GAME to Close 40 Stores in the UK - News

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UK video game retailer GAME announced it plans to close 40 stores in the UK. Some of the GAME stores notified of the closures includes Mansfield, Canterbury, Watford, Glasgow Fort, Leicester, Derby, Norwich Chapelfield, Lakeside, Bexleyheath and Carmarthen.

"We are working closely with landlords throughout the UK to ensure that we do not have to vacate the 40 locations which could lead to a number of job losses," said a GAME spokesperson. "However, we are facing a challenging retail market and GAME with its extensive retail footprint, needs to restructure and landlords need to work with us in setting realistic, fair rents."

UK retail video game sales in the UK for the first time since 2012 dropped in 2019. Video game sales fell 19.8 percent in 2019 to 17.6 million games sold at UK retailers. The games generated revenue of £602.5 million in revenue, which is a drop of 21.7 percent year-on-year.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

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Zenos (on 09 January 2020)

Hopefully those affected will find jobs soon.

• +6

Flilix (on 10 January 2020)

Oh, that's a shame. I went there everytime I visited Canterbury.

• +1

The Fury Flilix (on 10 January 2020)

Canterbury does have a few other independent game stores dealing in classic games more and CEX but CEX is only used stuff.

• 0

Random_Matt (on 10 January 2020)

Lakeside is surprising. Anyway, the whole lot will close within the next ten years, GAME only make money on software. Digital and streaming will take over.

• +1

GoldenHand80 Random_Matt (on 10 January 2020)

Not surprising at all, the rents in that place are hideous. But I agree it will gradually close and turn into an online store

• +1

Random_Matt Random_Matt (on 10 January 2020)

To be fair have not been there for probably over twenty years.

• +1

GoldenHand80 Random_Matt (on 11 January 2020)

remember Zavvi? GAME is the next Zavvi

• +1

Random_Matt Random_Matt (on 11 January 2020)

Sure do.

• +1

mjk45 (on 10 January 2020)

I might be misremembering this but didn't GAME undergo a restructure and closed a lot of stores a few years ago?.

• 0

DonFerrari (on 10 January 2020)

That is a very unfortunate new. I liked buying online from them to deliver in Brazil. Hope they recover and the people find new jobs.

• 0

Azzanation (on 09 January 2020)

Suprised they lasted this long.. they closed in Australia many years ago.

• 0