Future Publishing
Gaming magazine empire
The UK publishing company that built an empire of gaming magazines including Amiga Format, Amiga Power, PC Gamer, and many others, becoming one of the largest gaming media companies in the world.
Overview
Future Publishing (later Future plc) is a UK media company founded in 1985 that built an empire of gaming magazines. From Amiga Format to PC Gamer, Future became one of the world’s largest gaming media publishers, defining enthusiast coverage across multiple platforms and generations.
Fast Facts
- Founded: 1985, Bath, UK
- Key titles: Amiga Format, PC Gamer, Edge
- Model: Platform-specific enthusiast magazines
- Status: Still operating (as Future plc)
Gaming Magazine Portfolio
| Title | Platform | Era |
|---|---|---|
| Amiga Format | Amiga | 1989-2000 |
| Amiga Power | Amiga | 1991-1996 |
| PC Gamer | PC | 1993-present |
| Edge | Multi | 1993-present |
| Commodore Format | C64 | 1990-1995 |
Publishing Philosophy
Future’s approach:
| Element | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Platform focus | Dedicated magazines |
| Quality writing | Enthusiast perspectives |
| Cover media | Disks, CDs, DVDs |
| International | UK and US editions |
Cover Media Innovation
Future embraced cover-mounted media:
- Cover disks (Amiga, Atari ST)
- Cover CDs (PC)
- Cover DVDs (later era)
- Full game releases
Industry Impact
Future influenced gaming media through:
- Professional enthusiast journalism
- Platform-specific expertise
- Cover media expectations
- International expansion model
Legacy
Future Publishing demonstrated that gaming enthusiast media could be both editorially strong and commercially successful. Many current gaming journalists began at Future titles.