Anish Vij
I'm not the only gamer who misses queuing outside the local GAME at midnight for the latest edition of FIFA, now named EA Sports FC.
But in the digital world we live in today, we don't really need to buy physical discs anymore.
With the PS5 'Digital Edition' and numerous other consoles going disc-less, the need to go and buy physical games is simply no longer there.
Due to online sales and the cost-of-living crisis, the entire retail market has arguably suffered and GAME is no exception.
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GAME are, of course, known for selling consoles, video games, accessories and mobile phones.
However, the UK video game retailer with a reported 240 branches - which has closed a number of shops in recent years - is about to close four more.
According to The Sun: "Store closing, all stock must go," signs have appeared in its Rugby store, whilst branches in Exeter, Witney and Huntingdon are set for closure next month.
Witney and Huntingdon stores are set to shut on January 7 and 14 respectively.
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"That’s genuinely devastated me that," one resident said, as another added: "So sad to hear yet another Game shop is closing."
"Such a loss to the already diminishing high street," a third penned, while a fourth agreed: "It’s a shame been using this place for over ten years."
GAME has also recently closed three shops in Plymouth, Cambridge and Newport, Wales.
LADbible has contacted the Frasers Group - who own GAME - for comment.
However, it's not all doom and gloom for the high street, as music and entertainment retailer HMV opened the doors of its historic Oxford Street store last month after a four-year absence.
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The retailer was rescued from insolvency by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records business.
The entrepreneur said the chain has returned after striking a better deal with the shop’s landlord.
“It is a pretty great moment for us, coming back here after four years away,” he said
“When we bought the business, we couldn’t keep the site because the rates bill and rent just didn’t make any financial sense.
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“Getting another location in London was an immediate priority and as it became more obvious that the rent and rate situation here had improved and the landlord was open to discussions, we just felt it would be the right move to come back to somewhere with such history to us.”
The shop stocks more than 4,000 popular culture merchandise lines, some 20,000 vinyl albums and CDs, in excess of 8,000 4kUHD, Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as music technology products.