Walmart in talks to buy GAME?

Supermarket giant Walmart could be set to acquire GAME, according to trade publication MCV.

GAME has reportedly put itself up for sale to avoid collapse and American corporation Walmart is apparently in acquisition talks with the struggling UK retailer.

The firm is seeking a buyer in a last-ditch bid to raise cash to meet a quarterly rent bill due in two weeks. Failure to do so could see GAME enter administration and jeopardise 10,000 jobs.

The acquisition could prove fortuitous for UK gamers if it goes ahead – Walmart currently owns ASDA, which could lead to the same competitive prices and special offers being touted in GAME stores as in ASDA. 

According to reports, retail restructuring group Hilco is also looking at GAME’s international assets, which include operations in Spain and Australia, but isn’t interested in its UK portfolio.

GameStop was recently linked with an acquisition of GAME’s Iberian operations. Meanwhile, retail turnaround specialist OpCapita, a private equity group that acquired Comet, is also said to be considering looking at GAME’s UK assets.

In other GAME-related news, the retailer has today confirmed that Kid Icarus: Uprising is the latest title to join the list of games they won’t be stocking. GAME has now lost the support of Nintendo, EA, Capcom and Tecmo Koei, meaning it hasn’t been able to offer recent releases such as Mass Effect 3, Street Fighter X Tekken and Mario Party 9, and won’t be stocking upcoming games including FIFA Street, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and Ninja Gaiden 3.

The retailer said in a statement on Monday: “The Board of GAME is working actively to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. This includes ongoing discussions with suppliers, seeking access to the original facility or alternative sources of funding, and reviewing the position of all of its assets in the UK and international territories.

“It is uncertain whether any of the solutions currently being explored by the Board will be successful or will result in any value being attributed to the shares of the company.”