GamePro to cease operations December 5, become part of PCWorld family
By: Jeff Rivera
Launched back in 1989 as a monthly publication, GamePro Magazine covered video games across all available platforms. In a time when many startup magazines were failing to gain traction on store shelves, GamePro enjoyed big success throughout the 1990s. With their iconic scoring system, an enthusiastic voice, and a talented staff of writers, designers, and artists, GamePro became a staple in many video gamers' reading rotations month to month.
The post '90s GamePro struggled a bit trying to find the balance between catering to their hardcore fans while remaining friendly to the mainstream. Many readers felt that GamePro had lost touch with the hardcore segment and they looked to online destinations or more niche magazines to fill their gaming coverage needs. Even still, GamePro managed to survive while other industry giants faded away or were taken in by other publications.
In the last couple of years, GamePro has focused hard on quality over quantity, and much of their former glory was restored. The hardcore that went elsewhere began to look upon GamePro favorably once more. Both their online and print product improved dramatically, and GamePro's latest decision to move to a quarterly release for print issues gave them time to produce some of the most compelling editorial and inside looks on the gaming industry. Things were looking great for GamePro from a reader's perspective, but behind the scenes, the print and online model was proving to be unsustainable.
Today, it was announced that GamePro would be shutting down. On December 5, 2011, GamePro the magazine will cease operations entirely, and GamePro.com will go offline. The GamePro name will be picked up by the PCWorld family, and it will appear on http://pcworld.com/gamepro, but none of the GamePro staff will be retained.
For all of those that contributed over the years, we thank you. Your work over 22 years has provided inspiration for us as video game journalists. To those currently at GamePro, we hope you find work quickly, and we have no doubt that you will. The current team was one of the finest assembled in either print or online and you accomplished the seemingly impossible by bringing redemption to the GamePro name over the past few years for the hardcore audience.
RIP, GamePro.
