Gamers GameStop are mourning the end of an era as Game Informer has announced its closure.
The GameStop-owned magazine revealed on Friday that it will be shutting down after 33 years of providing “news, reviews, and insights from the ever-evolving world of gaming.” The farewell post, titled “The Final Level,” expressed gratitude to its readers for their support over the decades. Notably, the post was not authored by the editorial staff, who were laid off without warning on the same day.
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“From the early days of pixelated adventures to today’s immersive virtual reality realms, we’ve been honored to share this incredible journey with you, our loyal readers,” the farewell message states. “While our presses may stop, the passion for gaming that we’ve cultivated together will continue to live on. Thank you for being part of our epic quest, and may your own gaming adventures never end.”
In June, Game Informer published its final issue, number 367, featuring a cover story on “Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” the fourth installment in the popular fantasy series.
Founded in 1991 under the Minnesota-based retailer FuncoLand, Game Informer was acquired by GameStop in 2000. By 2011, it had become the third-largest magazine in the U.S., largely due to a boost from GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards membership program, according to Variety.
Content Director Kyle Hilliard announced on X that the entire Game Informer staff was abruptly laid off while they were nearly finished working on the next issue. “Game Informer has been closed down by GameStop and the entire, incredibly talented staff (including myself) have all been laid off,” Hilliard wrote. “A frustrating turn of events (especially considering we were about 70% done with the next issue and it was going to have a GREAT cover).”
Hilliard also noted that the website’s current status is “completely out of our hands,” with staff receiving no answers to their questions.
The gaming community has been vocal in its sadness over the magazine’s closure. Neil Druckmann, head of Creative at Naughty Dog and creator of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” expressed his sorrow on X: “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.”
Former Nintendo PR manager Kit Ellis also shared his appreciation, reflecting on his work with the magazine. “Game Informer brought out the best of the games industry,” Ellis wrote. “I worked on this cover and its iconic artwork literally would not exist if their team did not push us to deliver something incredible. It’s a profound loss for all of us.”
