Play (UK magazine)

This article is about the U.K. PlayStation magazine. For the defunct U.S. video game and anime magazine, see Play (US magazine). For the Chinese PC-gaming magazine, see Play (PRC magazine).

Play (stylised as PLAY and originally known as The Official UK PlayStation Magazine from 1995 - 2021) was a United Kingdom magazine which reported on Sony's PlayStation product range. It was produced and published monthly by Future plc. It featured news, reviews, and previews concerning upcoming PlayStation titles. In addition to being sold in the UK, PLAY was also sold in Australia (as PLAY Australia) and as an import in the United States.^[1]

PLAY

Cover for the final issue (December 2024), featuring Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater
Editor	Oscar Taylor-Kent
Staff writers	Managing Art Editor: Milford Coppock Operations Editor: Miriam McDonald Games Editor: Jessica Kinghorn Contributing Writer: Dashiell Wood
Categories	Video games
Frequency	Monthly
First issue	October 1995 (Original), June 2021 (Revival)
Final issue	December 2024
Company	Future Publishing
Country	United Kingdom
Based in	Bath
Website	Official Play website
ISSN	2754-0421

History

Imagine Publishing

The magazine was first launched in 1995 by Imagine Publishing and was closed in 2016. Before it closed, the magazine had become the UK's longest-running PlayStation magazine.^[2] Issue 269, the magazine's final printed edition was published in April 2016 when it become a digital only publication for a short time.^[3] Prior to issue 249, PLAY came with a covermounted DVD every issue.^{[citation needed]}

Future plc

Future plc acquired Imagine Publishing and its brands in 2016.^[4] In May 2021, the PLAY brand was resurrected as a replacement for PlayStation Official Magazine UK.^[5] The numbering was reset and the staff were retained from PlayStation Official Magazine UK.^[6] The relaunched magazine was part of GamesRadar+.^[7] In October 2024, Future announced the magazine would cease publication.^[8]