Game Informer, the popular video game magazine and website, announced Friday that it will be shutting down after 33 years.
The GameStop-owned magazine published a memo Friday morning titled, “The Final Level: Farewell from Game Informer.”
“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,” the announcement said. “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. 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.”
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Game Informer began publishing its magazine in 1991 under video game retailer FuncoLand, which was acquired by GameStop in 2000. At the height of its popularity, Game Informer circulated 8 million copies in the U.S. in 2011 and was the third-largest magazine. The magazine came as part of GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards membership program, which boosted its sales.
By 2017, it slid slightly to 7 million copies, and by 2019 GameStop laid off roughly half of the Game Informer staff. In 2020, Game Informer’s editor in chief and founder Andy McNamara left the company. His replacement, Andrew Reiner, left in 2022, and Matt Miller was the current editor in chief before the magazine’s closure. Parent company GameStop has seen its profitability decline for several years, but during the pandemic its stock prices skyrocketed due to the “meme stock” phenomenon popularized by Reddit users. The 2023 film “Dumb Money” examined the short-lived, viral trend.
The June 2024 Game Informer magazine, about “Dragon Age: The Veilguard,” was its 367th and final issue.
