Gamers are shocked as a department store chain stops selling video games – rumors immediately debunked

THERE has been a shift away from physical video game sales as more and more gamers buy their games digitally.

Last year Tesco stopped offering games in its stores and now a report claims a major chain store could follow suit.

According to a report from Gfinity Esports, British retailer Game plans to stop selling physical games and gaming hardware in stores.

Citing sources close to the retail chain, the report claimed that physical copies of games and gaming hardware would be available in stores based on pre-orders only.

As gamers reacted with despair to the announcement on social media, Game was quick to refute the story, confirming to Eurogamer that its stores would continue to sell boxed games.

A Game spokesperson said today’s earlier reports were “categorically false” and that the retailer “continues to support the physical games market.”

The chain confirmed that nothing would change for in-store and online sales of boxed copies, and that it would continue to offer “a wide range of physical games”.

Game will not stop selling gaming hardware, accessories and digital gift cards, in its physical and online stores.

The retailer’s statement is reassuring for fans of physical media who are concerned about constant rumors about the demise of boxed games.

In an interview earlier this year, publisher Ubisoft’s director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, warned gamers to get comfortable with not owning their games as physical sales decline and digital subscriptions and live gaming are on the rise.

UK fans of physical discs were already dealt a major blow when Game confirmed earlier this year that it planned to shut down its second-hand games business.

As of February 16, 2024, game stores no longer purchase used games, and players wanting to trade in their old games for other titles have fewer options to do so.

Late last year, Game closed a handful of its 240 UK stores, in Witney, Oxfordshire, Plymouth and Cambridgeshire.

If you’re looking for more games, check out a hugely popular 2024 game that could be coming to PlayStation consoles.