Is It Just Me or Is EB Games Running out of Games to Sell?

tallkid123 on 26/06/2021 - 09:27
Last edited 26/06/2021 - 11:53 by 1 other user

I popped in to my local outlet yesterday afternoon. There was the usual SALE signage all over the front entrance but when I walked inside, there were barely any games?

From memory, the PS4 section had been mostly cleaned out with stock being discounted preowned titles. The Xbox One area looked even smaller although the Switch section was the same size as usual.

Otherwise, it was a lot of space and shelves dedicated to merchandise (like Zing) and overpriced computer peripherals.

Anyway, what's stock looking like in your local stores?

Gaming

Related Stores

EB Games Australia
EB Games Australia

Comments

  • MrThing on 26/06/2021 - 09:42
    +2

    EB will go the way of blockbuster

    eventually the only thing they will sell is gaming / anime figurines and consoles

    every game will be softcopy downloadable from the relevant gaming systems

    • tallkid123 on 26/06/2021 - 09:47

      That reminds me of back in the early 2000s when EB used to sell anime DVDs.

    • jimbobaus on 26/06/2021 - 11:22
      +4

      Eb games Australia is the only profitable part of the GameStop group.
      Zing and their focus on diversifying into pop culture in eb stores etc is actually been quite the success.

      Eb games might not sell games long term but they are not going anywhere.

      • Topdog on 26/06/2021 - 12:33

        correct, they are changing there business model more and more every day, they might not even be called eb games soon, but there not going anywhere. Plus also its new generation of consoles, they got at least 5+ years left in gaming, and we dont know what next gen will be like. but yes assuming it will be disc less. But, it might be another type of removable media that we need to use. who knows.

        • This Guy on 26/06/2021 - 15:26
          +1

          Moving to exclusively media-less will fracture the userbase and force anyone with poor internet to move a competitor. I doubt they will move from optical, as while the initial cost is higher than a digital interface, cost per installation media is significantly cheaper.

    • Cynicaloflife on 26/06/2021 - 16:27
      +1

      I hope EB don’t go away :/

      Their game prices are expensive but I have fond memories of window shopping in their stores. They used to be my go to place when I was younger, in a shopping centre and had time to kill.

      I remember GameTraders and GAME used to be huge. But they are all gone now from my state :/

    • RichardL on 28/06/2021 - 14:44

      eventually the only thing they will sell is gaming / anime figurines and consoles

      One of my local EB Games, was merged with a Zing Pop Culture. The majority of the store is now Merchandise.

  • markathome on 26/06/2021 - 09:48
    +2

    Video games have nothing to do with the video game retailing business.

    Now don't you worry about Gamestop subsidiaries, let me worry about blank.

  • pegaxs on 26/06/2021 - 10:13
    +1

    Microsoft obviously don't pay enough for shelf space or location as Nintendo do. Most of my local~ish EB games stores, the front section is 2/3rds of a wall on Nintendo Switch. Then there is 1/3 a wall of PS games… Along the back wall is a small, in the corner, obscure selection of xbox games about 1m and a bit wide. I like it, it's probably MS's way of saying "(fropantiy) you" to stores like EB. Why pay for shelf space for games you are giving out as part of the gamepass?

    But damn, Nintendo, you must have some marketing dollars to spend. I know why when the same game on Switch at $89 is on PS for $39 or less.

  • FireRunner on 26/06/2021 - 11:26
    +1

    PC games have been steadily shrinking. They used to have a decent section, probably larger than the Wii U when that was around (before the Switch). Now my local has less than 10 games tucked behind a shelf no one sees. Probably due to less PC games getting a physical release. There's been more PC accessories which are a complete rip off.
    As for consoles, now that you mention it, it does seem like they've shrunk. Maybe they're not getting as much stock.

  • Tech5 on 26/06/2021 - 11:35

    PC games now is just a disc with the installer and CD key. You still have to download the game

    • FireRunner on 26/06/2021 - 11:49

      If you're lucky. Nowadays they usually send you an empty case with the download code.
      It seems even this is disappearing in favour of purely digital sales

      • pharkurnell on 26/06/2021 - 12:06

        …. in favour of purely digital sale

        thats only a matter of time isnt it?

        • FireRunner on 26/06/2021 - 12:21
          +1

          Yeah, I guess it doesn't matter too much in the PC area since you're almost always locked to one DRM or another
          You could get some pretty good deals when places like EB Games decided to clear out they're stock though.

          Consoles on the other hand, physical copies actually count for much more.
          I can kind of understand some people buying only digital only - it's more convenient not needing to swap discs/cartridges and you might have nowhere to store them.
          However, people who push for digital only console and want the whole industry to shift to digital baffle me.
          Why would you want to limit options like that? It's like saying I wish all stores would close except Amazon because I find them convenient.
          I know manufacturer's are pushing digital only so they can cut out the middle man and are free to charge as they please on their digital store which is why gamers should be resisting this rather than promoting it

          • pharkurnell on 26/06/2021 - 12:52

            @FireRunner: Digital or DVD - They can charge what they like now. Nothing gamers can do… like everything in life, you pay up or you miss out. MS and Adobe have run with this for few yrs now and prices havent exploded

            Im a console gamer, TBH dont care if i get a disc or not but life is easier without discs

            YMMV

            • FireRunner on 26/06/2021 - 13:09
              +1

              @pharkurnell: With disc you get to shop around at retailers for the best price, not to mention second hand copies.
              It makes no sense to limit yourself to only the digital store.
              If there's enough resistance to an idea then manufacturer's will listen. For example, Microsoft trying to increase the price of Xbox Live subscription recently was met with outrage that they rescinded the price hike

              • relentless on 26/06/2021 - 14:02

                @FireRunner: They then announced free to play games wouldn't require subscription.

  • chcse on 26/06/2021 - 13:37

    I've noticed this as well. There used to be a lot of PS4 stock on shelves in a few of my local stores, but over the last year or so, they've had sales which sold a lot of the stock but haven't replenished the same amount. I don't have interest in their t-shirts, accessories and other stuff so it's a bit sad when I go in and there's not much games to browse around for.

  • djones145 on 26/06/2021 - 17:53
    +2

    profits are from selling used games, but these are slowly diminishing and previously parent didnt know better and would just rock up with a credit card and buy any game their kids want

    parents these days are more likely to be gamers and know where to buy games cheaper and not used games at eb games

    they are in trouble

  • Cluster on 26/06/2021 - 18:16

    EB Games will transition to selling Funko Pops and Pokemon cards. The future of all game retailing is 100% digital.

  • The Value on 26/06/2021 - 20:13

    TBF, it's that generation transition time. I don't think EB want to have too many last gen games in stock and new-gen games are slowly trickling in.

    Covid too. Game spending has rocketed over the last 12 months.

  • orangetrain on 26/06/2021 - 20:48
    -1

    Time to short the stock by 200%+

  • BHolyCow on 27/06/2021 - 01:41

    Been a while since I walked into an EB Games store, let alone purchase a game from them. Last game I bought was Battlefield 5 for like 50 bucks when it came out, which was just a digital download anyways. If I ever do end up going to EB Games, it's probably only for the pop vinyls now, they really seem to know what they are doing in terms of licensing very popular movies/tv and anime series. Also since when did EB Games have same day delivery? I buy online once every blue moon, but last week I bought some stuff and saw the same day delivery for the first time.

  • Tal_Shiar on 27/06/2021 - 23:47

    it's e3 time, so it's not like there is a lot of games releasing, they're being announced. There has also been a lot of great sales on… On top of that some EB's are bang average anyway

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