GameStop is starting off 2026 by shuttering hundreds of stores permanently. The sudden move has come by surprise for many GameStop customers and employees, who are now voicing their frustration and confusion online.
GameStop's finances and successes in recent years have seen significant shifts with ups and downs. The company has tried multiple times to pivot and improve its circumstances, bringing on new board members, focusing on non-video game products like Pokemon TCG cards and various collectibles, and so on. The company has also closed a number of locations in the past, but now more are joining the list in 2026.
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GameStop is Shutting Down Around 300 Stores
Now, GameStop has revealed to employees and customers that many of its locations are closing. The news seems to have arrived without any prior notice for many of its employees, with some claiming that they found out that their job location would be shutting down the same way customers did: through a sign pasted on the front door. Some of the GameStops have already closed, but closures are expected to continue through January 14. The aforementioned sign tells customers where their closest GameStop location is, with a 20% Trade-in Bonus on games and accessories for the remainder of the month at the alternate store location. Those who have pre-ordered products through GameStop locations that are closed or closing can typically pick them up at their next-closest GameStop, though buyers will want to check with their individual stores to confirm. This follows GameStop store closures in 2025 and years prior.
Plenty of people have come out of the woodwork to decry the store closures. Many have criticized the way the announcement was handled, with some complaining about the lack of notice in advance, while others are more upset about the notion of tacking a coupon on a store closing sign while the employees are struggling with losing their jobs. Some have also been furious at this change because the current CEO of GameStop, Ryan Cohen, could potentially earn a pay package worth $35 billion in stock options.
GameStop Location Closures
According to a community-run page chronicling the GameStop closures, 296 locations are confirmed to be closing, with another 58 unconfirmed at this time.
Game Stores Keep Disappearing
Another common sentiment among those commenting on this development is that they now lack nearby game stores entirely. The next-closest GameStop listed for some locations is more than half an hour away, which isn't feasible for some fans, especially when the convenience of video game digital distribution and online purchases are at a player's fingertips. GameStop is likely primarily closing stores that were underperforming or cost too much money to run due to issues like high rent, but as more players end up in video game store deserts, the trend towards buying physical games — especially at brick and mortar locations — may continue to diminish.
For many, buying games in-store is a time-honored tradition and something that they have fond memories associated with. Many gamers have found games that they might not have discovered if not for spotting it on a store shelf at random, for example, while others think back fondly to lining up in the middle of the night to grab a new console or game at midnight. Of course, buying games in physical stores also has its drawbacks, like being unable to find what one's looking for, or having to wait in long lines to close a purchase. There are pros and cons on both sides, but without game stores, players lose the opportunity to make that choice for themselves.
