Official Nintendo Magazine, Website Shutting Down

Future Publishing had previously announced that they would be closing the doors on many of their printed magazines and websites affiliated with video games. The harsh landscape of today's enthusiast press outlets covering the interactive entertainment industry just hasn't provided a viable means of income to make some of gaming's most revered names stand the test of times.

The news comes courtesy of MCV UK, where they detail how Future is looking to get out of maintaining their various video game publications, whether it be online or via print.

The Official Nintendo Magazine started in 2002 and will shutter all activity on October 14th, when the final issue – number 114 – goes on sale for the very last time.

Nintendo issued an official response on the matter, stating...

“Nintendo will continue to speak directly to fans via Nintendo Direct, our social media and online channels and public events,”

The company had been and has been distancing itself from the traditional gaming media outlets. They've mostly been making good use of today's social media atmosphere, attempting to control the narrative of their own products with their own words. As mentioned in their statement, the Nintendo Direct has been an exceptionally effective way to communicate their products to a willing and open audience. In fact, Nintendo utilized their Direct platform during this past year's E3 to startling success.

The Official Nintendo Magazine won't be closing alone, though. The online portion of the magazine will also shutdown beginning November 11th. Additionally, those who are already subscribed to the print version will have their subscriptions automatically transferred to Gamesmasters. If you don't want the auto-transfer to take place, be sure to cancel before October 17th.

MCV managed to capture a quote from an official Q&A session before it was removed the Official Nintendo Magazine website, where it was stated...

“It was a joint decision, Nintendo has decided to direct efforts toward other communication channels to communicate with fans, and Future is focusing on a core of existing sites with the recently launched Kotaku UK providing a great platform for our wealth of Nintendo experts from ONM and the wider Future network. Combined they will continue to deliver the Nintendo expertise our readers have come to expect in exciting new ways.”

Future originally proposed shutdowns for CVG, Official Xbox Magazine and Edge Online back in March of this year. Due to overwhelming support from angel investors and the gaming community, Future postponed the closure of CVG and instead reduced the staff. However, the company plans to return to a final decision on the future of CVG by this December.

While it was known for a while that print magazines were dying, a lot of people probably didn't expect the online portions to fall away so quickly, too.

With many gamers becoming disgruntled with the click-bait nature of news in general, and with the rise of YouTubers offering gamers direct looks at how a game plays and what's good about or not, it's becoming increasingly hard for some outlets to justify their operating costs, as well as their need to exist.

Future Publishing will continue to produce content but in a different way. It will be interesting to see how they navigate the online publishing landscape after they finalize their shuffling of sites and magazines.

Will Usher

Staff Writer at CinemaBlend.