We often talk about it on this blog and during our Twitch streams: arcade closures have sadly become commonplace these days. While Japan is the main victim of this “trend”, other countries are suffering the same fate.

This time, it's the UK that sees one of its arcades shut down after just six months of existence. FreePlay Gaming Arcade had tried an original concept (which may have led to its downfall): by paying £10 for an hour, you had unlimited access to the venue’s twenty-seven arcade cabinets.

Discounted rates allowed visitors to extend the experience at a lower cost, and family or group packages made it easier to organize retrogaming-themed events. A model that, in the end, turned out to be unprofitable for its manager, who had to stop the bleeding before it was too late:

“The last six months have been a real burden, and this experience has drained me, exhausted me, and taken a toll on my mental health,” said Mike Saxton, the arcade’s manager.

“It’s just not working. I wish I could give it more time, as many have suggested, but what people need to understand is that even without income, the bills keep coming. The longer I wait, the more debt I accumulate. And if everything collapses, all my machines will be sold off to pay the debts instead of going back to the bank. I simply can't let that happen.”

And yet, it’s not for lack of quality. Sega Rally 2, House of the Dead, Time Crisis, Pac-Man, The House of the Dead… all of them are legendary arcade titles and highly sought-after cabinets at retro gaming events and conventions.

Apparently, this wasn't enough to attract enough customers to make the venue profitable. It needed around £500 in revenue per day:

“We lose money every weekend, and we barely break even during the holidays. Opening more days just wasn’t feasible. We tried weekdays, and most of the time, our income was ZERO… some days we made £30, £40, or £50. Everyone’s at work or school, and even afterward, people are caught up in their daily lives.”

“What I’ll really miss is the social aspect. People like me, passionate about video games, would stop by the arcade, and we’d get into long conversations – I’d often end up giving them an extra hour for free.” Saxton confides, heavy-hearted.

A sad conclusion in a world where arcade gaming still struggles to make a comeback in physical venues.

Source: Time Extension / Dorset Echo

Images: FreePlay Gaming Arcade