GAME Australia to close 60 stores, lose 281 employees

The embattled video game retailer, GAME Australia, commenced its first round of layoffs today with more believed to lose their jobs in the coming weeks.

The embattled video game retailer, GAME Australia, commenced its first round of layoffs today.

In a statement issued to the media, the administrator of GAME, Kate Warwick, confirmed that 281 staff were laid off – 264 from its retail stores and 17 from its head office in Castle Hill, New South Wales. 60 stores will also close across the GAME network. In March of this year, GAME Australia operated 95 stores.

Warwick said: "This is a difficult time for employees and closing the stores was not a decision we made easily. However it is not financially viable to continue to operate at this level at this time.

"PwC has been in touch with the Federal Government Department that deals with General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) and will assist the employees with their applications."

GAME Australia went into administration in mid-May after it failed to find a buyer.

We will update this story when more information is available.