Game (retailer)

GAME Retail Limited
GAME; Game Digital
FormerlyRhino Group
Company typeSubsidiary
ISINGB00BMP36W19 Edit this on Wikidata
IndustryGaming
Founded1992; 32 years ago (1992) (as Rhino Group)
FounderTerry Norris
Bev Ripley
Number of locations
250+[1]
Area served
United Kingdom
Spain
Ireland
Key people
Nick Arran
(Managing Director)
ProductsGame consoles
Video games
Accessories
Mobile phones
Number of employees
1990+
ParentFrasers Group
WebsiteGAME

Game Retail Limited (doing business as GAME) is a British video game retailer, owned by Frasers Group since June 2019.[2]

The company's origins lie in the founding of the Rhino Group by Terry Norris and Bev Ripley in 1992. A number of mergers and acquisitions followed during the 1990s, and in 1999, the company was purchased by Electronics Boutique Limited, which rebranded itself as The Game Group.[3] The company continued to expand during the 2000s, purchasing several retailers including Gameswizards in Australia. In 2007, its parent company purchased its rival store, Gamestation.[4]

In March 2012, several suppliers, including publishers Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Capcom refused to supply their latest products due to concerns over Game's creditworthiness.[5][6] Game subsequently entered administration on 26 March 2012,[7] and was purchased by OpCapita the following week.[8] Baker Acquisitions was subsequently renamed Game Retail.[9] The company reported a £10.4 million loss for the 12-month period from July 2016 to July 2017 in its full year results.[10] In the corresponding 2015–2016 period, the company had a net profit of £7.1 million.[11]

In June 2019, Game agreed to a takeover of the company by Frasers Group for £52 million.[2] The group have since closed down most of the standalone Game outlets, reopening these as concessions inside nearby House of Fraser, Sports Direct, Brand Max and Lillywhites stores, as well as expanding Game's online business.[12]

In January 2024, the retailer announced it would phase out trade-ins and pre-owned games by February.[13] Of its 363 stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland, 64 are standalone.

In June 2024, the retailer announced it would be ending its reward point scheme in July 2024.[14]

  1. ^ "How many branches of GAME are being closed, and why they're shutting". 13 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Nazir, Sahar (24 June 2019). "Game agrees to £52m Sports Direct takeover". Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  3. ^ "The GAME Group plc". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  4. ^ "GAME leaps on £74m Gamestation buy". Morningstar UK. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  5. ^ James Thompson (13 March 2012). "Game on the brink after it says shares may have no value – Business News – Business". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Game Group hit as some suppliers refuse to do business". BBC News. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  7. ^ "PricewaterhouseCoopers Media Centre – The GAME Group plc, Game Stores Group Limited, Gameplay (GB) Limited, Game (Stores) Limited, Games Station Limited, Game (retail) Limited, Gamestation Limited – in administration". PricewaterhouseCoopers. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Purchase was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Katherine Rushton (12 May 2012). "Game's flagship store threatened with closure". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  10. ^ https://www.gamedigitalplc.com/~/media/Files/G/Game-Corp-V2/documents/results-reports-presentations/2017/full-year-results-2016-17.pdf Archived 18 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ "2017/18 Full Year Results" (PDF). Game Digital plc. 8 November 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  12. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (6 March 2021). "GAME owner Mike Ashley hits out at "near worthless support package" for retailers". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  13. ^ "UK retailer GAME is "phasing out" trade-ins and pre-owned games". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  14. ^ Starkey, Adam (3 June 2024). "GAME reward points and Elite Membership will no longer exist after July". Metro. Retrieved 4 October 2024.