Game Informer shut down on August 2, 2024, when GameStop announced the closure and laid off the magazine’s staff. The publication returned in March 2025 after Gunzilla Games secured the rights and the former team came back. So, Game Informer did shut down—but it is no longer accurate to describe the outlet as permanently closed.
What happened to Game Informer?
Game Informer began publishing in 1991 and became a monthly magazine in 1994. GameStop acquired it in 2000. On August 2, 2024, GameStop announced that it was closing the publication; staff were told they were being laid off that day. The announcement and contemporaneous reporting described the magazine’s run as 33 years.
The last completed issue was #367, published in June 2024. The next issue was about 70% complete, according to content director Kyle Hilliard, when the shutdown stopped its production. GameSpot later reported that 368 issues had been published over the magazine’s run. After the closure, the website was replaced by a farewell page; some portions could still be reached through archival tools, but the publication’s archive was restored with its later relaunch.
Is Game Informer back?
Yes. In March 2025, former editor-in-chief Matt Miller announced that Gunzilla Games had secured the rights to Game Informer, the full team working at the time of closure had returned, and the restored website and archive were available again. The publication operates under an entity called Game Informer Inc.
Miller’s relaunch letter said the publication was intended to remain editorially independent, with its editorial team making decisions about coverage without influence from the owners. That is the arrangement described by the new owners and editor; it is not an independent audit of how editorial decisions are made.
The March 2025 letter also announced a return to print, daily online coverage, forthcoming membership and subscription options, and account access to more than a decade of past magazine issues. Those were announcements at relaunch, not confirmation of current subscription prices, terms, or availability.
What changed between the shutdown and the relaunch?
| Area | At the August 2024 shutdown | At the March 2025 relaunch |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | GameStop announced the closure. | Gunzilla Games secured the rights; the publication said it would operate under Game Informer Inc. |
| Staff | Staff were told they were being laid off on August 2, 2024. | Miller said the entire team working at the time of closure had returned. |
| Website and archive | The website was replaced by a farewell page; some portions remained reachable through archival tools. | The website and archive were restored. |
| Publication | The next issue was halted before completion; the last completed issue was #367. | The relaunch letter announced a return to print and daily online coverage. |
Why did GameStop close Game Informer?
The available reporting does not establish a specific reason stated by GameStop for the decision. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s report placed the closure in the context of GameStop’s reported financial losses and consumers’ shift toward digital game purchases. That is context, not proof that either factor was GameStop’s confirmed motive.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Game Informer said when it returned
In his March 2025 letter, Miller described the revived publication’s focus as highlighting games, celebrating the industry’s history, and covering the creators and players shaping its future. He also said the new owners supported an independent editorial outlet. These statements describe the relaunch’s goals and stated editorial arrangement; they do not establish current subscription details or independently verify editorial practice.
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