High street gaming retailer GAME has been a staple for years across the UK
Signs went up at the remaining locations this week(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
In another setback for the high street, a prominent retailer is preparing to appoint administrators and close its remaining stores. GAME, which shut down its central Newcastle store in 2025, is closing additional locations across the country.
GAME specialises in video games, consoles, accessories, and gaming merchandise. Recently, it was reported that the company filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, initiating a 10-day period during which creditors are temporarily prohibited from enforcing any actions while options are considered.
The company’s final three standalone stores are expected to close in April 2026, according to Express. GAME previously entered administration in 2012 but was rescued several years later, allowing it to continue trading under new ownership.
In central Newcastle, the physical GAME location inside Eldon Square closed in 2025. However, it still maintains its presence inside the Sports Direct store on Northumberland Street.
The store used to be a staple of many high streets(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
In 2019, it was acquired for £52 million by Sports Direct, which later rebranded as Frasers Group. This takeover was intended to stabilise the retailer, but financial pressures have persisted.
Despite this investment, GAME has continued to reduce its presence on the high street and scale back its staffing levels, with most of the head office staff laid off in August 2024.
The retailer will continue to operate through concession outlets within other Frasers Group businesses, with around 200 locations currently trading inside Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores. This allows GAME to maintain a physical presence even as standalone sites close.
At the beginning of 2024, the company withdrew from the pre-owned market, which had long contributed to its revenue through trade-ins and second-hand sales. Later that year, it discontinued its Xbox All Access offering and phased out its customer rewards program.
The wider gaming retail sector has also encountered challenges, as consumers increasingly turn to online purchases and digital downloads via subscription services rather than buying physical copies in-store.
Alongside the insolvency process, leadership changes are occurring within the company. Managing Director Nick Arran is stepping down after nine years in the role. Arran brings extensive experience in physical media retail, having previously worked at HMV, Blockbuster, and ShopTo.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, he said: “Gaming is our core business and we will be last man standing selling physical video games.
“We see our place in the market as proving that there is a place for physical, whether that be the collector’s editions, which we see as the vinyl of video games, or the gifter who doesn’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 this will decline. So we need to fill that gap.
“Expect more locations from us. We are constantly in talks with Frasers Group about where we could open up more concessions.”