After 27 years on air, Game One is preparing to bow out at the end of November 2025. A disappearance that marks the end of an era for an entire generation of French gamers and raises many questions about the future of thematic channels dedicated to video games.

A page in French video game history is turning. Game One, pioneer of gaming TV channels in France, will permanently close its doors at the end of November 2025. An announcement that hits fans like a ton of bricks, especially since it comes while the channel was still profitable, generating approximately 2 million euros in annual profits.

An Adventure That Lasted Nearly Three Decades

Launched on September 7, 1998 by Infogrames and Canal+, Game One accompanied the evolution of video games for almost 30 years. At a time when gaming was not yet the cultural phenomenon it has become, the channel dared to bet on 100% video game programming. Cult shows, reviews, reports, esports event coverage: Game One shaped an entire generation of French gamers.

The channel survived multiple transformations of the audiovisual landscape, changing owners several times over the years. Acquired by M6 in 2005, then integrated into the MTV Networks France group in 2010, it had been owned by Paramount Networks France, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, since 2020.

A Purely Strategic Closure

It is precisely this last acquisition that seals Game One's fate. The merger between Paramount Global and Skydance pushed the group to review its channel portfolio. Paramount Networks France, which also owns Game One+, J-One and Paramount Channel France, decided to concentrate its gaming activities on Game One+, which will continue broadcasting.

The decision is therefore not related to financial difficulties – the channel was profitable – but to a rationalization of the group. An economic logic that doesn't make the taste of this closure any less bitter for enthusiasts.

The End of an Era

Game One's shutdown also symbolizes the evolution of viewing habits. In the age of streaming, Twitch, YouTube and on-demand content, linear thematic channels struggle to find their place. Yet Game One had managed to adapt, developing a digital presence and creating original content that resonated with its community.

For many, Game One will remain the channel that legitimized video games on French television, that gave a voice to gamers before the rise of the internet. A pioneer that will be remembered with nostalgia. On November 30, a piece of our gaming history disappears with it.