GAME not stocking Mass Effect 3, future EA titles
The latest sign of significant trouble for UK retailer Game: it won't have Mass Effect 3 to sell for next week's launch. An internal memo obtained by Eurogamer also reveals the retailer is canceling pre-orders on upcoming EA titles FIFA Street, Tiger Woods 13 and Sims 3 Showtime.
"Last week we held an event for our publishers in the industry and explained the challenges we are facing in the short term - and we asked for their support," Game channel director Tom Devine wrote. "We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - a position we believe is critical to our long term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision to not stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3."
Game tried to spin its missing Ubisoft Vita launch titles last week, but no amount of voodoo is going to get folks to ignore that Mass Effect 3 isn't available at the retailer.
Earlier this month, Game cut 46 jobs from its headquarters as part of a massive restructuring to save the company. The financial situation is so dire, and the impact on publisher profits from the UK significant enough, that both EA and Take-Two mentioned the retailer's condition in recent financial calls.
It's going to be even more difficult for Game to climb out of its hole if publishers aren't confident enough to provide the retailer with product.
