In a bit of sadder news today, GameTrailers.com has announced that it has shut its doors after a long 13 years of service to the gaming world. It was originally founded back in 2002, when internet video was still a revolutionary new thing. The internet video giant, YouTube, would not come about for another three years. The gaming news site’s Editor-in-Chief, Brandon Jones, tweeted yesterday:
“Today is the last day of GameTrailers. I wish it wasn’t so.”
The site had continued to post the video reviews, trailers, and guides that it has been well-known for right up until this surprise announcement came yesterday evening. In truth, the closing of the gaming site is not a complete surprise, as times have unfortunately gotten difficult for them in recent years. In 2014, the site was bought by DefyMedia, which then led to a big round of layoffs. Another round would follow during the next year. That’s never good news for a company.
In spite of the negative nature of this announcement, GameTrailers tried to remain positive in their Facebook announcement of their closing. They focused on how they were one of the first sites to focus on video-based gaming news coverage. In the time since their founding in 2002, YouTube has risen to become an internet titan. Let’s Plays have become extremely popular. This, they say, is part of the legacy of GameTrailers.com.
“We’re proud we helped bring this world into being. That is the legacy of GameTrailers,”
It is sad to see the site go, but that’s just the way of it. We here at oprainfall wish everyone who has been working at GameTrailers all the best in their future endeavors, and hopefully they will find their new life’s work as soon as possible! And thank you for everything that you did for the gaming world, GameTrailers!
