GameStop appears to be quietly closing a significant number of stores across the United States, often without advance notice, leaving loyal customers surprised and disheartened. While the company has not made any official announcements about an acceleration in store closures, reports from employees and customers about recently closed or soon-to-close locations have been steadily surfacing on social media since the start of the year.
Why is GameStop closing stores?
The wave of closures reflects GameStop’s losses as it struggles to adapt to a changing market following a shift towards digital downloads and game streaming.
Which GameStop locations are closing?
The company has not announced specific closings, but discussions on social media platforms reveal closures and planned closures in cities across the U.S. The company reported in March of 2024 that 287 stores had been closed in 2023.
How many GameStop locations are there?
The company peaked in 2015 with more than 6,000 global locations. By February 2024, the total number of GameStop locations had dropped by nearly a third. There are currently 2,915 GameStop locations in the U.S.
Other major closures this year
Retail in the U.S. has struggled over the past year, with many businesses reporting significant closures. Big Lots and Party City are going out of business, and chains like Walgreens, Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, TGIFridays and 7 Eleven are closing hundreds of locations in the U.S.