The UK version of theOfficial PlayStation Magazine, one of the longest-running and most-popular video game magazines, is finally coming to an end. That said, it’s not quite time to lament the end of gaming-related print media, as a very similar magazine will succeed it.
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It’s an upbeat twist for the narrative often tied to print-based video game journalism. Perhaps the best-known closure of a popular print-based game magazine was the iconicNintendo Power, which shut down in 2012. Like the Official PlayStation family of magazines, Nintendo Power was enormously popular in its heyday, enjoying a nine-year head start over the PlayStation magazines. While the final issue of Nintendo Power in 2012 was full of nostalgic retrospectives, it was a clear sign that print-based games journalism was at risk.
While some magazines like PLAY Magazine are still supported by well-established publishing houses, console manufacturers are no longer tied to any official magazines. This isn’t too much of a surprise, given Sony and other companies now release their own blog posts directly. In some cases, these blogs even offertips for games likeOddworld: Soulstormthat gamers once sought from official magazines.
On a broader level, video games rely much less on printed media than at any time in the past. While this is undoubtedly a victory for environmentally-conscious living, it has left many nostalgic for booklets and other paper-based accessories from an older era of gaming. Fans have stepped in to fill the void with a range of well-made booklets, including abeautiful manual forSuper Mario 3D All-Starsturning heads in recent months.
