The Gamestop retail chain has opened Gamestop Retro stores in the United States. The name says it all: it's all about console classics and matching games. The company is thus continuing to focus on transformation.
After its near-bankruptcy, Gamestop seems to want to recover economically with a realignment. A few weeks ago, the retail chain, under the leadership of Ryan Cohen, had brought in several billion in funds through stock market trading. Recently, in a so-called 8-K notification to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company made it public that it no longer needed credit. With this, the Gamestop management seems to have added another building block to the company's restructuring.
In any case, there has been a lot going on at the retail chain. The CandyCons and accessories are well received by the community, and there also seems to be a new focus on trading card games and trading in "graded" cards to generate sales. The obvious idea: fans can sell their cards in Gamestop stores, the prices are usually lower than on the previously known TCG trading platforms, but you get the money immediately.
The Business of Nostalgia
Now Gamestop seems to be taking another step to boost sales. For weeks, the company's social media channels have been repeatedly talking about how valuable physical game boxes are for fans - and how interchangeable game streaming or digital downloads are at the same time. Gamestop is thus highlighting what fans of physical game boxes have long thought: only those who actually have a game in physical form at home actually own it. Gamestop is now linking this with Gamestop Retro stores, which will initially be opened in the United States. It is currently unclear whether the company will expand into other markets with the idea.
The retro store is all about console classics and the games that go with them. Specifically, titles for NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, N64, DS, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox, Xbox 360, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Saturn and Sega Genesis are available. The portfolio is also enriched with hardware and retro controllers.
There aren't many shops yet, but the launch has already taken place. Fans can check online on the Gamestop website to see where there is a store near them.
The idea has been well received by the community. Retro and nostalgia trigger pleasant feelings, especially among wealthy mid-forties and older gamers. Many then remember their gaming careers, in which the console classics usually played a key role. For Gamestop, the move towards physical retro offers is a fitting one anyway, after all, the retail chain is known for selling second-hand titles like no other gaming store. This has led to weak sales, among other things, due to the industry's push towards digital games. With the resurgence in the popularity of physical games, Gamestop could now be hitting a nerve.
It remains to be seen whether the retail chain will ultimately be able to prevail against other platforms in the used market. On-site offers at least make browsing interesting again.
Gamestop has not yet released any official information about the retro stores. Fans are currently waiting for this, as well as the launch of a very likely marketing campaign to promote the business.
The market for gaming hardware grew by around seven percent in 2023, according to figures from the "Game" association for Germany alone. Consoles in particular proved to be a sales driver: the final figure was an increase of 44 percent to around 1,1 billion euros. This also includes retro consoles, whose popularity continues to grow. Interests in the games segment have shifted slightly in recent years: it is no longer just AAA titles that are popular with fans, but often pixel games or indie games that are reminiscent of the old days of video games.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Koch Media Retro Games TheC64 Mini * | 65,99 EUR | ||
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Funko Mega Man 8-Bit Pop! Vinyl Figure #13 GameStop Exclusive * |
59,90 EUR |
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