A high street store is closing its remaining standalone shops from April after entering administration – and one fan has visited a branch ahead of its closure to capture a final moment of nostalgia
After 36 years on Britain’s high street, a beloved retailer is closing down its stores after falling into administration. GAME will shut all three of its remaining standalone shops from April, following declining sales as more shoppers switch to online retailers and pre-owned marketplaces. Nevertheless, its website will keep running as usual, while its concessions within Sports Direct and House of Fraser outlets will stay open.
Upon learning the announcement, gamer Harvey, known as @harveybariana on social media, headed to the brand’s Merry Hill branch in Dudley to document one final moment of nostalgia before it closes forever. In a clip, he expressed his surprise at the already-bare shelves, remarking on how transformed the shop appears compared to when he frequented it as a youngster.
He said: “There’s nothing left. I know they’re closing down, but how has everything gone so quickly? Walking around the GAME store, it’s so much different from when I was a kid.
“Who remembers when you could play on the Xbox and PlayStation inside GAME? That was nowhere to be seen.”
GAME has been progressively closing branches in recent years as tenancy agreements ended.
Managing director Nick Arran told GamesIndustry.biz in 2023: “Gaming is our core business, and we will be the last man standing selling physical video games.
“We see our place in the market as proving that there is still a place for physical – whether that’s collector’s editions, which we see as the vinyl of video games, or for gift buyers who don’t want to wrap up a download code for Christmas.
“But we need to be realistic. We have a business to run, and the expectation is that this will decline. So we need to fill that gap.”
Responding to Harvey’s clip, one person said: “This place was my childhood.” Someone else posted: “GAME is just too overpriced – most people just buy used off eBay.”
A third commented: “What about the kids who wanted to work at GAME when they were at school?”
Another user added: “I’m gonna miss GAME. Why do they keep closing stores? They closed the Disney Store too – I was really mad when that happened.”
One more wrote: “OMG, what’s going on? All the stores are going.”
For anyone concerned about unused vouchers and gift cards, GAME’s website explains: “Gift cards and eVouchers are valid for two years after purchase.
“Any remaining balance will be cancelled on the expiration date of the card. Gift cards and eVouchers cannot be used by customers outside of the United Kingdom.”
