Westcoast announces trio of gaming partnerships

Following on from announcing an exclusive deal with HTC for its Vive VR platform, UK based distributor Westcoast has signed UK distribution deals with three giants in the gaming market: MSI, Gigabyte and SteelSeries. 

Gaming laptop manufacturers MSI and Gigabyte and peripherals expert SteelSeries have selected Westcoast as their preferred distribution partner for the UK market, further strengthening the company’s standing in the gaming sector.

Westcoast says that the vendors were attracted by the firm’s proven track record, reputation and retail contacts in the computing and gaming sectors and that the three brands are each looking to expand their retail footprint with all major players in the channel. The trio join the likes of Apple, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung in Westcoast’s portfolio. 

Speaking of the deals, Westcoast Retail MD Carl Oxley said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as one of the leading UK gaming distributors by MSI, Gigabyte and Steel Series. The gaming market is growing rapidly with more interest than ever and it is exciting to partner with three of the most innovative and popular manufacturers.”

MSI Channel Sales Manager Neil Reid added that increased demand for its performance notebooks was a driving factor behind the decision to join forces with Westcoast: “Our latest range of gaming laptops are thinner, lighter and more powerful than ever, making them an increasingly popular option in comparison to a desktop gaming rig. We believe establishing a partnership with a true specialist in the field such as Westcoast Retail will help us match and take advantage of this increased demand.”

Gigabyte UK Country Manager Steve Clark agreed that Westcoast is perfectly positioned to distribute its gaming laptops: “We are very excited about adding Westcoast to our distribution network and have worked hard to bring this partnership together. We believe both of our Gaming Notebook brands, Gigabyte and AORUS, will appeal to re-sellers of all shapes and sizes within Westcoast’s extensive customer base.

SteelSeries UK National Account Manager, Richard Fenner, added: “We are seeing dramatic growth in our SteelSeries Portfolio and have decided to work with Westcoast Retail as we are confident that the scale and efficiency of its operation will support and increase our growth.”