Retail

Expect to hear more about niche games like Street Cleaning Simulator very soon. PC games distributor Contact Sales has strengthened its publishing labels with two new execs for PR and sales. Ian Morris joins as sales executive while Charlotte Gunn becomes PR and marketing executive. The pair will work on both …

Comet is to close 17 under-performing retail outlets after being hit with an 8.9 million loss in the last financial year. According to the Dow Jones Newswire, like for like sales for the year dropped by 7.7 per cent and total revenue declined by 6.8 per cent, despite the company …

Gaikai has joined forces with the world’s largest retailer to bring its games streaming service to Walmart.com. The new Game Center section of Walmart’s website now allows users to play PC titles using Gaikai’s service for free, according to VentureBeat. If they like the game, they can then purchase it …

Game Republic, the Japanese studio responsible for a string of PlayStation-exclusive games, is believed to have closed down after eight years in business. The studio, founded by Japanese industry luminary Yoshiki Okamoto, is thought to have vacated its Tokyo offices. Its website servers are no longer online. Okamoto’s group built …

NCsoft and ArenaNet have clarified plans for Guild Wars 2 expansions. Earlier today, news emerged that the developer was not planning to release any follow-ups to the upcoming MMO through retail. However, any plans for post-launch content are "still to be confirmed", as ArenaNet is concentrating on completing the launch …

Having effectively issued a profit warning yesterday morning, shares in Europe’s largest video games retailer GAME have dropped to their lowest point in over eight years. At the end of trading yesterday the chain’s shares closed at 38.25p. Its current market cap stands at 131.64m. You have to go all …

Electronic Arts’ Sports division will open a chain of bricks and mortar stores in the US. The first shop – which will house a range of EA Sports games – opens this autumn at an airport in Charlotte, North Calorina. EA Sports told Forbes it hopes to open at least …

Ahead of its AGM today, retailer GAME has admitted that trading to date in 2011 is significantly down on 2010. Choosing to once again blame what it sees as a global slump in the video games market, in the period between February 1st and June 11th GAME’s revenues are down …

Peripherals firm Logic3 has established a new partnership with Gem Distribution. The deal will see the former’s products – including the i-Station, Screen Beat and Top Drive – made available through a wide range of UK retailers. We are thrilled with the opportunity to represent the Logic3 brand as they continue …

If left unchecked the ongoing expansion of supermarkets poses a serious threat to the UK High Street. That’s according to HMV boss Simon Fox, who speaking to The Sun has said that checks need to be put in place to protect British shops. "We have to be very careful about …