Trading in second-hand video games has been a tried and tested method for many years, but UK retailer GAME may be about to end the practice. That’s according to staff, who say it could be ending soon.
No comment from the company yet
According to a recent report from Eurogamer, several people working at numerous branches of GAME say the trade-in of physical copies of games will be stopping on February 16.
At the time of writing, the FAQ section on the company website says “consoles, games, and gaming accessories” can still be traded in. This suggests there’s yet to be an official announcement about the change if, indeed, it is going ahead.
It’s no secret that the gaming industry has all but moved heavily towards digital technology over the years, so this move may not come as a surprise. GAME giving up buying second-hand titles will likely make way for other retailers, such as the tech and media outlet CEX, to pick up additional trade-in business potential.
Beginning in 1992, GAME grew to be the biggest name in gaming for the UK market. Although the company went into administration in 2012, it was saved by the British private equity firm OpCapita. In 2019, it was bought by Fraser Group – owner of House of Fraser and Sports Direct.
However, standalone branches have struggled to stay open, many of which now exist as concessions inside other Fraser Group stores.
GAME has not yet commented on whether it will no longer be allowing customers to trade in software. If it does, this will be another nail in the coffin for physical media.
