Report - GAME to close 35 stores, shut down Gameplay.co.uk

MCV is reporting that GAME is to close 35 stores and shutter its online retail site Gameplay.co.uk.

All Gameplay customers will need to use Gamestation.co.uk starting on March 1. Gameplay was acquired by GAME in 2004, but was pushed out oft he limelight by customers when Gamestation relaunched its sites last year.

The store closures are part of the ones already announced by the firm and the 610 GAME and GameStation High Street stores will be reduced to 550 by Christmas 2013.

"So that all of our customers can enjoy the benefits of the new online platform that we launched last year, Gameplay customers will be served through Gamestation.co.uk from March 1st 2012, including customer support for their purchases," said a GAME spokesperson

"All new orders will be directed through gamestation.co.uk from that date. We’re talking to our customers who access our online community through Gameplay about this today, and look forward to welcoming them to the growing community at gamestation.co.uk."

The firm also has a plan in pace which will help customers find another local store and it will do its best to rehire staff at other locations - if possible.

To help organize the changed, the firm will be deploying a new IT system which will fully connect its online services with physical stores. More information on the new services provided by the new internal tech will be made available next month.

GAME confirmed to VG247 yesterday evening it wouldn’t be stocking Ubisoft’s Vita launch lineup, including Rayman Origins, Michael Jackson: The Experience and Lumines; and it also switched pre-orders of the special edition for Mistwalker Wii RPG The Last Story to standard editions ahead of its release in the UK on Friday.

The firm said it “cant stock” every game, but said titles currently unavailable to buy could end up on store shelves in the future.