UK retailer GAME on the brink of redundancies as many workers are moved to zero hours contracts

By now, we’re all aware of the current state of the video game industry. Redundancies and studio closures have become all too common this past year or so, and the bad news just keeps coming. It seems as though the UK retail giant GAME is making staff aware of potential layoffs going forward.

According to a recent report from Eurogamer, staff have contacted the website anonymously to say they’ve been told to expect redundancies. No official word about this has come to light at the time of writing, but it’s been said that most workers are being moved over to zero-hours contracts, which doesn’t guarantee them a specific number of hours each week/month.

This goes for non-managerial staff, and staff have said the company will get in touch via phone or email to let them know about job statuses. Eurogamer has contacted GAME for comment.

Surprised it’s taken this long

At one point, the bricks-and-mortar business was the go-to for a lot of gamers in the UK. It’s been in operation since 1992, with more than 250 outlets across the country.

However, with the shift towards digital gaming, the likes of GAME are struggling to keep afloat in the modern era. In 2019, the company was bought out by Frasers Group, a British retail giant originally operating under the Sports Direct International brand. It was also announced earlier this year that the company would cease its popular trade-in service.

Having been a past employee of GAME, it feels like the last bastion of physical gaming retail stores is about to take its final bow. It’s not certain what’s going to happen to the brand, but the staff will be the ones affected most by the changes. Currently, there’s no information on exactly how many jobs could be cut if layoffs do go ahead.