Game to shutter 40 UK stores

Video game retailer Game has confirmed it intends to shutter 40 stores throughout the UK.

To date, 13 sites have had notice served including existing Game sites in Mansfield, Canterbury, Watford, Glasgow Fort and Leicester.

On 8 January notice was served on a further 14 sites impacting outlets owned mostly by Intu and New River. The sites include Derby, Norwich Chapelfield, Lakeside, Bexleyheath and Carmarthen.

Game said it “intends to serve notice on the additional sites in the near future”.

A spokesperson for Game said: “We are working closely with landlords throughout the UK to ensure that we do not have to vacate the 40 locations which could lead to a number of job losses.

“However, we are facing a challenging retail market and Game with its extensive retail footprint, needs to restructure and landlords need to work with us in setting realistic, fair rents.”

Following Sports Direct’s acquisition of Game in July 2019, the sports fashion retailer revealed concerns with the business.

In its full-year report for 2019, Sports Direct said it did not believe that, as a standalone business, Game would be able to “weather the pressures that it is facing which, over the short to medium-term, [it] believes can only become more acute”.

The move will bring Game’s UK estate to 213 stores.