GameStop Shuts Down Game Informer: A Tribute to Gaming's Iconic Magazine
GameStop's recent announcement to shut down Game Informer after an impressive 33 years in the gaming publication industry marks the end of an era for video game enthusiasts. This unexpected decision included erasing the entire presence of Game Informer online and reportedly laying off its entire staff, igniting a wave of tributes from various corners of the video game industry.
The Impact of Game Informer on the Gaming Community
As news spread, notable figures from the gaming world began to express their nostalgia and sadness over the magazine's closure. Neil Druckmann, head of creative at The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog, shared his heartfelt sentiments:
“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.”
The official Konami account echoed similar feelings, stating:
“Thank you for what you have brought to the video game industry. We will never stop fondly reminiscing about waiting for that next issue to arrive in the mail. Your legacy and impact will forever remain.”
Other companies such as Discord, Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed, Metacritic, and X Gaming also paid their respects.
Reminiscing the Magazine's Visual Legacy
Many industry veterans reflected on the magazine's iconic covers—often breathtaking pieces of custom artwork. Kit Ellis, former marketing and PR professional at Nintendo, reminisced about the innovative art Game Informer inspired:
“I remember how excited we were to get this cover ahead of The Witcher 3 launch.”
Michał Nowakowski, CEO of CD Projekt Red, remarked:
“Game Informer was there in the very early days of the industry and it is hard to imagine this will be no more.”
Furthermore, Radek Grabowski, CD Projekt Red’s global PR director, acknowledged House of Video Game History’s preservation effort, stating, “This is video game preservation, which deserves recognition.”
A Sad Departure for Former Staff
Current and former employees of Game Informer expressed their heartbreak. Former lead video producer Alex Van Aden bluntly stated, “I’m heartbroken — it was my dream job — but my bills don’t care.”
Similarly, former editor Wesley LeBlanc shared:
“We were about 70% done with the next issue, and it was going to have a GREAT cover.”
This sentiment was echoed by Liana Ruppert, who stated sadly, “All of our features on Game Informer... just... gone.”
Reflections from Former Editors
Andy McNamara, a former editor-in-chief who had dedicated 29 years to the publication, captioned his feelings of loss:
“As someone who was there at issue one, it breaks my heart to see it end.”
In a similar vein, Andrew Reiner, another former editor-in-chief, expressed his feelings:
“Heartbroken and angry. End of an era, but GI forever!”
Shuhei Yoshida, who once led Sony’s worldwide game studios, thanked Game Informer for years of coverage and friendship, asserting, “GI lives in our memory forever.”
Scrutiny of GameStop’s Messaging
The announcement's nature raised eyebrows, as sources indicated it was not composed by Game Informer staff. Kotaku’s Ethan Gach pointed out similarities between the shutdown message and one generated by ChatGPT.
Bloomberg's Jason Schreier noted this troubling comparison, while GameStop has not issued a public response to the backlash.
Final Thoughts
As we reflect on the significant contributions of Game Informer to the video game industry, its closure sends ripples of sadness throughout the community. It is hard to imagine the gaming landscape without this storied publication that has shaped countless voices in gaming. Below, we’ve embedded a nostalgic video interview from 2016 with former Game Informer lead editors Andy McNamara and Andrew Reiner discussing the publication's origins.
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