The End of an Era: After 33 Years of Publication, Game Informer Magazine Says Goodbye

The gaming community was left in shock as the historic magazine Game Informer announced it would cease publication after 33 years of operation.

The June issue, featuring “Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” would be its last addition.

GameStop, the parent company, made the decision to halt the magazine’s production, likely due to its ongoing financial struggles.

Game Informer was a beloved monthly magazine that had been a staple in the gaming industry since its inception in August 1991.

Originally created to inform FuncoLand store customers about upcoming game releases, it evolved into one of the most respected and widely-read gaming publications in the United States.

Known for its impeccable cover art and in-depth coverage of the latest games, Game Informer held a special place in the hearts of gamers for over three decades.

Why Did Game Informer Close?

The decline in physical sales has been a significant factor in Game Informer’s demise.

GameStop, which acquired Game Informer when it purchased FuncoLand in 2000, has been facing significant financial challenges in recent years.

In August 2019, GameStop laid off about half of Game Informer’s staff, leading to more voluntary departures.

Further job cuts followed in March 2020, and despite a new subscription model launched in March 2023, these efforts were not enough to save the magazine.

As the retail giant grapples with the changing landscape of game sales, it has been forced to make difficult decisions, including the closure of its long-standing publication.

Employees Were Informed at the Last Minute

However, the most shocking part of this closure is how GameStop handled it.

According to Kotaku, employees were informed at the last minute by GameStop’s vice president of human resources. Some staff members were still on business trips when the news broke.

All employees were immediately terminated, with compensation processes already initiated.

Sadly, Issue 368, which was to feature “The Casting of Frank Stone,” was canceled before publication, leaving fans without a proper farewell to the beloved magazine.

The entire website has gone offline as well.

Everyone affected by Game Informer’s closure today:

Design:@LalehAzarshin
Mónica Rexach Ortiz

Production:@sopheava
Jon Woodey

Marketing & Ops:@GIRachelCastle
Sarah Hansen

Editorial:@chuckduck365 @MarcusStewart7 @LeBlancWes @MatthewRMiller @BrianPShea @KyleMHilliard pic.twitter.com/f5clRjch04

— Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken) August 2, 2024

Game Informer was not a job. It was my life, and in a way, it still is and always will be. pic.twitter.com/WsatUYg1dZ

— Daniel Tack (@dantack) August 3, 2024

I lost my job at Game Informer today.

I’m heartbroken – it was my dream job – but my bills don’t care.

Effective immediately, I’m available for filming/video editing/documentary/hosting work. My passport and cameras are ready to go.

Hire me: https://t.co/PiDiICtp0D https://t.co/sOr8pefL51

— Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken) August 2, 2024

How Fans Reacted

This unexpected development has left many industry pros and fans alike in a state of stupor and anger.

Game Informer just shut down. Here are their Halo covers from over the years. Image by @HaijakkY2K pic.twitter.com/UfBhFTJS1x

— Rebs Gaming (@Mr_Rebs_) August 2, 2024

GameStop just abruptly shut down Game Informer and laid off its entire staff today. The impact this magazine had on the world cannot be understated bro. A lot of us would not be the gamers we are today without looking forward to these every month.

This fucking sucks so bad. https://t.co/0A8daDfAYL pic.twitter.com/gCYxdPhCPv

— Big Boss 🇵🇸 (@LordBalvin) August 2, 2024

Game Informer, known as the first media outlet to preview GTAV, featuring many exclusive GTA artworks, screenshots and in-depth cover stories has announced shutting down after 33 years. pic.twitter.com/XOBAhSV0nA

— GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) August 2, 2024

Farewell Game Informer 😔👋 https://t.co/4jd384GYDU pic.twitter.com/jX7Wa1FLa5

— Jak and Daxter | ECO-MMUNITY (@eco_mmunity) August 2, 2024

This was surely the most innovative magazine cover I had the privilege to contribute to. Thank you for this everlasting memory, Game Informer. https://t.co/JCbWkEPvYF

— Radek (@gamebowski) August 2, 2024

Farewell indeed. As someone who grew up poring over each issue, it was such a thrill and an honor to see our games grace Game Informer. Sad that such a staple of our industry is now gone. Good luck to everyone involved. Your work will be missed. https://t.co/YXHhuoFwvN pic.twitter.com/cxToW2ZX4c

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) August 2, 2024

RIP Game Informer. Your magazine covers were goated. pic.twitter.com/FP6VQ5uoAH

— Maku (@TropicalMaku) August 2, 2024

RIP Game Informer, we really came up in the best gaming era, you had to be there. pic.twitter.com/f01u4ixW1F

— Mychael (@MykeLowrey_) August 2, 2024

Game Informer Final Fantasy covers pic.twitter.com/7zAjAyjNHd

— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) August 3, 2024

This is an end of an era and it saddens me greatly to see this piece of news. I remember how excited we were to get this cover ahead of The Witcher 3 launch. Game Informer was there in the very early days of the industry and it is hard to imagine this will be no more… https://t.co/yXqLQXGrpm pic.twitter.com/6VWhLjCz5g

— Michał Nowakowski (@michalnowakow) August 2, 2024

In 2001 this magazine changed my life. I wouldn’t be playing games today without it.

I was new to gaming and this list opened my eyes to the expansive potential of the video game medium. It became my mission to play all 100 and doing so made me who I am.

Thank you Game Informer https://t.co/hxLZmNCSMx pic.twitter.com/GjWiVkVk7M

— Jordan Starkweather ✨ (@jackal27) August 3, 2024

The closure of Game Informer after 33 years of publication marks the end of an era in gaming journalism. As the oldest active video game magazine in the United States, its absence will be deeply felt by gamers and industry professionals alike.

For more information, visit the Game Informer website which only shows the farewell message for now. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more news!