UK retailer GAME has begun its Easter sale online and in stores, discounting consoles, games, accessories, and more.
The next gen of consoles are around the corner but how will these affect physical game stores? Life has been tough for typical high street stores that deal in games. If we take the UK as an example, lead retailer GAME has been in the throes of financial trouble for many years. The GAME Group went into administration in 2012 and this led to a restructure and the loss of all Gamestation branded stores. Since then the GAME Group has changed hands a number of times. In 2019 alone they were forced to close 40 stores. Other chains, including regional ones such as Grainger Games have also closed over the last few years.
I'll be honest, I've only been to a physical store on the first year of this gen.
Been digital since then.
I been buying more from Amazon or ebay. GS lost me a long time ago. Even their deals on 4 for $20 have been more miss than hit. If I'm going to a retail store it is a little mom and pop retro type that I'm finding 'hidden gems' at.
Maybe Physical GAME STORES, but not stores that sell games, you will still be able to buy physical at places like walmart, Target, Best Buy and Digitally through Amazon, even Gamestop will probably go online store only.
I still go in to a store and grab my games usually I might snag another title a long with it if the title is on sale or dirt cheap. I also usually go to pawn shops and snag games there that are dirt cheap whether its current gen or even last gen. Or if I am lazy I'll just order off of Amazon but I only go physical I had to go digital because of the COVID crap and I regret it. Game Stop I only like here and there is so I can trade a really shitty game towards a good game the reason why Game Stop is failing is because of their business practices and screwing people over. You buy a used console from Game Stop they haven't gone through it and cleaned it they just take it slap it into a box and just sell it. I'll deal with Best Buy, and if Wal Mart gets the game new which is rare. But I'll use Game Stop as a last resort if the game is sold out on Amazon.
To me it is a matter of service. Gamestores often have pushy or indifferent staff who often just want to upsell you. Their pricing is not always the best and especially in a pandemic, it is easier to buy a digital version online or get a disc via Amazon or Best Buy. I know it is is stock when I order it, I can have it to me in a couple of days or pick up at the store. I only go to Gamestop when we are at the mall mainly to see which posters/displays they have up. I have been by the store twice in six months.
@darkwing
The guy's an a-hole corporatist, but have nothing but positive things to say about the company, as a consumer.
Your game maybe physical, but the store wasnt. "The End for Physical Game Stores"...
As an Australian, buying physical online is the only common sense option.
Digital prices are a complete and utter joke, hence why I would exclusively retro game if enough useful idiots enabled an all digital future.
In store prices are usually $30-$40 more.
GAME have been in financial trouble for years because they charge more than anyone else for games.
When video game stores came out, everyone was so excited because they would always have lots of specific games in stock. But in the past number of years, it seems that people would rather have digital copies rather than hard copies due to the fact that they can re-download the game at anytime.
Replies(4)That preview of the article was a difficult read. Apparently video game stores came out (err.. what?) and everyone was so excited (yes factual info right there). And yes, everyone would RATHER have digital RATHER than physical for the reason of being able to re-download?! What planet does this author live on? Yep, the physical market is crashing because people can "re-download" digital copies. That's exactly it. Get this author a job analysing all of the markets.
Yeah it's dire!
Also Video game stores dont always have "specific titles in stock". They're actually quite bad for getting older games because of the nature of the business, They need to cycle through stocks. Not like they're a library after all.
When video stores they came out... as if written by some complete jack ass that has no idea because they were not there. W the serious F is this shi7?
An article has so much more merit if you are a participant, vs. ignorant observation.
They were SOFTWARE stores that carried games and became more game centric. It was not that exciting because they barely carried any games for every system and you had to drive to multiple stores (including non gaming like department and toy stores) to find what you were looking for IF you were that lucky.
There was an evolution. ebgames /babages/software boutique etc etc. eventually led to the current gamestop model. It sure was not some sudden exciting release/opening like an apple store.
If they close, no worries, the highly skilled employees will find work making youtube videos about how much their life sucked working in retail for gamestop.
Exactly. That was my thought as soon as I read the title. VIDEO GAMES STORES MAY CLOSE. ICE IS COLD.
It was probably either a young inexperienced writer, or translated. At my age, I recall a time before Gamestop existed as well as the internet and cell phones! Imagine that!? I find it sad that they might disappear in the same way as I hate seeing the malls close up. Back in my day, malls were THE place to be. If you wanted a job, all you had to do was stroll into any store and ask the manager. Most of the time they hired you on the spot. Unfortunately, they are becoming more and more rare due to online shopping. Everything is becoming automated and people struggle to find work. Although retail sucks for pay, at least you could socialize a bit and get a discount on clothes and stuff you wanted.
Ebgames/GameStop became too pushy years ago and turned me away. I've talked about this before. I'd rather buy from Walmart or digital than be subject to pushy sales tactics. Their greed screwed them because instead of getting more money from me, I've only bought two games from them in the last two years and nothing else. All my controllers and other games were bought through Walmart, Amazon or digital. No regrets for me because I hate pushy sales tactics. Leave me alone. I know what I want to buy and that's all I'm there for. I've already made up my mind what I want before I go out to get it. They could've still been doing well if they would've had a different way of doing business, but it's too late for that. Digital is the way to go for me from now on.
With the rise of streaming, it does seem like the ability to do game streaming is higher than ever. Will this threaten game stores?
The more time that goes on the more ridiculous the idea of streaming becomes. Why run games server side when an iPhone can already run fortnite at 60fps?
Yes,This has already happened to the music/record and DVD business. The gaming scene could be next. People will sooner or later move over to digital downloads, copies and streaming, instead of physical copies. This is also a much better choice for the future enviroment. The world oceans is already full of plastic garbage already.
I was just saying how game stores best hope is if the rumors of ps5 being backwards turn out to be true then game stores could become like used record stores and people could go dig through bins looking for hidden gems that are disc only.
