EB Games Confirms It’s Game Over For New Zealand
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EB Games will shut down all of its New Zealand stores and its distribution centre, bringing an end to its operations in the country by the end of February. The decision was confirmed in a letter sent to staff last week, with the company citing ongoing financial struggles and a lack of viable solutions to remain in business.
The 38 stores across New Zealand will close their doors for good on 31 January, while the distribution centre will cease operations on 28 February. EB Games, owned by US-based GameStop, currently operates 336 stores across Australia, but the future of these locations remains unclear, as no information has been shared with staff about any potential impact.
In a message to employees, EB Games Australia & New Zealand managing director Shane Stockwell said the New Zealand business had experienced a “multi-million dollar loss during the 2024 fiscal year” and was “no longer commercially viable”. Despite efforts to turn things around, the company ultimately found no sustainable path forward.
“We are saddened to be in this position having already made significant and repeated efforts to turn the business around,” Stockwell wrote. He also confirmed that several third parties had approached the company, but none offered workable proposals to keep the business operating in New Zealand.
The company said some New Zealand employees may be able to transfer to roles in Australia. However, the exact number of jobs being lost has not been disclosed.
A large-scale clearance sale began at 1pm on Thursday, offering 50% off all items, including retro merchandise, with some products priced as low as $3. The sale drew huge interest from customers nationwide.
In stores, queues stretched around shopping malls, with hundreds eager to grab final bargains. One shopper at Westfield Riccarton in Christchurch described the experience as “pretty slow”, noting the uncomfortable heat and humidity caused by the crowd.
Online shoppers faced long wait times too, with the company’s website introducing a virtual queue to handle the surge in demand. Some customers reported waiting up to three hours just to access the site.
The closure marks the end of a familiar brand for many Kiwi gamers, leaving a gap in the local gaming retail landscape.