Nintendo Power shutting down

[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, a Nintendo representative confirmed Nintendo Power will cease to exist after its December issue. The company said those with questions regarding their subscriptions should follow up with the magazine's customer service department.

"Nintendo can confirm that Future US will end the production of Nintendo Power magazine with the last issue slated for December 2012," reads the statement.

Nintendo Power may soon be no more. A source has told Ars Technica that the monthly's publisher--Future Publishing--will cease production of the magazine.

Nintendo Power was produced and distributed by Nintendo from 1988 to 2007, at which time the Mario maker tapped Future Publishing to handle the magazine. According to the site's source, Nintendo was not interested in renewing its contract with Future or participating in a range of "digital initiatives that Future saw as necessary for the long-term health of the brand."

The source said Nintendo had always been "difficult to work with" and added that the Wii U maker has no interest in reclaiming direct control of the magazine. As of press time, neither Future nor Nintendo had responded to GameSpot's requests for comment.

Nintendo Power writers and staffers were informed of the magazine's closure last week, according to the source. These people are now being moved to other Future labels, including GamesRadar and MacLife. The closure of Nintendo Power should not affect Future's other gaming-focused magazines, including Best Buy's @Gamer, Edge, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, and PC Gamer.

Nintendo Power editor Phil Theobald confirmed the magazine's closure on Twitter following the publication of Ars Technica's story, writing, "Well, that got out." He also teased that the editorial staff has "something pretty sweet" planned for the final issue.

According to official press materials, Nintendo Power has a total readership of 475,000. It is unclear how subscribers will be compensated for their subscription fees when the magazine ceases publication.

Last November, GamePro shut down. That monthly magazine launched in 1989 and closed as a result of a lack of advertising money.