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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →PLAY magazine’s 46th issue was announced as its last, with publication scheduled for October 15, 2024. The closure ends the magazine’s revived run, not an uninterrupted 30-year print history: PLAY first launched in 1995, stopped publishing in 2016, and returned in 2021.
What was announced about PLAY’s final issue?
On October 2, 2024, Game Developer reported that issue 46, scheduled for October 15, would be the final issue of PLAY. The report previewed eulogies from current and former staff, as well as alumni of PSM and Official PlayStation Magazine UK; it described planned contents, not confirmation of what ultimately appeared. Game Developer’s closure report does not give a reason for the decision, so claims that sales, publisher strategy, or wider industry conditions caused it are not established.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Girls of Gaming Volume 2 (Play Magazine) | $19.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Playmakers: The Inside Stories of 30 Iconic Videogames, From Pong to Baldur’s Gate 3 | $26.54 | Buy on Amazon |
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Girls of Gaming 5.5 Cover 1 of 2 Rubi (Play Magazine) | $26.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Playbow Magazine February 2000 | $11.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Girls of Gaming Vol 5 | $179.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Why is the closure described as “nearly 30 years”?
The phrase counts from PLAY’s original launch in June 1995 to the announced final issue in October 2024. It describes the span between the title’s beginning and this ending, not 30 years of continuous publication. PLAY left print in 2016, briefly continued digitally, and shut down later that year; Future revived the magazine in 2021.
How did the original and revived magazines differ?
The original PLAY
Launched in June 1995, PLAY covered Sony’s PlayStation systems and games. In 2016, it stopped selling print editions, shifted briefly to digital-only publication, and then closed.
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The 2021 revival
Future brought PLAY back in 2021 as a replacement for Official PlayStation Magazine UK, bringing staff from that team to the new magazine. Editor Oscar Taylor-Kent described the revived title’s heritage this way: “It’s why I’ve always considered this version of the magazine a combo of the legacies of Official PlayStation Magazine, PSM, and PLAY.”
What did the editor say about the closure?
Taylor-Kent wrote: “The unfortunate truth is that at some point all games must come to an end,” followed by, “That time has now come for PLAY as well.” The statement was reported by Game Developer on October 2, 2024.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can readers still get issue 46?
Current availability has not been established. The announcement identified issue 46 as the planned final issue and gave October 15, 2024 as its scheduled date, but did not confirm present retailer stock. Check a retailer or the publisher’s official channels before relying on an offer for a copy.
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