EGM Laid to Rest, 1UP Sold to Hearst

A post on PaidContent has led to muttering that Electronic Gaming Monthly will publish its last issue this month and that the 1UP Digital Network has been sold to Hearst Corporation.

While the post on PaidContact has been taken down, the original text is still visible through an RSS feeder, as What They Play quoted in its entirety in its post:

Looking to conserve its resources for its PC Mag Digital business, Ziff Davis Media has sold off the 1UP Digital Network, its collection of video game sites, to Hearst Corp., which will fold it into the UGO Entertainment division, the companies said. In conjunction with the sale, the related print mag Electronic Gaming Monthly will publish its last issue this month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Since finishing up its Chapter 11 proceedings last summer, Ziff Davis has sought to devote more energy to building up the PC Mag online network. Before this, Ziff Davis' biggest step in the streamlining process involved the shuttering of PC Mag as a print product in November. As for Hearst's UGO, the addition of 1UP's sites is designed to further consolidate its efforts to build up content for gamers since Hearst bought the 11-year-old male-centric entertainment company in July 2007.

While no additional comments were forthcoming from any of the potential parties involved, further details will apparently be on their way by tomorrow morning. Of course, Ziff Davis has been up for sale for ages, and the end of EGM has been speculated about for a good while now.

Update: As it turns out the original story is true as Ziff Davis has officially announced its acquisition by Hearst Corporation and its content portal, UGO Entertainment. While certain people would like you to "celebrate this major news for 1UP," those who were laid off today would most likely prefer that you don't. With the deal came a massive string of layoffs, tallying up to well over 30 unfortunate souls ranging from 1UP, GameVideos and the now shuttered EGM magazine. Joystiq has a full list of the departed which you may feel free to cross reference against their current staff page. We here at The Escapist would like to send out condolences for those who found themselves without a job today and hope that they all land on their feet sooner than later.

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I'm not surprised that EGM has gone under, they pissed off too many too many advertisers in a cynical effort to drum up publicity and they've paid the price.

The reason I unsubscribed to EGM is because of Luigi's Mansion. It got a 9.5,9.5 and a 6
while I think NFS2 got 8,8,and a 7 and got Game of the Month. I was like "Fuck this" and canceled it the next day. EGM did piss off a lot of people.

I used to love EGMs snarky cynicism and content. And Seanbaby. Aww yes Seanbaby.

Seanbaby was pretty much the best part of EGM. Not a big loss (except to the people who lost their jobs obviously) unless this means they're going to stop doing the Broken Pixels videos on 1up.com/Game Videos.

To be frank though a lot of the more recent BP eps have been a big miss though.

R.I.P. EGM, God I'm gonna miss 1Up though. Just a lurker but I loved their interviews and thought their reviews were some of the best.

Hey folks, I went ahead and updated the original story on John's behalf, now that all the relevant information has been confirmed. Most definitely a very sad day for all us involved in this business.

If you have a Twitter, be sure to send them all your well wishes.

Eh, I still had some fond memories of EGM, but yes, it was probably their time. I wonder what Seanbaby's going to do now.

I will miss 1Up, though.

Um if we have subscription to EGM what happens?

NoMoreSanity:
I used to love EGMs snarky cynicism and content. And Seanbaby. Aww yes Seanbaby.

OK, somebody fill me in on what the hell is the deal with Seanbaby. Seriously. I just don't get it. I've read the columns and I didn't get it. I even met the guy at a GDC one year, and he had this aura of awesome around him and everybody in his general vicinity genuflected in his presence, including our dear Mr. Croshaw, but I still didn't get it. Is it the hair? The curled upper lip? What?

Russ Pitts:
OK, somebody fill me in on what the hell is the deal with Seanbaby.

Russ Pitts:

NoMoreSanity:
I used to love EGMs snarky cynicism and content. And Seanbaby. Aww yes Seanbaby.

OK, somebody fill me in on what the hell is the deal with Seanbaby. Seriously. I just don't get it. I've read the columns and I didn't get it. I even met the guy at a GDC one year, and he had this aura of awesome around him and everybody in his general vicinity genuflected in his presence, including our dear Mr. Croshaw, but I still didn't get it. Is it the hair? The curled upper lip? What?

He is the epitome of funny and awesome in EGM. I used to have laughing fits for 10 or so minutes after reading his articles.

Seanbaby can be very, very funny, but the guy just seems a bit too impressed with himself in person. Maybe it's just part of the act, I dunno.

I, for one, am sorry to see EGM go. I realize the business necessity of it, but it still makes me sad.

My best wishes to everyone on the crew who got laid off.