G4 Cancelling X-Play, Attack of the Show

The once video game-focused network G4 will cancel the long-running shows X-Play and Attack of the Show by the end of the year according a post on G4TV.com. New episodes for the shows will continue to run until December featuring a rotating cast of guest hosts.

This news is not entirely surprising, as rumors have been fluttering for the past couple of months that the network planned a major re-brand.

TV Guide offers additional details on the story, stating that G4 will rebrand completely in 2013. No definitive reason has yet been offered for the re-brand or the cancellation of the shows. Common sense would imply that either the programming is not performing well, or the network is simply convinced that other programming would perform better.

Currently speculation is that G4′s new image will target a more “sophisticated,” or as I interpret it, “higher income” male demographic. Partnerships with male periodicals GQ and Esquire are also rumored, but nothing is yet confirmed.

As expected, Twitter is filled with well-wishes and preemptive “no comment” statements.

X-Play first existed as Gamespot TV in 1998, meaning that the show has run for a venerable 14 years. Attack of the Show premiered in 2005 and ran for seven years.

Given that the Machinima office is stocked with G4 expats, this news hits a little closer to home than most. Of course, we wish the best to everyone at G4. We’re confident that people with such talent won’t be out of work for long.