HMV fights back: ‘We won’t give up on games’

HMV won’t turn its back on games, CEO Simon Fox has told MCV. But it will cut in-store space given to the category following a year where it lost market share.

Fox said nervous games firms did not back HMV enough last year – unlike ‘highly supportive’ music and DVD suppliers. And as a result the firm has had to merge its tech and games teams together.

HMV’s future was in the balance last year. But the High Street chain is now on safer financial footing following a landmark deal with its banks. The retailer now believes it can win back the market share it lost.

We are committed to games,” Fox told MCV.Bringing games and tech together gives the category a much higher profile and will prove a real advantage. We want to work closer with publishers and the format holders. And I am hopeful they want to do the same with us.

We were disappointed with last year, but we are optimistic that this year we can fight back.”

And he doesn’t think less shelf space for games will affect the overall category.

We intend to do that in a way that doesn’t undermine the offer. Our intention is that neither our publishers nor our customers will notice it.”