Video game stores, closed since Saturday in 16 departments, will be able to reopen.

A decree adds them to the list of cultural goods deemed essential by the government, like books and records.

The sector denounced this difference in treatment on Friday and won its case. 

Video games, not cited as an essential cultural asset by the government like books or records, finally joined the list of authorized businesses in areas affected by the re-containment, one of the unions in the sector announced on Monday.

Wind up against the government after the announcements of Jean Castex, the video game sector had deplored Friday a difference in treatment between the cultural industries, while booksellers and record stores were classified by the government as essential stores.

Video games considered essential cultural goods 

"The good news of the weekend, confirmed this Monday morning, is that the rule of law makes it possible to sell video games. There was a rectification following the words of the Prime Minister, who had announced the books and records as being the only so-called essential cultural goods, "Nicolas Vignolles, general delegate of the Syndicate of Leisure Software Publishers (SELL), told AFP.

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The video game industry recorded in France in 2020 a turnover up 11.3%, to 5.3 billion euros, according to a study by SELL.

For comparison, the book market generated nearly € 4 billion in revenue in 2020, according to Gfk.

Shopping arcade stores remain closed

Finally, following an interministerial arbitration, the decree published in the Official Journal on Saturday authorizes the sale of video games in stores of less than 400 m2 and surfaces of more than 400 m2, under the activity "commerce retail of computers, peripheral units and software in specialized stores ". 

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"It is on the basis of this decree that Fnac opened its specialized departments", explains Mr. Vignolles.

Conversely, video game stores located in closed shopping centers will keep the curtain down.

A situation that affects, for example, the Micromania brand, which has a strong presence in shopping malls.