Sony mag closure as cover discs fail to attract buyers

Sony is closing its official US Playstation magazine in favour of using online distribution. Its publisher, Ziff Davis Game Group, said the magazine "no longer fits its strategic vision." Ziff's president, Scott McCarthy, explained that the closure was linked to the redundancy of cover discs, which had previously been "a major driver for consumer interest... when the magazine disc was the only way gamers could get such content." But the UK version of the magazine is not affected, according to both its British publisher, Future. and Sony. That said, the US decision must be worrying for Future Publishing, which holds most of the official licences for the games market in Britain. Clearly, the days of cover discs attracting magazine buyers must be numbered. (Via Next Generation)