UK retailer Game will reportedly stop selling physical games in-store
Update: Game denies the claims, telling VGC, “this reporting is categorically not true”
UK retailer Game will soon stop selling physical games in-store, it’s been claimed.
According to a report by Gfinity Esports, sources say the retail chain plans to stop selling boxed software in its brick-and-mortar shops.
Instead, players will only be able to buy hardware and physical software by pre-ordering at the store, or buying from the Game website (where they can have them shipped to their home or their nearest Game store).
Latest update
A spokesperson for Game has denied the report, telling VGC that “this reporting is categorically not true”.
“GAME continues to support the physical gaming market, offering a wide range of physical games, hardware, software, accessories and digital products, in stores and online,” they added.
Currently, a large part of physical Game stores is taken up by gaming merchandise and non-gaming toys, including Lego, Barbie and Funko Pops.
If the report that it’s no longer selling physical games is true, this would be the latest setback for Game, which it was reported in April was cutting an unspecified number of jobs.
Speaking to Eurogamer at the time, multiple employees said workers had been told to expect redundancies as the company was moving most non-managers to zero-hours contracts.
In January, Game confirmed plans to stop buying and selling pre-owned games, with the trade-in service ending on February 16.
Earlier this month it was also confirmed that it will be ending its Game Reward and Game Elite reward schemes soon.
Players will no longer be able to earn reward points from July 15, and will no longer be able to redeem their existing balance after July 31. If players still have existing balance after this date, it will be removed and they will have effectively lost that money.
Game’s UK retail businesses are spread over 320 standalone stores and concessions within Sports Direct and House of Fraser, according to Frasers Group, which acquired the company for £52 million in 2019.
VGC has contacted Frasers Group for comment on the report.
