EA has pulled all new releases from the shelves of GAME and Gamestation stores. This includes the upcoming release of Mass Effect 3, despite the fact that the retailer chain had already accepted pre-orders for the game weeks ago. Other games affected by this include FIFA Street, Tiger Woods 13, and The Sims 3 Showtime.
Those who had the game pre-ordered will be offered store credit based refunds on their deposits and an additional £5 in store credit. Why? GAME has issued a statement to store managers, which can be read below.
EA isn't the only publisher that will not have games appearing in GAME and Gamestation stores in the coming weeks. Nintendo's Mario Party 9 will also not be available on store shelves upon its release for the same reasons.
Those who had the game pre-ordered will be offered store credit based refunds on their deposits and an additional £5 in store credit. Why? GAME has issued a statement to store managers, which can be read below.
"We gave the industry commitments - we committed to integrity and openness in our dealings, and working with everyone equally. We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or supplier," the email reads. "We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - we will not sacrifice long-term credit requirements for short-term sales opportunities.
"As a result of us taking this position - a position that we believe is critical to our long term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision not to stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3.
"As a specialist retailer dedicated to games and gaming, it is never easy to make a decision to stock a title, particularly one with such a strong fan base. But it is imperative that we treat every supplier evenly, that we stick to our commitments, and that we don't sign up to payment terms that will hamper us further in the future.
"As a result of us taking this position - a position that we believe is critical to our long term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision not to stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3.
"As a specialist retailer dedicated to games and gaming, it is never easy to make a decision to stock a title, particularly one with such a strong fan base. But it is imperative that we treat every supplier evenly, that we stick to our commitments, and that we don't sign up to payment terms that will hamper us further in the future.
EA isn't the only publisher that will not have games appearing in GAME and Gamestation stores in the coming weeks. Nintendo's Mario Party 9 will also not be available on store shelves upon its release for the same reasons.
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