Summary
The writing has been on the wall forUK retailer GAMEfor a while now. The company waspurchased by Sports Direct in 2019and quickly integrated into the Frasers Group, with dozens of stores shutting down in the process and concessions opening in their place. Following this, GAME ended its loyalty card program, stopped in-store pre-orders, and ceased accepting pre-owned trade-ins. It was a huge blow for the UK’s physical video game stores, with no major chain left operating on the high street.
While gamers can still purchase products through GAME online, or in one of its concession stores, there are signs the company could be downsizing even more, with a huge auction appearing listing all of the company’s warehouse equipment, office equipment, and “assets” that include “PlayStation, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PSVR2, and much more.” Oh, and an almost 40-inch GTA San Andreas poster.
UK Retailer GAME Auctioning Off Old Equipment And Assets Six Years After Purchase
The listings, which appeared onNCM Auctionslast week, initially appeared to be auctioning off old warehouse and office equipment, including chairs, tables, a pizza oven, a deli counter, vending machines, shelves, ovens, and more. However, a second auction, set to start next week is likely to raise concerns, with the company selling off a range of consoles.
These consoles, which go live on April 18, include variousPlayStation 5models, excluding thePro,Nintendo Switches, and more.
With an auction like this, you’d hope there would be tons of exciting gaming merchandise from a time gone by, with developers often sending statues and models to retail head offices. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case, with the only piece of memorabiliaa 39-inch poster of GTA San Andreas' CJ, which has certainly seen better days.
It’s unclear whether these items were just part of the GAME offices and are being sold off as the company fully transitions into the Frasers Group or whether there is something more worrying at play.
