CVG to shut down in Future cuts

Long-running gaming outlet expected to get the ax as Future UK puts employees on 45-day consultation period

Earlier this month, Future Publishing informed its employees that there were layoffs on the way as part of a massive structural overhaul. Some of the first details on that overhaul are becoming clear today, as MCV reports that gaming site CVG is going to be shut down, and all employees at Future UK have been put on a 45-day consultation period.

The site received the information from sources close to Future management, saying the publisher's other gaming sites and movie site Total Film are also facing significant changes. However, PC Gamer, Games Radar, and the recently launched Kotaku UK aren't expected to suffer drastic cuts for the time being.

CVG began life as the magazine Computer & Video Games more than 30 years ago. Future Publishing acquired the print and online versions of CVG along with PC Zone magazine from Dennis Publishing in 2004 for £2.5 million. CVG halted its run as a print magazine after the Future acquisition, and PC Zone ceased publication in 2010.

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Latest comments (9)

Morville O'Driscoll Blogger & Critic 5 years ago

Bah. It's been a long-time coming, but still sad to see the CVG name go. Part of the 80s gaming scene in the UK, alongside Crash! and Zzap!

Edited 1 times. Last edit by Morville O'Driscoll on 15th May 2014 10:43pm

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Dan Griliopoulos Lead Content Editor, Improbable5 years ago

The more important thing is that everyone at Future is in consultation. That's not happened since the early 2000s so they must be really determined to clear costs. Killing one of their more-successful websites doesn't seem particularly forward-looking though.

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Morville O'Driscoll Blogger & Critic 5 years ago

I think what's really shocking is the possibility Edge might get cut. I personally think it lost something after the Redeye scandal, but its features/columns have always been a window into the industry, and as such has been a sacred cow... Until now.

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Show all comments (9)

Pete Leonard , Amiqus5 years ago

What was the Redeye scandal re: Edge?

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Morville O'Driscoll Blogger & Critic 5 years ago

Ah, it was complicated, that's what it was. :p

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edge_%28magazine%29&diff=89954810&oldid=89884313

(It's been removed from the actual Wiki page for Edge, since it constitutes OR, but the revision section has all the details. Ctrl-F redeye if it's not immediately obvious.)

Disclaimer: I didn't mean to bring up anything indelicate by mentioning Redeye, but I do feel the change of editorial team negatively affected the magazine. Reading it at the time, it definitely felt different, hence my comment above. :)

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Russ Cogman Senior Game Artist, Serious Games International5 years ago

Sad news. As well as being a reader back in the 80's I did some illustration work for the magazine and website back in the early 2000's, so I always had a soft spot for CVG. :(

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Peter Dwyer Games Designer/Developer 5 years ago

Stopped reading this a long time ago and when I visited their online site it was a horrible maze of a mess to navigate. I wish all the staff well but, I can't say I'll miss anything but, the printed version of CVG up until 1997.

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Benjamin Kratsch Freelance Journalist, GLP Media5 years ago

@gamesindustry.biz-staff: Love your site, really. But we are colleagues after all and you should give the guys and girls of computerandvideogames.com staff the chance to say goodbye on their own. Telling someone is going to die before he did, is not very nice if I should be honest.

Thanks and keep up the good work

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Roland Austinat roland austinat media productions|consulting, IDG, Computec, Spiegel Online5 years ago

But we are colleagues after all and you should give the guys and girls of computerandvideogames.com staff the chance to say goodbye on their own. Telling someone is going to die before he did, is not very nice if I should be honest.

Not quite sure what you mean. Gamesindustry.biz was just reporting something that MCV found. If at all, your comment should be on the MCV site. And I'm pretty sure that CVG is going to do a proper farewell to their readers.

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