PC mag takes on Future

Imagine Publishing is gunning for Future’s market share with the launch of a new PC gaming title, which it claims will fill a gap in a sector by offering more holistic content.

Total PC Gaming, which will launch on November 8th, will cover MMOs, retro games and hardware as well as the traditional staple of PC gaming.

Imagine is bullish about the magazine’s launch, and has designs on some of Future’s market leading titles.

PC Zone is clearly the first target because its news trade sales are just 15,000,” said editor-in-chief Dave Harfield. It’s a shame that such a once-great title has been managed down in this way.”

Harfield also claimed that the monopoly Future has enjoyed in the PC magazine sector has led to an element of laziness.

When you have a monopoly situation the most common effect is complacency,” he said. Hardware reviews are neglected by PC Zone and PC Gamer so that gamers are forced to buy PC Format to get advice on peripherals and components. No longer will one company be the sole choice in the market.

"Current PC magazines haven’t had to work very hard for the last five years or so and it shows. We foresee them going under some rapid changes once Total PC Gaming hits the shelves.”