Asmodee (the company that parents FFG) just announced at GAMA that they would become their own game distributor in the US. Check this out!
ICv2 interviewed Asmodee at GAMA and in addition to announcing some price hikes, they will distribute their own games now as well. This is coming on the heels of closing their sales offices they shared with Alliance Games Distribution recently.
Summer 2019: Trade Sales Team Office Closed
You may remember last summer an email was sent to stores that purchased FFG/Asmodee’s products through distribution. It looks like their dedicated sales department closed permanently and retailers then had to order through the main Alliance Games Distribution network.
FFG Asmodee Shaking Up Gaming Distribution In USA
However, fast forward to the latest, it looks like Asmodee just cut ties with Alliance and will become its own primary distributor.
“In a series of moves that upends the hobby game distribution landscape in the U.S., Asmodee USA is becoming a full distributor, selling direct to retailers in all channels and carrying non-exclusive lines, and switching its sub-distributor relationship from Alliance Game Distributors to ACD Distribution”
So Alliance Games is out, and ACD distribution is in. These changes are set to take place this summer on July 1st 2020.
“Asmodee’s current exclusive contract with Alliance Game Distributors expires on June 30, Asmodee Head of North American Distribution Andre Kieren explained to ICv2 in an interview, leading to the implementation date for the new distribution model on July 1, 2020.”
Interesting Plays Call For an Interesting Outcome
With Asmodee more or less cutting out the middle man and becoming their own distributor, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly retailers can get their products going forward.
Do you think Asmodee will be in a better place once they finally settle down? What do you think could have prompted these big shifts?
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