28th September 2007
PlayStation 3 magazine PSU3 merges with long-standing Play
Imagine Publishing chooses to focus on its core PlayStation brands
for 2008 and beyond
Imagine Publishing today announced the merger of PSU3 with Play, effective immediately.
The move comes after careful deliberation into the state of both the PlayStation and the
related magazine market which has not seen the significant growth shown by Xbox 360
titles. With the PlayStation magazine market unlikely to improve in the short to medium
term, the decision was taken to merge the two titles in order to focus resources on what is
Imagine’s market-leading PlayStation title.
The merger will see key staff from PSU3 move over to Play to bolster its already talented
team, and will see some of PSU3’s innovative features incorporated into Imagine’s
bestselling independent title and improve Play’s editorial package in time for what is hoped
to be a stronger 2008.
Nick Jones, Editor in Chief of Imagine’s PlayStation titles commented, “The fact is that
the PlayStation market is at an all-time low and this has been reflected in the sales of
PlayStation magazines. With a lower than expected PlayStation 3 installed user base, no
price reduction of the hardware, and few triple-A games until much later next year, we
have taken the decision to merge PSU3 with Play and focus on our most long-standing
games brands and also our new launches.”
“By concentrating on Play, our premium PlayStation multiformat magazine, and of course
PowerStation the market-leading tips and cheats title, we will be able to ensure that
Imagine stays ahead of its competitors and remains an attractive opportunity for games
publishers and advertisers alike.”
Issue 159 of Play will be the first issue to incorporate PSU3 and will be on sale on 19
October. Existing subscribers of PSU3 will be offered Play as a substitute.
Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest growing consumer specialist publishers. Formed in May
2005, it now publishes 20 magazines and 20 websites in the videogames, computing, entertainment and
photography markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds.
Imagine Publishing
01202 586200
www.imagine-publishing.co.uk |
