GAME is closing its last remaining standalone stores.
The video game retailer, once a fixture on every UK high street, is down to just three locations in Dudley, Lancaster, and Sutton.
Frasers Group, who own GAME, have decided to shut these final stores.
Last week, the company filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
This is the second time GAME has fallen into administration since 2012.
What's Happening to GAME?
GAME’s managing director, Nick Arran, is leaving the company after nine years.
The Game Business broke the news that Frasers Group are closing the chain’s remaining high street presence.
But GAME isn’t disappearing completely. The brand will continue online even after the physical stores close.
For anyone who grew up browsing GAME stores on a Saturday afternoon, this feels like the end of an era.
The retailer’s popularity has gradually declined over the past decade to the point where finding a GAME store has become increasingly rare.
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What Does This Mean for UK Gaming Retail?
After Gamestation closed in 2012 and now GAME shutting its doors, the biggest games retailer left on the UK high street is CeX.
CeX currently operates around 390 stores across the UK and over 600 worldwide.
They’ve managed to survive by focusing on buying and selling second-hand games, consoles, and tech alongside new products.
Why Did GAME Struggle?
The shift to digital downloads has hit physical game retailers hard.
More people buy games directly from PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Steam rather than picking up physical copies from shops.
Online retailers like Amazon also undercut high street prices, making it harder for stores like GAME to compete.
And with the cost of running physical locations, the business model became increasingly difficult to sustain.
The nostalgia of browsing shelves full of games and chatting to staff about the latest releases is fading fast.
For many gamers, GAME was where they bought their first console or queued at midnight for major releases.
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