GAME, the beleaguered gaming retailer, has begun auctioning off equipment and items from its Basingstoke headquarters, which recently closed as part of its integration into the Frasers Group. This auction features a range of items, including a pirate ship display unit and a football table, as GAME faces job losses and a transition towards becoming a concession within Sports Direct stores. The company is shifting its focus toward selling toys, leading to the loss of its previous customer programs and in-store pre-order options for products like the upcoming Switch 2. The auction items are available for collection only in Basingstoke and reflect the decline of a once-iconic brand in the gaming retail landscape.
What items are available in the GAME auction?The auction includes a variety of items such as a TY pirate ship display unit, a breakroom football table, and a unique CJ poster from Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Bidders will need to pick up their purchases on-site in Basingstoke, as delivery is not available.
GAME has been a significant player in the gaming retail scene for over two decades, with its headquarters now shuttered due to corporate restructuring. The integration into Frasers Group has significantly altered its operational model, impacting thousands of jobs and changing the way gaming products are sold in-store, drastically affecting the customer shopping experience.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Comments
Man, that pirate ship display unit is giving me serious nostalgia for when game stores actually felt like treasure troves. Now it’s just another sign of how digital and big-box retail are steamrolling the old-school gaming experience.
At least the football table might find a good home—somewhere to take a break between matches, unlike GAME’s dwindling break rooms.
It's wild seeing GAME auction off relics like that San Andreas poster—feels like the end of an era for physical game retail. Kinda bittersweet, but at least someone gets a cool piece of gaming history out of it.
The shift to concessions in Sports Direct is such a weird move—imagine grabbing a new game next to some workout gear. Guess the high street's changing faster than we thought.