Future US, Inc. has announced at the official World of Warcraft The Magazine website the publication has ceased.
Those who subscribed can redeem their money back only if they contact Future US by September 30th.
There have been a few licenses that have ended abruptly over the past months including TOKYOPOP which closed its California office late May 2011. The Blizzard manga license thankfully was acquired by Cryptozoic Entertainment who now sells the manga in digital format.
Swagdog also ceased production of World of Warcraft t-shirts and Jersey shirts a few months ago.
Now Future US announces the cease of publication of the Magazine. It was an amazing magazine. I got issue # 3 with the Garrosh Hellscream cover. It was packed with a lot of lore and info about Cataclysm with a Chris Metzen interview, and the magazine offers some exclusive news and content such as the unveiling of the upcoming World of Warcraft Doomhammer replica. You likely heard of it either in the magazine or in a fansite. It’s so secretive, no details will be revealed until BlizzCon 2011. — update: Eldorian informs me the Doomhammer replica is available at the BlizzCon Pre-order Store for $130.
The World of Warcraft The Magazine will be sorely missed. Great thumbs up to the team behind its publication.
Here is a Frequently asked questions list for those who wish to find out how to proceed.
Q. What will I get for the remaining issues on my subscription?
A. There are multiple options available, depending on the number of remaining issues, to compensate subscribers for the remainder of their subscription terms. Subscribers received an email outlining the offer they qualify for.
Q: What if I can’t find my unique code? Or how do I retrieve my unique code?
A: Emails were sent out to subscribers notifying them of the closure of the magazine, and provided a unique code for each person. If you’re unable to locate your email, you can go to www.worldofwarcraftthemagazine.com/code and enter your email address. Your unique code will be emailed to you.
Q: How do I obtain a refund?
A: If you decide to forego the premium offer you can elect to receive a refund via check by submitting the request to us in writing. Please mail us a letter with your full name, mailing address and email address you used when subscribing to the magazine to:
Future US
c/o WoW Magazine
4000 Shoreline Court
Suite 400
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Q: What if I’ve submitted my request for a refund but haven’t received it yet?
A: The refunds will take a bit of time to process and for mail delivery depending on where you live. Please allow 8-10 weeks for processing and delivery. If you still haven’t received a refund you can email us at wowthemag@futureus.com
Q. Why did my friend get a plush murloc (or PC Gamer subscription), when I only got the in-game pet collection?
A. Most subscribers received a choice between a collection of six in-game pets or a full refund of their remaining subscription balance. However, some individuals with longer subscription terms remaining were offered one or two further premiums in addition to the pet collection.
Q. I really liked the articles. Even if the magazine is gone, can I get WoW-related content like that elsewhere?
A. Future US also publishes PC Gamer, a magazine dedicated to PC gaming enthusiasts. Future US has produced popular Blizzard-focused issues in the past, and plans to publish a WoW-focused special in the near future.
