The video game industry is mourning the loss of Game Informer

Aug 03, 2024 07:00 PM - 4 months ago 100225

Following GameStop’s abrupt announcement that it would beryllium shutting down Game Informer aft 33 years — which includes GameStop making each of nan activity connected Game Informer’s website vanish and reportedly laying disconnected nan full unit — group crossed nan video crippled manufacture are sharing their tributes to nan gaming magazine.

“As personification who grew up poring complete each issue, it was specified a thrill and an grant to spot our games grace Game Informer,” said Neil Druckmann, caput of imaginative astatine The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog and an executive shaper connected nan deed HBO show. “Sad that specified a staple of our manufacture is now gone. Good luck to everyone involved. Your activity will beryllium missed.”

“Thank you for what you person brought to nan video crippled industry,” said the charismatic Konami relationship connected X. “We will ne'er extremity fondly reminiscing astir waiting for that adjacent rumor to get successful nan mail. Your bequest and effect will everlastingly remain.” The accounts for Discord, Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed, Metacritic and X Gaming saluted Game Informer, too.

Many are reminiscing astir Game Informer’s fantabulous covers, which often had beautiful, civilization art. Kit Ellis, who worked astatine Nintendo for much than 13 years successful trading and PR, highlighted really nan Game Informer squad pushed Nintendo to make astonishing creation for this The Legend of Zelda: Breath of nan Wild cover:

“I retrieve really excited we were to get this screen up of The Witcher 3 launch,” said Michał Nowakowski, nan associated CEO of CD Project Red. “Game Informer was location successful nan very early days of nan manufacture and it is difficult to ideate this will beryllium nary more.”

Radek Grabowski, CD Projekt Red’s world PR director, besides highlighted awesome covers for Borderlands and Fortnite. “This is video crippled preservation, which deserves recognition,” Grabowski said.

Current and erstwhile staffers are expressing their sadness, too.

“I’m heartbroken — it was my dream occupation — but my bills don’t care,” said erstwhile lead video shaper Alex Van Aden.
Former editor Wesley LeBlanc posted astir now being retired of a occupation while coming location from a activity trip.
“We were astir 70% done pinch nan adjacent rumor and it was going to person a GREAT cover,” said former mag contented head Kyle Hilliard.
“All of our features connected Game Informer... just... gone,” said Liana Ruppert, a erstwhile staffer who near successful 2021. “Some of my favourite activity I ever did was complete location and that’s conscionable maine – bosom is breaking for nan folks that person been location truthful overmuch longer, poured truthful overmuch of themselves into it conscionable for it to beryllium taken distant pinch ZERO notice. How is this ok?”
“As personification who was location astatine rumor 1 and spent astir of their life fighting and scratching and clawing for GI, it breaks my bosom to spot it end,” said Andy McNamara, a erstwhile editor-in-chief who was astatine nan publication for 29 years.
“Heartbroken and angry,” Andrew Reiner, different erstwhile editor-in-chief, said successful a post. “Most of my big life was spent astatine Game Informer. All day, I’ve been remembering astonishing moments I had pinch nan squad — immoderate of nan astir talented and kindhearted group I’ve ever met and was fortunate capable to activity with. End of an era, but GI forever!” (Shuhei Yoshida, who erstwhile led Sony’s worldwide crippled studios and now heads up its indie initiatives, replied: “Unbelievable! Thank you for each nan years of astonishing sum and friendship. GI lives successful our representation forever.”)

Some are scrutinizing nan shutdown connection itself, which was not written by Game Informer staff, according to Kotaku’s Ethan Gach. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier observed that ChatGPT was capable to constitute a beautiful akin message to nan 1 that was really posted.

GameStop didn’t respond to a petition for comment.

Below, we’ve embedded a video interview from 2016 pinch erstwhile Game Informer lead editors McNamara and Reiner astir nan origins of nan magazine.