UK charity shops divert collectible video games to eBay as physical shelves saturate
As charity retailers increasingly auction collectible video games online to maximize revenue, physical store shelves are left saturated with obsolete and incomplete titles, highlighting a shift in the secondhand gaming economy.
Charity retailers across the UK are increasingly diverting collectible video games to online marketplaces like eBay, fundamentally altering the inventory of their physical stores. A recent survey of approximately 40 charity shops reveals that high-value retro titles are now rare finds on the shop floor.
This shift reflects a broader optimization of the circular economy, where charities maximize revenue by identifying and auctioning collectible assets. Consequently, the physical retail space is left saturated with low-value, high-supply items that hold little resale value.
The most abundant remaining stock consists of outdated annual sports titles, such as older FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer games, often priced at 50p or less. Family-friendly consoles have similarly flooded shelves with children's software, including Ubisoft’s Imagine series and multiple copies of Carnival Games, which was present in 65 per cent of visited locations.
Music and fitness games present another hurdle for secondhand buyers, as they frequently lack essential peripherals. Titles like SingStar, Dance UK, and Wii Fit are common, but require separate purchases of microphones or balance boards, which can cost around £10 to £12 on secondary markets to become functional.
Previous-generation blockbuster games, including multiple instalments of Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, and Grand Theft Auto V, also dominate shelves due to their massive original sales volumes. Meanwhile, physical PC games continue to accumulate in stores despite widespread compatibility issues and the dominance of digital distribution platforms like Steam and GOG.
Despite this general saturation, occasional valuable discoveries still occur, particularly in smaller independent or pop-up charity stores. Recent finds include a rare copy of the Japanese role-playing adventure Koudelka acquired for £1, alongside light gun titles and handheld LCD games, proving that the secondary market still holds marginal opportunities for diligent buyers.
