‘Game Informer’ magazine returns after GameStop shutdown

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - In this WECT Digital Studio Showcase, we highlight the story of Game Informer magazine, as told by one of its current employees, Alex Van Aken. Click here to watch and share this video on YouTube.

As a bonus, we also have the full, extended interview with Alex, where he talks to WECT’s Scott Pachilis about the impact that video games had on his childhood, and how he used YouTube as a platform to obtain his dream job. Both videos are available in the WECT Digital Studio Presents... playlist.

While we prefer you experience this story in video form, here’s a quick rundown of why this story matters to so many video game players across the country:

Game Informer magazine has returned to store shelves after GameStop shut down the 30+ year gaming publication in August 2024.

The magazine, which had been owned by GameStop for over two decades, saw a large portion of its digital archive erased when the retailer closed the publication.

Alex Van Aken, senior video editor at Game Informer, described the day of the shutdown. “I had a lot of anger and frustration about how everything happened and how it was shut down,” Van Aken said. He noted that he cannot comment on all details due to signed agreements.

Magazine finds new life under different ownership

Talks began behind the scenes in late 2024 about a company potentially bringing Game Informer back and rehiring staff, Van Aken said. By November the following year, the magazine had found its way back to store shelves.

The publication is now available at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and GameStop locations. More recent issues featuring cover stories on Dragon Quest 7 and World of Warcraft have also made their way to newsstands.

Even though Van Aken is in charge of the company’s video output, he’s excited to pick up and hold the most recent issue because he wrote the cover story himself.

Digital presence restored

Game Informer has also restored its online presence at GameInformer.com with daily news, reviews and previews of upcoming games. The publication has relaunched its podcasts and YouTube channel.

Van Aken said the magazine focuses on securing exclusives and behind-the-scenes content, including studio visits and developer profiles.

The shutdown still cost Game Informer access to its vault of gaming memorabilia, which Van Aken described as containing development kits from old Nintendo and PlayStation consoles and sealed copies of games dating back to 1985. While the vault now belongs to the former parent company, Aken hopes to rebuild the vault one day.

Van Aken said the industry and fan reaction to the original shutdown was “heartening” and showed people cared about the publication’s work.