Origins and GameStop (1991–2025) Magazine Game Informer debuted in August 1991. In 1993, Olson and McNamara jointly became coeditors-in-chief; It was under her that the publication became an integral part of GameStop's customer loyalty program, Power Up Rewards. In 2019, McNamara was still the magazine's EIC. Mary Lugones took over the role as publisher for
Game Informer. In 2010,
Game Informer became the 5th largest magazine in the US with 5 million copies sold, ahead of popular publications like
Time,
Sports Illustrated, and
Playboy. By 2011,
Game Informer had become the 3rd largest magazine in the US, topping 8 million copies circulated. However, in 2014 it had fallen to 4th place with 6.9 million copies sold. Figures in 2017 placed the magazine at 4th place with over 7 million copies sold. The financial success of
Game Informer has been attributed to its good relationship with publishers, ties to GameStop, and the lack of gaming-magazine competition. In March 2020, there was again another set of layoffs at
Game Informer, this time not affecting editors but instead people who worked in other departments of
Game Informer. On November 4, 2021, the official website announced that every issue from then on would have a small print run variant known as Game Informer Gold. This version uses high quality paper and an alternate cover and is limited to 50 copies. The first copy was given away on November 6 for their Extra Life charity livestream. In July 2022, three more
Game Informer staff were laid off: John Carson, Wesley LeBlanc, and Creative Director Jeff Akervik, who had worked at the publication for over 14 years. Later that month, LeBlanc was rehired after the departure of Jill Grodt. Andrew Reiner left
Game Informer in September 2022 to become a game developer, thus leaving
Game Informer with no original staff. Matt Miller, who has worked at
Game Informer since 2004, was promoted to EIC. In Fall 2022, Kyle Hilliard (who was previously laid off) returned.
Game Informer launched a new print magazine subscription, standalone from GameStop's Power Up Rewards, in March 2024. The program, which launched at a special annual price of $19.91 (commemorating the company's founding year), offers 10 print issues per year and digital magazine access. On August 2, 2024, GameStop leadership abruptly shuttered the publication and laid off its staff. The publication's website was replaced with a static "farewell" page, making old articles unreadable. The July 2024 issue was its 368th and final issue. Morgan Park of
PC Gamer reported that GameStop announced the shutdown publicly on the
Game Informer X account, however, the "
Game Informer staff suggested they had nothing to do with the brief, cringey statement that reads like
ChatGPT output".
Website Game Informer Online was originally launched in August 1996 and featured daily news updates as well as articles. Justin Leeper and Matthew Kato were hired on in November 1999 as full-time web editors. As part of the GameStop purchase of the magazine, this original GameInformer.com site was closed around January 2001.
GI Online was revived, at the same domain name, in September 2003, with a full redesign and many additional features, such as a review database, frequent news updates, and exclusive "Unlimited" content for subscribers. It was managed by Billy Berghammer, creator of PlanetGameCube.com (now known as NintendoWorldReport.com). In 2010, Berghammer was the editor-in-chief at EGM Media Group. In March 2009, the online staff began creating the code for what would be the latest redesign to date. The redesign was to release hand-in-hand with the magazine's own redesign. On October 1, 2009, the newly redesigned website was live, with a welcome message from Editor-In-Chief Andy McNamara. Many new features were introduced, including a rebuilt media player, a feed highlighting the site activity of the website's users, and the ability to create user reviews. At the same time, the magazine's podcast,
The Game Informer Show, was launched. When the magazine folded in 2024, the website's content was deleted and replaced with a splash page announcing the closure for any links to the website. By June 2010,
Game Informer Australia had become the first local games publication to pass 10,000 subscribers. By August 18, 2010, it had become Australia's biggest-selling video games publication.
Game Informer Australia was closed down on April 18, 2019, as a result of cost-cutting measures from its publishing company
EB Games Australia.
GI Australia editor David Milner noted on Twitter that despite the fact that "readership was up 19% over the last year", that "Recent ad sales, however, did not really reflect this"; he also noted the failed attempt at EB Games Australia's corporate parent GameStop to find a buyer after months on the market, causing their shares to drop.
Relaunch (2025–present) On March 19, 2025,
Game Informer shared a short video on its social media channels "featuring the publication's farewell message"; this video included code, resembling an arcade game, at the bottom of the screen with the word "Continue" and ended with the date March 25 flashed, "suggesting a launch or announcement". Former
Game Informer staff also shared this video, with former director Brian Shea stating he could not "comment at this time but encouraged checking out the social media posts of his former colleagues". In June 2025, they also restarted the publication of the print magazine. ==Features and reviews==