Another one of gaming's print magazines is shutting up shop. PLAY, Future Publishing's PlayStation magazine, has announced the latest issue will be its last.
Issue #46 features Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on the cover with a hands-on preview, plus info on PS5 Pro, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Ghost of Yotei, and plenty more. It goes on sale later this month, and then that'll be the end of it.
It's a real shame. PLAY might be a relatively young magazine, but its roots can be traced all the way back to Official PlayStation Magazine, which got started right around the launch of the original PlayStation.
Future Publishing brought us not only this official look at what was coming up on Sony's platforms, but an unofficial magazine, PSM2 (and PSM3) was its more untethered sibling. As noted in editor Oscar Taylor-Kent's farewell message, PLAY was put together by numerous ex-staffers from these other publications.
Magazines like these have been, and continue to be, an enormous touchstone and inspiration for Push Square, as well as our sister sites Nintendo Life, Pure Xbox, and Time Extension. In many ways we owe a lot to the likes of PLAY, and are sad to see another print publication come to an end.
Our thoughts go out to those affected by PLAY's closure; we hope everybody lands on their feet and can continue to do great work.
Are you a reader of PLAY magazine? What are your thoughts as another print publication shuts up shop? Tell us in the comments section below.
[source gamesradar.com]
Comments 40
I'm going to miss the game magazines. I always like reading magazines more then reading of a screen. But times change and magazines are not needed anymore to spread the gaming news.
Such a shame! OPM was my bible growing up!
Used to have a quick scan of this in the supermarket whilst the mrs was shopping.
@get2sammyb especially in the PSone, PS2 days. Couldn't wait every month the read the latest news and put in those demo discs and play each demo to death.
Damn shame. I really hate how everything's becoming digitilized.. Sometimes my eyes need rest from the screen, you know? Reading a gaming magazine was just the best.
Times change... but certaintly not for the better.
Many great memories pouring over gaming magazines, getting exciting news, analysing screenshots and trying out pack-in demos.
But truth be told I haven't bought one since the late 00's. The convenience and on-the-spot info of the Internet claims another victim.
May the staff land on their feet. 🤞
The mentioned official publication is a blast from the past. I even remember the official Nintendo official magazine on newsstands. Was there an official Xbox magazine?
It’s been a long day, so here I am getting emotional about a childhood favourite coming to an end.
I’m saddened by this but having bought every issue of this new Play magazine - I’m not surprised - the retro section in the back added some much needed reflection etc but the main section as with all print media was old news each time - some of the articles inside also questionable especially if your used to the mags of old - sad times - but I was thinking the other day do I stop buying this , least now I can head into the sunset with a clear conscience I supported each and every single issue they put out , shame it didn’t work out
@cardcrusher29 There was the OXM in the UK from 2001-2020. It also offered demo discs like the others. I remember getting a disc with ATV Quad Power Racing 2 demo on it, but that's about all I remember haha
I love a good print magazine and still subscribe to EDGE, there's something about the tangibility of it, I still get excited when a new issue drops. Though to be honest I thought Play/PSM finished years ago.
Hope Edge doesn't go the way of the dodo that's the only magazine I've ever subscribed too and still have going
I actually subscribed to the magazine for 3 months few months ago as I was trying to find ways to get away a bit from the screens and having something physical to read so I figured that would be a good way.
They had some really good features in the magazine and I'm gonna miss it.
Sad times. I remember back in the day going to WH Smith and looking at all the games mags. Used to spend ages in there, surprised they didn't kick me out.
@Xeno_Aura Thanks. By the time of the original Xbox, I was not playing as much and have stopped reading gaming magazines. I still have vivid memories of game magazines for their cheat code listings
I will buy all copies and list them on Ebay bundled together with PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary edition consoles
Absolutely heartbreaking. I still remember combing through an issue for every morsel of info on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom. I honestly don't think I'd be at Push Square today without OPM.
Another bastion of physical magazines has gone... it's not over though. Shout out to RPM, looking forward to issue 4.
