Media company Future is closing six of its magazines (one gaming-related) including the long-running Official Xbox Magazine, according to a new report from Eurogamer. The website says the magazine folded last week, during which the last few remaining staff were let go.
In a statement, Future reportedly said that like "many other organisations right now", the company was being "forced into making difficult decisions".
"We have a duty of care to all our staff during this time and our focus is on protecting the business for them and for our customers. We have introduced a raft of measures to keep the numbers of lay-offs to an absolute minimum, including significant pay cuts for our Executive Team and Board. Whilst the decline in retail footfall impacts our magazine business, we are well placed with significant digital audiences and diversified revenues to continue delivering on our customers' changing needs at this time."
Were you a fan of Official Xbox Magazine? How do you feel about this decision? Let us know below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 19
This is sad, it's only a matter of time until all the print mags are gone I guess. It's a shame but at the same time you can understand why it's happening.
I used to write for Official Xbox Magazine, so I'm personally sad for the great team there. Hope everyone bounces back ASAP.
I'm not going to pretend I bought this religiously throughout its run, but I certainly enjoyed reading it when I could. Very sad to see it go.
Oh man, this is really sad news. I remember how awesome it was to wait for the monthly gaming magazines back in the 90s. Now they are all one by one shutting as we are virtually entirely online based now days.
@FragRed And the demo discs. The demo discs!
Some sad news! I don't read console-specific mags, but used to read GamesTM a lot (which are also closed down) and currently have a subscription to Edge.
I feel sorry for those affected, but I'm genuinely surprised most of the monthly publications that are still going have survived this long.
Right so what happens to my subscription that they only took payment for the next 3 months for 2 weeks ago?
Some of us still like print. But it sucks for the staff. There's something special about print magazines that I don't get with online
Sad news. I used to subscribe to the Official Nintendo Magazine, then stopped when I got my 360 and the support for Wii was drying up. When I got a 2DS a while later I started buying it again only for it to close in late 2014! <sobs>
Have started a subscription to Retro Gamer. I would recommend it.
@Gamecuber yeah I had an ONM subscription too. Only my OPM subscription is left, I wonder how long for tho
I am old, so I used to love gaming magazines. I actually miss those days, in a way.
But as others have said, there is just no need for print magazines much anymore. I do feel sad for the people who were employed there, however. Hopefully, they can find jobs writing for companies online.
Sad to see it go and I hope all the writers find jobs quickly. I still appreciate print (actually support Nintendo Force on Patreon) so this is a punch right to the gut. Back in the 360 days I really loved reading the U.S. version of the magazine, good times.
@FraserG Ooh I remember getting the Crackdown and Saints Row demos on disc and playing them non stop until the games got released. Even learned how to break through the boundaries in the demos and checked out what I could of the surrounding world.
Sad to hear. I loved getting the demo discs for the 360 from my school library. I wouldn't have played Scott Pilgrim without that disc and I'm glad I did. Hats off to the staff that kept it going
As others have said it's sad to hear but not uncommon this day and age where everyone can get news at a moment's notice. I remember growing up I had a subscription to Nintendo Power but having to wait every month (two in the beginning) was torture. Not only that but who's going to pay a monthly magazine subscription for news that is old by the time they get the magazine and is free on the internet?
Used to buy religiously every month - wow didn’t even know they were still hanging in there. My best wishes to those whose jobs are lost due this!
Such a shame this, I used to buy the magazine when it first came out and remember always looking forward for the new mag each month, especially the demo discs.
@Tasuki I work for a newspaper printing company and they reckon we’ll be closed down within the next 2 or 3 years. Like you said the news is old by the time it’s printed and delivered to the shops. The only reason we’re still in business is because the older generation still like going to the shops on a morning for their paper, like it’s a routine for them and an excuse to get out the house but once there gone so will printing companies all over the world. It’ll be sad but news on the internet is instant and free.
@Tasuki
Magazines can survive, you just have to get creative. The news is old but you can make up for that with good features. The reason I support Nintendo Force is it's just a $6 charge every couple months and they use that two months to come up with some really great features and their reviews many times are more in-depth than others. It's good stuff. Hope to see some PlayStation and Xbox mags pop up on there in the future, I'd support those too.
Damn. I got that magazine for several years (to fill the gap once pure Xbox took a hiatus, actually) and really enjoyed the content. Such a shame, makes me miss other greats like Nintendo Power.
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