UK industry hopeful for reinvented GAME

GAME must become a smaller, more dedicated specialist should it survive administration, says top games publishers.

Earlier this week the chain entered administration and closed 277 stores. Suppliers have told MCV that any new company that emerges must stock a bigger range, reduce its focus on pre-owned and find a way to make money from mobile and social games.

I do hope there will be a phoenix rising from the flames,” said EA’s Keith Ramsdale. GAME is full of good people, it’s a good store. I just think they need a different approach.

A specialist retailer does a lot for this industry. Retail could need to be more multi-format than they actually are.”

Codemasters’ Rod Cousens added: A streamlined network of ‘destination centres’ for packaged goods and digital delivery which takes its lead from Apple stores is just a thought. The industry needs to evolve and move on to bigger and better things and GAME could be in its midst.”

Konami’s Pete Stone told MCV he feels GAME has too many stores, and added: There are other issues that should have been addressed a long time back, such as the in-store experience, depth of range, and online competitiveness, which they need to look at.”

GameStop is believed to be interested in GAME. And a global publishing boss told MCV that the US giant will be a far harder force to deal with: Swapping GAME for GameStop solves nothing. It is a more stable company but also a more ruthless one that’s aggressive in pre-owned.”