British video game retailer Game is shutting its last three standalone shops following its entry into administration last week, ending more than three decades of presence on the UK High Street.

Managing director Nick Arran has left the company after nearly nine years, according to The Game Business. The Frasers Group-owned business will continue trading through its website and more than 200 concessions within Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores.

Game filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators last week after weak sales during the Christmas period. The company has been contracting for several years, closing stores as leases expired and shutting its Basingstoke headquarters in 2024.

The retailer moved most staff onto zero-hour contracts in April before reducing its management team. Last year, Game abandoned its pre-owned games business, Xbox All Access scheme, and in-store pre-orders, whilst recently cancelling some Nintendo Switch 2 reservations.

Frasers Group acquired Game in 2019 for £51.9 million after billionaire Mike Ashley gradually built his stake in the struggling chain. The purchase followed Game's first administration in 2012, which resulted in nearly 300 store closures from a peak of more than 600 UK locations in the early 2010s.

Founded in 1992, Game became one of Britain's largest gaming retailers through acquisitions including Virgin Games, Electronics Boutique, and Gamestation. The company subsequently wound down its pre-order services, trade-in programmes, and customer reward schemes under Frasers ownership.

Arran told GamesIndustry.biz in 2023 that "gaming is our core business and we will be last man standing selling physical video games". He described collector's editions as "the vinyl of video games" and said the retailer served customers "who doesn't want to wrap up a download code for Christmas".

The closures leave Game without a standalone retail presence whilst maintaining its position in physical gaming through concessions and online sales. The company retains access to gaming customers through exclusive items including collector's editions and pre-order bonuses.

Game's contraction reflects broader challenges facing physical video game retail as digital downloads dominate the market. The retailer had attempted to diversify into other products including toys to offset declining physical game sales.

The administration process will now determine the company's future structure and potential creditor settlements. Game previously emerged from its 2012 administration but has struggled to adapt to changing consumer purchasing habits in the gaming sector.

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