Best Buy Europe has strengthened its UK launch plans by appointing Centresoft to exclusively handle all gaming products, MCV can reveal.

The deal includes PC games as well as all console software and hardware – except Microsoft first party products, which are handled in the UK by Gem.
It is understood the deal does not incorporate other types of software, such as anti-virus and utility programmes.

The first Best Buy megastores are due to hit the UK in the early part of next year. The European division that will oversee them is jointly owned by The Carphone Warehouse, which has been ramping up its interests in the PC space over the last year with an increased emphasis on computer and technology retailing within its existing network of stores.

The move is widely expected to cause a stir amongst the UK technology retail market, due to Best Buy's dominance in the US and the sheer economic weight it can put behind its growing European operation.

Best Buy recently reported Second Quarter Revenues of $11 billion – a 12 per cent increase, and has subsequently increased its fiscal outlook for next year.