Report: Nintendo Power Rights Licensed To Future US

Author: by Leigh Alexander, Staff

A new posting on Nintendo's corporate job board, seeking a licensing manager for its Nintendo Power magazine, reveals that the publication is planning a shift to being published by Future US, the American division of Future Publishing. The job description for the new Nintendo licensing manager particularly notes that the position: "Manages monthly Nintendo Power Magazine licensed to the new publisher, Future US Maintains close communication with Future US regarding editorial plan, production plan, and marketing plan." Future already publishes the official Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox magazines in the United Kingdom, and runs the Official Xbox Magazine in North America. Nintendo Power, originally published in 1988, is one of the longest-lived gaming publications still in print. The move appears to be part of an overall restructuring at Seattle-based Nintendo, as earlier this year, the company announced its sales and marketing departments would relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area, and following this, senior VP of marketing George Harrison has announced his exit from the firm. Gamasutra has contacted Future regarding the report, also inquiring whether the recent closure of the official Nintendo.com forums is related in any way to this news, and will update with any official statements from either party. [UPDATE: A spokesperson for Future US has indicated to Gamasutra that the company has no comment at this time.]