It’s been clear for a while now that high-street retailer GAME were looking to take PC gaming more seriously. Having invested heavily in Multiplay and the iSeries LAN gaming even here in the UK, as well as other gaming ventures around the country, they’ve been a big player in helping the eSports scene across the country. Now it seems they’re going to be bringing premium PC gaming, glorious PC gaming if you will, right into the heart of their retail stores, a big win for PC gamers!
“GAME, the UK’s leading video games retailer, and Overclockers UK, the UK’s leading PC gaming hardware specialist, have joined together in a partnership that sees an extensive range of exclusive gaming PCs, components and accessories available in selected GAME stores* and online at GAME.co.uk/pcgaming, from Friday 4th December.” said OCUK in a recent statement.
What’s great is that you’ll be able to trade in products against the new PC hardware available in store, such as your console can be traded for something shiny, like a new PC! While you can also spread the cost with GAME Finance and earn 2% back on every purchase with the GAME Reward scheme.
“Over the next few weeks the partnership will increase further with the integration of GAME Wallet into Overclockers UK’s website (www.overclockers.co.uk), enabling gamers to spend their GAME Reward points and top-up and trade-in credit directly with Overclockers. In 2016, Overclockers UK will also launch GAME’s PC digital content range for sale on the Overclockers UK website making it easier than ever for gamers to access the retailer’s range of over 3,000 digital PC products.”
GAME’s Basingstoke and Trafford Centre (Manchester) stores will be the first two stores to introduce interactive Overclockers displays, and it is expected that many more will follow in the coming weeks and months, with staff on hand to give technical advice, support and more.
Charlotte Knight, GAME Retail’s UK Managing Director, said: “As the UK’s leading gaming specialist we are constantly working to enhance our offer in every area of gaming, making gaming more accessible to the widest community possible. This exciting new partnership with Overclockers epitomises our dedication to this, and particularly within the PC gaming category. Overclockers UK’s reputation for high performance PC hardware proceeds them – their fantastic in store and online offering through GAME will immediately enhance our offer for PC gamers, giving them access to a huge range of specialist PC products with the added benefits that shopping through GAME brings.”
Steve Ling, Overclockers UK’s Executive Director, said: “The combination of Overclockers UK’s expertise and the retail estate of GAME is the ultimate way to introduce and demonstrate gaming hardware to a wider audience. By working with GAME we can give customers somewhere to experience PC gaming on the high street outside of our Newcastle-Under-Lyme store. We’re also excited to expand our product range to give customers digital content through the Overclockers UK website. We also have future plans on giving customers the option to purchase using GAME Wallet”.
Miodrag Relic, Caseking’s Business Development Director, said: “Caseking Group through Overclockers UK are excited to be in a long term partnership with GAME. Starting with presence on the high street, we are looking to combine the strength of Caseking and GAME to gain a larger share of the PC gaming market, even beyond UK shores. There are more exciting things to come”.
Having personally worked in GAME myself before working for eTeknix, and being close friends with the guys at OCUK, and a PC gamer, I’m happy to see this partnership hit the high streets. There’s little to no consumer friendly presence in the UK from any major highstreet retailer when it comes to PC gaming, at least in my opinion, and it’s a good thing to see that trend slowly changing.
For more information, head into your one of the GAME stores above or visit: http://www.game.co.uk/pcgaming
