The Prime Minister of England, Boris Johnson, has just instituted a lockdown across all of England, closing down all physical shopping until December. This is massive news in the UK, and it may have a negative impact on video games, specifically the Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
The lockdown is set to begin on November 5, and it will last through December 3. This gives shoppers a small window to purchase goodies for the holidays, including only 22 days for Christmas. This also means that the lockdown with be in effect directly during the launch of the next-gen consoles, adding a twist to the console wars of 2020.
Physical stores such as Smyths and GAME opened up pre-orders for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S over a month ago. Many jumped on the chance to pre-order and get in on the next-generation of video games, but this lockdown may shake things up. Retailers will need to think of a plan as to how to distribute their consoles and games (preferably rather than canceling pre-orders), and it may be that they become Click-and-Collect distributors.
Click-and-Collect locations allow for individuals to make purchases online and pick them up in a “curbside pickup” type scenario. Under the lockdown, all non-essential locations are closed, which includes restaurants, certain retailers, pubs, and more. Of course, physical video game stores that may already be struggling fall under this category.
The fact that a nationwide lockdown needs to be in place obviously means that the circumstances have become serious, but online retailers like Amazon may be best suited for times like this. More players are purchasing games digitally than ever as physical stores close down, and more gamers are moving towards an online library. But physical consoles are a bit different, as it’s certainly possible to buy a console online, but not quite as simple as buying and downloading a game.
Many wondered if the coronavirus would result in the death of GameStop and other physical gaming retailers. The situation in the UK is more evidence that the pandemic is hurting this avenue of the gaming world. Retailers adapt, as the Click-and-Collect idea is similar to restaurants finding ways to deliver food or make seating available outside. But even if hurdles can be vaulted, they can also simply stop the forward progression. Physical game sales and the next-gen-consoles may not be quite as successful during the lockdown in the UK, especially if the retailers aren’t able to figure out effective ways to get their products to consumers.
Source: Forbes
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