Last August we were shattered to report that Game Informer, one of the premier gaming magazines of all time, had unceremoniously been shuttered. Without any warning, the entire staff was let go, the website was taken down, and over 30 years of gaming journalism was wiped out. The magazine had been owned by GameStop, who had no shortage of financial woes. But no one expected Game Informer to suddenly shut down like it did. Now, here we are over half a year later, and the publication has new signs of life.
The amazing turn of fortune for the magazine was explained by the editor-in-chief, Matt Miller. He announced the entire team that was working at the periodical before it shut down has returned. He’s not just referring to the writers; the video producers and everyone else has been brought back, too. In fact, the website is already releasing articles about upcoming games and reviewing titles that came out while the magazine was shut down.
How did this happen? According to Miller, it’s thanks to Gunzilla Games. The developer managed to secure the rights to the Game Informer name and helped to establish them as their own, independent entity, Game Informer Inc. This is a huge change for the magazine given the number of years it spent under GameStop; something that could sometimes bring into question the neutrality of the opinions. Now though, Miller is adamant that Gunzilla Games is giving them completely editorial freedom, despite being a game developer.
As for the path going forward, Game Informer is launching an online subscription service with plans to publish physical issues in the future. Details are still coming out regarding the company’s plans, but we’re eager to see what they come up with for gamers. As journalists ourselves, we know how powerful the medium of writing is, especially when it’s used to highlight an industry or interest that we love.
“We couldn’t do this without you,” Miller said. “We’re working every day to make your gaming hobby richer and better because you’ve chosen to check out what we do. Thank you.”
Congratulations to all the staff over there that have been able to come back together. We wish you all the best with this new lease on life!
