publication. In 2000, the magazine was purchased by GameStop, who became the owners and publishers. In 2017, it was the fifth most popular magazine by copies circulated, making it one, if not the most read gaming magazine in the world.
Game Informer was one of the last bastions of physical print gaming media. Sold within GameStop stores, the publication had direct access to its parent company’s footfall of customers.
The closure of Game Informer adds to a long list of bizarre and unfortunate happenings with the GameStop company. Once a beacon of gaming retail, GameStop is now a more general toys and games store, which also stocks large amounts of collectables and nerd paraphernalia.
In 2021, the company became the focus of a short squeeze of its stock, and subsequently found itself a stock market meme, with many would-be investors grabbing GameStop meme stock.
Later, GameStop would announce a short-lived NFT platform and token, which shuttered in January 2024. In March 2024, the company announced a series of layoffs. The closure of Game Informer is the latest of its cost-cutting measures.
The end of Game Informer continues a trend of cutbacks in gaming media. Despite being one of the largest entertainment markets in the world, gaming has struggled to keep a healthy media presence.