GAME could close "handful" of extra stores; New openings also planned

Retailer Game Retail has confirmed to MCV that a small number of additional store closures are likely to be announced in the near future.

In addition, it also seems likely that some brand new stores will also be opening their doors – sometimes in the same town.

We are currently in negotiations with all of our landlords over leases,” a Game Retail spokesperson told MCV. In the vast majority of cases we are reaching satisfactory agreements.

In a very few cases this may not be possible and a handful of stores may close. Conversely, where we have positive negotiations we may well have the opportunity to open new stores.”

Staff in the affected stores have been informed of the situation.

MCV has been lead to believe that once the closures and openings have been completed, Game Retail’s overall UK store count will remain around the current 333 figure.

The company is also reassessing its support centre needs, which need to be adapted to the chain’s smaller store footprint.

We are proposing some changes to our support centre structure to reshape Game Retail for success in our evolving markets,” the spokesperson added.

We are proposing a reshaping exercise where we will invest in areas such as community, digital, pre-owned, CRM and brand, and we will make this possible by removing costs in some other areas.”