GameStar
| Company type | Magazine publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing, video games |
| Founded | September 1997 |
| Founder | Charles Glimm, Jörg Langer, Toni Schwaiger |
| Headquarters | Germany |
Area served | German-speaking countries |
Key people | Heiko Klinge (editor-in-chief as of June 2016) |
| Products | Monthly PC gaming magazine, GameStar.de website, DVDs with game demos and content |
| Owner | Webedia (since April 2015) |
| Website | gamestar |
GameStar is a German monthly magazine dedicated to PC gaming and holds the distinction of being the top-selling German-language publication in this niche. Additionally, it manages the largest gaming website within the German-speaking online community.
As one of the most prominent portals catering to German-speaking users, GameStar.de features a magazine that comes with a DVD containing game demos, modifications, video critiques, and a complete retail game.
Content
GameStar is available in multiple formats: a budget-friendly option without DVDs, a standard edition including one DVD, and an XL version that offers two DVDs. Subscribers receive editions with fewer advertisements and enhanced cover visuals. Until mid-2005, there was also a CD-only release, which was discontinued as DVD drives became widespread; subsequently, the XL edition was introduced.
The brand also operates the GSPB (GameStar Pinboard), recognized as one of the largest German-speaking internet forums.
History and editorship
Founded by Charles Glimm, Jörg Langer, and Toni Schwaiger, GameStar was launched by IDG Entertainment Media GmbH in September 1997 with Jörg Langer serving as editor-in-chief.
The magazine rapidly gained traction, achieving monthly sales around 333,000 copies by late 1999 and overtaking rival PC Games in 2000 to become Europe’s leading German-language video game publication.
IDG expanded the GameStar brand with sister magazines in Italy, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the USA. The American edition targeted adult PC and console gamers but was short-lived due to low sales; among these international versions, only the Hungarian magazine sustained a longer run. In 2005, GameStar launched /GameStar/dev, a publication aimed at European game developers. Its console-focused sister magazine, GamePro, operates from an adjacent office.
In April 2015, French publisher Webedia acquired both GameStar and GamePro from IDG.
Editorial leadership transitioned from Jörg Langer to Gunnar Lott and then to Michael Trier in December 2007. As of June 2016, Heiko Klinge holds the position of editor-in-chief.
Additionally, GameStar organized the prominent E-Sports competition GameStar Clanliga, which featured games such as Warcraft III, Counter-Strike, and Tactical Ops.
Sales and popularity
Following its debut, GameStar experienced consistent growth in readership. By the fourth quarter of 1999, its monthly circulation reached approximately 331,535 copies. In 2000, it surpassed rival PC Games to become Europe’s largest German-language PC gaming magazine.[1] It has maintained this leading status ever since.[2][3]
Like many print publications, GameStar faced declining sales over time. Its monthly distribution fell from 250,000 copies in 2008 to 63,189 by January 2015. Nevertheless, it remains Europe’s best-selling German-language PC gaming magazine.[3][4]