Xbox World

Xbox World was a British video-game magazine dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox platform and later the Xbox 360. It began publication in early 2003, more than a year after the original Xbox reached the market. The magazine was initially published by Computec Media, with Pat Garratt serving as editor at launch and Tony Horgan, formerly associated with CU Amiga, acting as managing editor. Its editorial proposition centered on practical and enthusiast-oriented coverage: game reviews and previews, platform news, hardware coverage, buying guidance, cheats, hints, walkthroughs, and material designed to help readers get more from their Xbox games. Late in 2003, Xbox World and its sister publication PlayStation World were acquired by Future plc. The acquisition brought the title into one of the United Kingdom's largest specialist magazine portfolios, but the transition also involved moving operations from London to Future's offices in Bath. Much of the existing staff left during that move, and Lee Hall became editor of the first issue produced under Future's ownership. The change placed Xbox World within a broader publishing environment that included multiple console and computer-game magazines, while retaining its dedicated Xbox identity. In September 2005, the magazine was relaunched as Xbox World 360 to reflect the arrival of Microsoft's second-generation console. Under editor Tim Weaver, the publication expanded its physical-package offering. Issues included an achievements, hints, cheats, and walkthrough book, together with a double-sided four-hour disc containing both a conventional DVD side and high-definition content intended for use with the Xbox 360. These additions complemented the magazine's editorial coverage and helped distinguish it in a period when print publications competed with emerging online game media. The title later returned to its original name. The November 2011 issue was published as Xbox World again, signaling a broader Xbox identity rather than a name tied exclusively to the 360 generation. The Christmas 2011 issue was Tim Weaver's final issue as editor; he subsequently became managing editor, while Andy Hartup, previously associated with PSM3, took over the editorial role. Xbox World's final phase was brief. On 13 November 2012, Future announced that it would close Xbox World and its sister magazine PSM3. The last issue of Xbox World went on sale on 12 December 2012. The closure ended a publication that had covered the latter part of the original Xbox era, the full Xbox 360 generation, and the transition toward a more digitally oriented games-media market. The brand is therefore a defunct magazine property rather than an active Xbox product or a current Microsoft-owned consumer brand.

Xbox World launched in the United Kingdom in early 2003 as a specialist magazine for Microsoft's Xbox console. Its debut came more than a year after the original Xbox was released. Computec Media published the early issues, with Pat Garratt as editor and Tony Horgan as managing editor. The publication covered Xbox games and hardware through reviews, previews, news, guides, cheats, and walkthroughs. Its sister title was PlayStation World, creating a paired console-magazine structure within Computec's portfolio. In late 2003, Future plc acquired both Xbox World and PlayStation World. The acquisition moved the publications from London to Future's Bath offices, and most of the existing staff left during the relocation. Lee Hall edited the first Xbox World produced under Future's ownership. This period marked the magazine's integration into Future's larger specialist-games publishing group, while the title continued to target dedicated Xbox readers. The magazine changed its name to Xbox World 360 in September 2005 as Microsoft's Xbox 360 became the focus of the platform. Tim Weaver guided the relaunch. The revised magazine included an achievements, hints, cheats, and walkthrough book, as well as a double-sided disc with DVD and high-definition content intended for Xbox 360 users. These supplements made the publication both an editorial source and a practical reference product for players. In the November 2011 issue, the title reverted to Xbox World. The change removed the generation-specific suffix and restored the original brand identity. Tim Weaver's final issue as editor was the Christmas 2011 edition. He then became managing editor, and Andy Hartup, formerly connected with PSM3, took over as editor. Future announced the closure of Xbox World and PSM3 on 13 November 2012. The last issue of Xbox World was sold on 12 December 2012. The publication consequently ended after covering the original Xbox, the Xbox 360's launch and maturation, and the later period in which digital games journalism increasingly competed with specialist print magazines.

• 2012

  Final issue published

  [1]Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The final issue went on sale on 12 December after Future announced the magazine's closure.

• 2011

  Original name restored

  [1]Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The November issue returned to the Xbox World name.

• 2005

  Relaunch as Xbox World 360

  [1]Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The publication adopted the Xbox World 360 name and expanded its bundled guide and disc materials.

• 2003

  Xbox World launches

  [1]Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The first issue of Xbox World appeared in early 2003 as a British magazine dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox platform.

• 2003

  Future plc acquires the magazine

  [1]Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Future acquired Xbox World and sister publication PlayStation World from Computec Media and moved the operation to Bath.

A specialist British console magazine combining Xbox-focused editorial coverage with practical guides, cheats, achievements, walkthroughs, and bundled media.

• Video-game magazine · 2003

  Xbox World

  The original magazine focused on Xbox games, hardware, news, reviews, previews, and practical player assistance. Its guide-oriented material included cheats, hints, achievements, and walkthroughs.

• Video-game magazine · 2005

  Xbox World 360

  The Xbox 360-era version of the magazine, launched in 2005. It combined platform-specific editorial coverage with a guide supplement and a double-sided disc carrying DVD and high-definition content.

• 2012

  Future closed the magazineOther

  Background

  Future announced the discontinuation of Xbox World and PSM3 on 13 November 2012.

  Action taken

  Future ended publication, with the final issue released on 12 December 2012.

  Aftermath

  Xbox World became a defunct magazine brand.

  Source

• 2011

  Returned to the Xbox World nameStrategy

  Background

  The magazine had used a generation-specific Xbox 360 identity since 2005.

  Action taken

  The November 2011 issue reverted to the shorter Xbox World brand.

  Aftermath

  The restored name remained in use until the publication ended in December 2012.

  Source

• 2005

  Adopted the Xbox World 360 identityGeneration change

  Background

  Microsoft's Xbox 360 was becoming the central platform for the magazine's audience, making the original Xbox-focused name less specific to the publication's current coverage.

  Action taken

  The magazine relaunched as Xbox World 360 and added Xbox 360-oriented guide and disc content.

  Aftermath

  The title used the Xbox World 360 name until the November 2011 issue, when it returned to Xbox World.

  Source

1. 1Xbox Worlden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Xbox World official website archive linkcomputerandvideogames.com