Industry Mourns as Long-Running Gaming Magazine Game Informer Closes Suddenly
The abrupt closure of Game Informer, one of the gaming industry’s most revered magazines, has left a void that many are calling a significant loss to the community. The U.S.-based publication, which had been a cornerstone of video game journalism for 33 years, was unexpectedly shuttered earlier this month, leaving both its print edition and website inaccessible.
The final cover of Game Informer featured the horror game The Casting of Frank Stone, a collaboration between Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive and UK studio Supermassive Games. The developers behind the game expressed deep appreciation for being part of the magazine’s legacy. Traci Tufte from Supermassive shared her gratitude, saying, “The team that we worked with was absolutely fantastic. The coverage was wonderful, and I’m grateful that I personally had that opportunity.”
Game Informer was renowned for its exclusive features on upcoming titles, and its sudden closure has left a gap in the industry. Mathieu Côté from Behaviour Interactive described appearing in the magazine’s “legendary final issue” as a privilege, adding, “It’s sad news for everybody. It’s such a tentpole of video game journalism… it’ll be much missed.”
Since the closure, Game Informer’s website has been taken down, rendering years of valuable content, including the in-depth feature on The Casting of Frank Stone, inaccessible. Efforts are being made by fans to archive and preserve the magazine’s articles.
The Casting of Frank Stone, a narrative-driven horror game set in the Dead by Daylight universe, is set to release in early September. Despite the challenges faced by the gaming industry, including layoffs at both Behaviour and Supermassive, Côté remains optimistic about the future, stating, “We need to make games and continue to have great ideas and invest in them.”
As the industry continues to navigate uncertain times, Tufte hopes that more creative collaborations will help revitalize the sector. Both developers expressed pride in their work on The Casting of Frank Stone and are eagerly anticipating its reception. Côté concluded, “We create these kinds of things to give people an experience, to give people strong emotions.”
The closure of Game Informer marks the end of an era, but the legacy of the magazine and the games it featured will continue to resonate within the gaming community.
