GAME Ends Video Game Trade-In Program: What This Means for Gamers
Hey there, gamers! Big news in the world of video games: UK high street retailer GAME is pulling the plug on its video game trade-in program. Yep, you heard that right. Starting from February 16th, you won’t be able to trade in your pre-owned games at GAME anymore. They’ll still sell the remaining pre-owned games until they’re gone, though.
CEX: The Last Stand
Now, this might come as a shock, but after GAME’s exit, CEX will be the only major UK retailer accepting pre-owned games. It’s unlikely to change anytime soon since CEX’s entire business model revolves around pre-owned stock. So, they basically have a monopoly on the prices they can set. Sure, there are online alternatives like Music Magpie, but let’s be real, they’re just not as convenient as strolling into a shop and trading in your old games.
The Rise of Digital Dominance
Now, let’s talk about why GAME made this move. The market for physical video games has taken a nosedive on all platforms, except for the mighty Nintendo Switch. Last year, a whopping 82% of sales for games like Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy XVI, Diablo 4, and F1 2023 were digital on launch week. Crazy, right? It seems like we’re rapidly moving towards a digital-only gaming era.
But hold on a second! Going digital isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Recently, content provider Discovery decided to end its license with PlayStation, causing hundreds of shows to be yanked from the owners’ libraries. Now, Sony faced a lot of backlash for this, but guess what? It wasn’t actually their fault. The Terms of Service on many platforms clearly state that if a content provider decides to remove their content, the platform itself is under no obligation to reimburse the purchasers. Ouch! And you know what’s even more painful? We all blindly agree to these terms without even reading them. Apple’s Terms of Service is a prime example:
“Content also may be removed from our Services at any time (for instance, because the provider removed it), after which it cannot be downloaded, redownloaded, or otherwise accessed from Apple.”
Scary stuff, right? Thankfully, after a few days of outrage, Sony managed to convince Discovery to update their license, and the content remains online. Crisis averted, for now.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this? Well, it’s clear that the gaming landscape is evolving, and as gamers, we need to adapt. Whether it’s saying goodbye to beloved trade-in programs or dealing with the risks of going all-digital, we must stay informed and prepared.
That’s it for this update, fellow gamers. Keep your controllers charged, your headsets on, and your game faces on. Stay tuned for more exciting news, tips, and discussions on the ever-evolving world of gaming!
Source: Eurogamer