Virtualand, one of Singapore’s biggest video-game arcades, will close its 14,000 sqft (1300 sqm) flagship outlet at Bugis Junction on January 3.

It has been at the shopping mall for 18 years, and is in talks to move elsewhere, says The Straits Times.

Meanwhile, its machines and staff will be redistributed to other outlets, says business development manager Vivian Tan of TKA Amusement, which runs the Virtualand chain as well as Star Factory outlets.

There are three other Virtualand arcades – at Clementi CityVibe, Nex in Serangoon and Tiong Bahru Plaza – and two Star Factory outlets, in Century Square and Jurong Point.

A Bugis Junction spokesman says IT retail chain Challenger will take over the Virtualand space with a new flagship store, due to open in the first half of next year. It will complement the Challenger outlet on the mall’s third level, and feature experiential elements and in-store pickup for products bought on its tech marketplace Hachi.tech.