EB Games closures in New Zealand spark questions for Australia: what’s changing, what isn’t

EB Games closures Australia surged as a search term after the retailer confirmed all New Zealand stores will shut by January 31, 2026, with the NZ distribution centre winding down by February 28. The announcement has raised understandable concern among Australian shoppers and staff—yet the key point for now is clear: Australian stores remain open and continue to trade as normal while the company restructures across the Tasman.

EB Games Australia today: open, trading, and watching the NZ wind-down

EB Games’ Australian network—paired with its pop-culture sister brand—continues to operate. Management has positioned Australia as a comparatively resilient market thanks to a broader mix of merchandise (collectibles, hardware accessories, board games) and a robust pre-owned trade cycle that offsets softer demand for new boxed games. While store counts can fluctuate as leases roll and formats evolve, there has been no fresh announcement of mass closures in Australia tied to the NZ exit.

What Australian customers should know right now

• Stores and online: Australian shops and the AU website are operating as normal; NZ customers will be directed online to AU channels after the NZ shutdown.

• Pre-orders and warranties: Australia handles its own orders and after-sales; existing AU pre-orders, gift cards, and memberships are unaffected by the NZ decision.

• January noise vs reality: The end-of-month NZ deadline is creating headlines; Australians should expect day-to-day service to continue locally.

Why New Zealand is closing—and why Australia looks different

The NZ network faced sustained losses and a tougher retail backdrop, prompting a full market exit on a rapid timeline. Australia, by contrast, has leaned deeper into higher-margin pop-culture categories and trade-in economics, reducing reliance on new software sales alone. That diversification—plus larger-format stores in some catchments—has historically been the differentiator that kept the Australian arm more durable.

That doesn’t make Australia immune. Two structural headwinds remain:

1. Digital delivery: Day-one downloads, live-service updates, and subscription libraries reduce foot traffic for discs and cartridges.

2. Price and logistics pressure: Big-box rivals and online marketplaces continue to squeeze price points and freight margins.

Even so, the Australian business has shown it can shift inventory mix quickly (collectibles, peripherals, PC components, board games), refresh floor layouts, and run trade-in events that bring customers back into stores.

A quick history: Australian closures vs strategic resets

Shoppers may recall selective Australian closures earlier in the decade, when underperforming sites were culled as part of an ongoing portfolio review. That was a targeted pruning, not a retreat from the market. Since then, the retailer has emphasised:

• Larger hybrid locations that combine gaming with pop-culture (“store-within-a-store” concepts).

• In-store experiences—midnight launches, event weekends, and trade-in drives—to keep physical retail relevant.

• Membership and loyalty to lock in repeat visits around hardware cycles and collector drops.

The distinction matters: New Zealand is exiting entirely on a set date; Australia continues a slow, data-driven optimisation of where and how it operates.

What to watch next in Australia

• Lease renewals and format shifts: Expect occasional consolidations where two nearby stores are rationalised into a single, larger footprint with expanded merchandise.

• Trade-in promotions: If consumer spending stays cautious, look for more aggressive credit multipliers and “stackable” trade deals to stimulate upgrades ahead of 2026–27 hardware refreshes.

• Click-and-collect growth: With NZ online orders flowing to AU systems, Australian fulfilment and click-and-collect could see incremental volume; watch for expanded pickup lockers and back-room capacity.

• Holiday cadence: The retailer will be judged on back-to-school tech and mid-year sale performance; both periods are crucial for cash flow and inventory turns.

Practical FAQs for Australian shoppers

Are EB Games stores closing in Australia right now?
No broad closure program has been announced in Australia alongside the NZ exit. Individual store changes can still occur case by case.

Will AU gift cards, pre-orders, or warranties be impacted?
No. These remain valid within Australia and are handled under Australian systems.

Can NZ customers use AU channels after January 31?
Yes—NZ shoppers will transition to AU online support and ordering once physical stores in New Zealand close.

Should I expect clearance sales in Australia because NZ is closing?
Clearance activity tied to the NZ exit is localised to that market. Australia runs its own promotional calendar; any markdowns here will follow AU inventory needs.