GAME To Stop Selling Physical Games? Company Denies Report

pczone.co.uk:

It looks like GAME has hit the “game over” screen on selling physical games… or has it? The company has steadfastly denied a report that they will stop selling physical games in-store, except for fulfilling pre-orders.

According to said report from Gfinity, if you want to snag a new release, you’ll need to preorder it like a responsible adult. No more waltzing into the store and grabbing the latest blockbuster off the shelf.

This bold move is just the latest plot twist in GAME’s tumultuous year. They’ve already pulled the plug on their long-running trade-in scheme, so kiss goodbye to buying or swapping pre-owned games. They’ve also sent their GAME Elite reward program to the big arcade in the sky.

Earlier this year, Eurogamer reported that the embattled retailer had shifted many staff to zero-hour contracts, while others were shown the door. Now it seems the company’s grand strategy involves transforming their stores into mini-concessions inside other Frasers Group outlets, like Sports Direct. So, you might find yourself shopping for a new console next to racks of sportswear and cricket bats.

Anonymous sources at GAME who spoke with Gfinity are feeling more than a little grumpy about the shift away from video game sales. With toy stock now taking over the shelves, it’s like they’re having an identity crisis worthy of a soap opera. Imagine waking up one day and deciding you’re a toy store instead of a game store—talk about a midlife crisis!

AI may be grabbing all the headlines for disrupting the ecosystem of gaming, but it’s the slow creep of digital-only adoption that is doing for the high street.

Remember when GAME first opened its doors back in 2002? It used to be called Electronics Boutique, and it was the holy grail for grabbing the latest physical games and consoles.

Fast forward over twenty years, and it’s still a game store, but now it’s playing a different game altogether. It’s like walking into a pizzeria and finding out they only serve sushi—surprising,