Future Publishing to streamline UK operations

Video game magazine publisher Future is currently conducting a review of its UK operations, with the aim of streamlining all areas of the company.

The decision has been made as a result of increasingly harsh trading conditions in the print market, and the pressing need to seek new revenue streams and increase the company's presence in the digital sectors.

So far it is unclear whether the review will affect Future's games magazines, which include the Official titles for both Xbox and PlayStation, and the highly-regarded Edge magazine.

GamesIndustry.biz understands that all staff have been made aware of the move and a swift review is expected.

Future's half-year profits were halved for the last financial year, although its digital business became profitable for the first time.

"The decline in profits includes maintained planned investment, particularly in digital, as we continue to transition our business for the future," said CEO Stevie Spring at the time.

Full year profits revealed in November highlighted a decline in contributions from the games portfolio, which also includes websites GamesRadar and CVG.

"We're reviewing our business, like most media organisations, to ensure we are investing even more in the areas which will advance our progress and secure the company's future as a successful and profitable publisher," a spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz.

In the Games division, our websites have never been better, we outperformed in each sector in the last ABCs and it is now time to accelerate our digital growth and footprint."

The company decline to comment directly on whether the streamlining would affect staff numbers or magazine titles.