The gaming world has lost one of its iconic voices with the sudden closure of Game Informer, a magazine that had been a staple in video game journalism for 33 years. The magazine’s print edition and website were abruptly shut down earlier this month, leaving fans and industry insiders reeling from the news.
Game Informer’s final issue, which prominently featured the horror game The Casting of Frank Stone on its cover, has been hailed as a poignant end to the magazine’s storied run. The game, a narrative-driven, choose-your-own-adventure style horror title, is a collaborative effort between Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive and UK-based Supermassive Games. The developers expressed their deep appreciation for the coverage, describing their experience working with the magazine’s team as “fantastic.”
Traci Tufte from Supermassive Games praised Game Informer’s final issue, noting that the in-depth feature and the magazine’s longstanding reputation were significant to the industry. “The coverage was wonderful, and I’m grateful that I personally had that opportunity,” she said. Mathieu Côté of Behaviour Interactive echoed these sentiments, calling the closure “sad news” and reflecting on the magazine’s impact on video game journalism.
Game Informer was renowned for its exclusive previews and detailed coverage of upcoming games, and its absence is a notable loss to the gaming community. The magazine’s website, now inaccessible, has rendered years of articles and reviews—including the final issue’s coverage of The Casting of Frank Stone—unavailable to fans.
In response to the closure, some fans have been working to retrieve and archive the magazine’s past content, ensuring that its legacy endures despite the site’s inaccessibility.
Despite the industry’s recent challenges, including layoffs and financial uncertainty, the collaboration between Behaviour Interactive and Supermassive Games stands as a testament to the ongoing innovation in gaming. Mathieu Côté highlighted that while the industry is cautious, there remains a strong desire to explore new ideas and partnerships.
The Casting of Frank Stone, set in the universe of the popular multiplayer game Dead by Daylight, is slated for release in early September. The development teams behind the game are excited to share their creation with the world, and both Behaviour Interactive and Supermassive Games remain committed to pushing the boundaries of narrative-driven horror experiences.
As the gaming world adjusts to the absence of Game Informer, industry veterans like Côté and Tufte remain hopeful for a resurgence of innovation and creativity in the space. “We create these kinds of things to give people an experience, to give people strong emotions,” Côté said, reflecting on the purpose behind their work.
