Once a staple and standard for gaming, the arcades have been a decaying medium across the world. Now even in Japan, where they thrived the most, many revered attractions have been shuttering their doors. The Ikebukuro GiGO, which has been in business for 28 years and during the golden age of the gaming industry, will be closing down September 28, 2021. A statement was released by SEGA regarding this news:

SEGA Ikebukuro GiGO will be closed on September 20, 2021 (Monday / holiday) due to the expiration of the fixed-term building lease contract for the facility and the renewal of the building.
We will do our best to make our customers enjoy themselves until the end, and we appreciate your continued patronage.

In 2020, SEGA closed its Akihabara arcade Electric Town, as the rise of the coronavirus hemorrhaged business, effectively bringing an end to the massive electronic store complex that served as a fantastic tourist attraction. The pandemic has been devastating for many businesses, and in-person public venues like arcades are very likely on their death throes. The once hustling and bustling game rooms of thousands are reduced to mere dozens, as patrons in Japan aren't looking to pack tight spaces, even with sterilization measures in play.

"The fact that even big arcades are going out of business one after the other shows the situation's severity", Morihiro Shigihara, a journalist and former arcade manager, told AFP when speaking on the troubles the retro arcade industry is facing. 

SOURCES: AFP, Hypebeast