After Twenty-Two Years, GamePro Shuts Down

Just four months after refocusing into a quarterly format, GamePro magazine announced that it will cease publication indefinitely. A spokesperson from GamePro parent company IDG told IndustryGamers that the magazine and corresponding website weren't pulling in enough ad revenue, and the magazine's November issue will be its final release. GamePro's website notes that on December 5, the site will redirect to PCWorld.com, which will offer "gaming news, reviews, and how-tos from the PCWorld team." IDG said that layoffs will coincide with the magazine's closure, but did not mention how many employees will be affected. With the magazine and website no longer in operation, IDG says GamePro Media is "refocusing its US business exclusively on its growing custom publishing and solutions business," leaving PCWorld as the company's leading video game publication, while GamePro Media will focus on creating specialized content for vendors and events such as E3. According to IndustryGamers, this restructuring was led by IDG's Mike Kisseberth, who oversees the company's Consumer and Small Business media group, which includes PCWorld, Macworld, and GamePro Media. Earlier this year, Gamasutra spoke to GamePro Media's VP of content, Julian Rignall, who expressed concerns over the state of the print market in the US: "It's not like Europe where there's a newsstand on every corner," Rignall said. "Magazine distribution has always been a huge challenge in America. You pay huge fees to get it on the newsstand, distribution's kind of screwed up. It's never been a particularly great business, and in this day and age, it's even worse." Despite acknowledging the risks involved with print media, he added, "It sounds really boastful, but what we want to do is make the last great video game magazine," he says. "Let's go out in style, let's make something that celebrates what print does really well."