I’d be a hypocrite to say I’m sad to see this go, because I don’t buy print media.
Sucks for those who do buy it tho.
Used to love seeing the photos and screenshots in gaming magazines just after e3 when you couldn't watch it online and had to wait. Great times.
I subscribe to Edge and really hope it doesn’t go the same way. As far as I know there is only Edge and retro gamer left.
Have not touched print media for years, but back in the day, Zzap 64, Mean Machines, C&VG and the odd import copy of EGM were stalwarts I used to live by for my gaming news.
Always remember looking at the NeoGeo ads when a kid and dreaming
It's a shame, but an inevitable outcome with everything so digital now.
This is such a huge huge shame. I know print media has been dying for a while, but it's sad to see. I grew up reading OPM, play, Xbox world 360, OXM and gamesmaster, along with a couple of others. I think only Edge is still remaining and that's only a matter of time
I used to buy PLAY in the 90s when I couldn’t afford the extra three quid for OPM. Sad times
This is sad...
I used to see this magz along with PSM, OPM, Edge, GamePro, and GameInformer on my local book store in the import section. Now all of them are dead 😔. So yeah...RIP Play and good luck to the staff.
I personally aways prefer physical books & magazines because my eyes didn't quickly tired compare to staring at monitor or tablet. It's the reason why i'm still buying physical manga and
books about health, medicine, etc.
I'm also trying to collect some old games guide published by Prima Games and BradyGames. But lately their prices got more expensives. I guess the collectors knows these game guide became rare items. sigh...
This magazine I’ve always wanted but it is obnoxiously expensive (at least in US). Nintendo Force at $5-6 an issue proves it can be done cheaper.
Aww no that's so sad, it was a great miggy.
At this rate I'll have nothing left to read in the pub.
I’ll miss the feel of newsprint between my fingers. At least the last issue has [the remake of] one of the greatest games of all time on the cover. Nice way to go out.
Gonna miss games mags. There's been some classics over the years, for me going back to your sinclair. Bought psm religiously for years, and to someone strapped for cash, demo discs were great. Bought play alot too. I used to spend hours in the magazine aisles, and got told off once or twice ' buy something or leave ' 🤣
Anyway, best of luck to everyone and hope they all have good jobs lined up x
Always sad to see gaming magazines go under. Back in the day, they were our best source of news, reviews, and even rumours. R.I.P. PLAY.
Oh boy. I can't wait to turn 40 and reminisce about all the cool gaming things we used to have
I have not entered a WH Smiths in a long time (ok I was in one just the other day checking how much a bottle of water was) It was my go to for things important on the Playstation and kids in the beginning they had Game Demo's on a disk my favourite was F1 demo around the Brazil track I had no money in them days I could not afford to just buy games on release so these things were important a far cry from today...i'm waffling think Homer warping into a hedge.
@1UP-HUSKY The demo discs were absolute game changers growing up. At a time when I really only got new games at Xmas or birthdays, having something new to play every month was such a huge deal.
No idea how print media even survived the last 5 to 10 years
@cardcrusher29 there was!
On the plus side there's still magazines still knocking about - Cosmo, Total Film, all the telly stuff...Granted none are them have anything to do with playstation or video games, but even so 😊
Ah that's is a real shame. Have been a subscriber since the early PS4 days and a reader of video games mags since the Zzap! 64 days RIP in peace Play.
@get2sammyb I remember getting the demo discs in OPM. At the time I couldn't afford games much, just moving out on my own and having a kid so those demon discs introduced me to alot of PS library at the time. I may still have a few lieing around somewhere.
Is print media archaic - a relic of a bygone age? Or is it just because it is too expensive to justify?
I get why costs spiralled. But when your choice is PushSquare for free or OPM for 8 quid then the choice is obvious.
It is very sad though.. A lot of good childhood memories there.
Always sad to see a magazine shut down but with the internet and websites like Pushsquare, NintendoLife, Pure Xbox and dozens of others it just doesn't make sense to pay for a magazine subscription for news that's already a few weeks old.
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