GAME to close 40 stores across the UK

GAME has become the first major UK retailer to announce store closures in 2020, following a brutal 2019 that saw downsizing from the likes of Debenhams, M&S and Topshop.

It is set to shutter 40 stores. Some 13 sites have already had notice served to them, including branches in Mansfield, Canterbury, Watford, Glasgow Fort and Leicester.

A further 14 sites have now joined them, impacting outlets owned mostly by Intu and New River. These include Derby, Norwich Chapelfield, Lakeside, Bexleyheath and Carmarthen.

GAME intends to serve notice on the additional sites in the near future. No word yet on how many jobs will be impacted by the move.

A spokesperson for GAME stated: “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. However, we are facing a challenging retail market and, with our extensive retail footprint, we need to restructure and landlords need to work with us in setting realistic, fair rents.”

So, this could be a negotiating ploy. As for why the retailer has gone down this route, Jonathan De Mello, Head of Retail Consultancy at Harper Dennis Hobbs, tweeted: “Lack of any major new console releases/blockbuster games has hit them hard; plus the continued decline in physical games being bought in favour of digital downloads from virtual stores linked to each console.”