GameStop Ends Game Informer Magazine After 33 Years, Leaves Staff Jobless

GameStop announced it would shut down Game Informer, a popular gaming magazine that had spent 33 years in operation, leaving all its staff jobless. Once known for its huge network of video game stores, it mismanaged sales when more and more people started buying video games online.

Game Informer Shuts Down Suddenly

GameStop has made the harsh decision to close Game Informer, a magazine so dear to many for its in-depth analysis of the world of gaming. This sudden closure will mark the end of an era after 33 successful years and leave the entire staff without jobs.

The shutdown came as a surprise to most of its employees. Some were even working on the next issue. As Kyle Hilliard, the Content Director of Game Informer, mentioned, they were close to finishing around 70% of their next release when they received the news.

Originally released in 1991, Game Informer has grown into America's biggest video game magazine. According to Variety, at its peak, it sold 8 million copies throughout the country in 2011, becoming essential in gaming.

Its connection to GameStop's PowerUp Rewards membership program greatly boosted its distribution.

However, the past few years have been challenging for Game Informer. The magazine has had to downsize staff constantly to keep up with the financial pressures and the shift to digital media. The cuts were part of broader troubles at GameStop, which is attempting to reinvent itself as physical game sales decline.

End of a Gaming Era

Game Informer was a place to get gaming news and reviews and something deeper that reaches the readers. The editors and writers, often seen as friends by their readers, shaped many gaming experiences by sharing their knowledge and creating a community around their passion for games.

This closure reflects wider trends in the industry, where physical stores and publications struggle to keep pace with the digital transformation.

Although GameStop hasn't commented on the closure yet, it will be hard on Game Informer's readers and former employees. It is huge in gaming journalism, as Game Informer marks the passing of a thing so dear that it has become a part of the underlying culture of gaming itself.