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With the online game business more and more shifting towards a ‘digital-only’ enterprise, there was some rumor and hypothesis constructing recently that online game retailers, resembling GAME, might doubtlessly cease promoting bodily video video games altogether within the close to future.
Reviews have been circulating that GAME is on the point of make adjustments to its enterprise mannequin and begin solely promoting bodily sport models and {hardware} units by way of its web site, with pre-orders, deliveries, and in-store collections additionally being obtainable.
Nevertheless, players will probably be glad to know – particularly these collectors on the market – that for the reason that report was launched, GAME has already responded and the UK’s largest gaming retailer has acknowledged that the knowledge is fake and that the reporting was not true.
The corporate has assured its prospects that it’s going to stay devoted in its dedication to the bodily sport market and can proceed to supply the total extent of bodily sport availability, together with all of the {hardware}, software program, present playing cards, and collectibles too, all of which is able to stay obtainable each in-store and on its web site.
Nevertheless, even with GAME’s assertion of dedication to the bodily gaming business, {the marketplace} is generally outdoors its management and it would simply be a matter of time earlier than we begin to see some critical adjustments to how players purchase their video games.
These adjustments are literally already effectively underway and a few shifts in GAME’s enterprise practices this yr are proof of it. For instance, GAME began to terminate its trade-in and pre-owned gross sales aspect of the enterprise in January, and earlier this month ceased its Xbox All Entry program and loyalty reward schemes.
The online game retailer has acknowledged on a number of events that, if want be, it’s prepared to be the ‘final man standing’ relating to promoting bodily video games and believes there’ll all the time be a spot for bodily video games, whether or not it comes within the type of gaming memorabilia just like that of a vinyl report retailer, or in collectors and limited-edition releases.
With that mentioned, a time may very well be quick approaching when players are not capable of purchase bodily copies of video games and must rely solely on digital copies saved on their console or PC’s laborious drive.
What do you suppose? Is that this one other signal that the golden age of gaming is now over? Or is downloading video games on to your console with zero problem and manufacturing prices proof that gaming is progressing and evolving in the appropriate course?
