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Bericht: GameStop schließt Anfang 2025 alle Filialen in Deutschland

Einem Bericht zufolge schließt die Kette GameStop Ende Januar 2025 ihre verbleibenden Filialen in Deutschland.

www.computerbase.de

Translate from German to English

The US company GameStop, which sells video games, consoles, accessories and merchandise in its stores, will close all of its stores in Germany on January 31, 2025. This was reported by Games Wirtschaft, citing people familiar with the decision. There is no official statement yet.

The approximately 500 employees affected, according to information from summer 2024, are said to have been informed throughout Germany on Thursday. Suppliers have also already been informed.

A farewell in installments
The end of the GameStop stores in Germany was an end in installments. The Group had already parted ways with more than half of its 200 stores by 2023.

The number is also decreasing internationally: while there were still 5,700 stores in 14 countries in 2019, there were just under 4,200 in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France and Germany at the beginning of 2024.

On the retreat in Europe
GameStop currently still operates 69 stores in Germany and a temporary pop-up store in Berlin. The German company headquarters in Tannheim, Baden-Württemberg, also functions as the European headquarters.

After the Group closed its stores in Austria in 2023 and sold its stores in Switzerland and Italy to Cidiverte (Gamelife) from Italy in 2022 and last week respectively, only France will remain as a European location from February 2025 as things stand.

 

[Deerock71]

 

[od-chan]

I was somewhat surprised by the reactions to this. I understand taking delight in some mega corporation failing, but Gamestop isn't this giant in europe that it is in the US. They were actually somewhat of an underdog and brought well sought competition to the likes of MediaMarktSaturn. Sure their stores and offers are shit, but having SOME competition is better than having NONE. So it's actually somewhat sad to see them go.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

I'm surprised Gamestop is still in business, even in the US.

 

[poodaddy]

 

[Elios83]

They have sold all the stores they had in Italy as well.
It's over.

 

[MikeM]

Seeing this makes me sad. One more nail into the physical coffin.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I'm surprised Gamestop is still in business, even in the US.

Company loses tons of money the past 5-10 years, but cashflow wise and balance sheet was always pretty good to weather a storm. The company used to have solid financials and even paid a decent dividend at one time.

Every time the stock meme ride perks up they unleash a ton of shares building up the warchest again. AMC does the same thing. Although Gamestop has rebounded the past year and around breaking even. So if all goes well with the recent trend they arent going anywhere.

 

[Griffon]

 

[Magic Carpet]

Where will you be trading in your PS5 for the Pro?

 

[Darchaos]

Who?

 

[Bieren]

Went into a GS for the first time in ages a few days ago. Less than half the store was dedicated to gaming. The rest was “collectibles” and random crap. It felt like a Spencer’s that happens to sell games.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

Happy for all the third worlders out there.

I kid I kid

 

[Darsxx82]

....for large dedicated video game stores. The physical format generates less and less and online video game stores offer the same or better with just a click. The future is predictable.

 

[nowhat]

Where will you be trading in your PS5 for the Pro?

At the local brick and mortar game store, where I've always had both better prices and better service.

Also tabletop nights with figurines if you're into that kind of thing. I'm not, but I appreciate those that have the dedication.

 

[Skifi28]

I hear Antarctica is the land of opportunities, I wouldn't bother with Europe either.

 

[GymWolf]

Hopefully they don't close the shop where i go before i get my ps5 pro disc drive from them...

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Went into a GS for the first time in ages a few days ago. Less than half the store was dedicated to gaming. The rest was “collectibles” and random crap. It felt like a Spencer’s that happens to sell games.

I was at the mall a week ago, passed by a Gamestop and right at the front of the store they were selling red and green xmas sweaters. Not even branded with video game content. Literally generic Xmas sweaters you buy at a clothing store.

They sell all that collectible and clothing junk because it's high margin knick knacks compared to selling games and consoles.

What they could do is expand their board game selection. There arent many specialized board game stores in my area and the ones I've been in usually have decent foot traffic and an area for people to play card games. It always seems there's people in them browsing, buying or at tables playing something.

But I'm going to guess selling $50 board games dont have the profit margins like selling funko, coffee mugs or video game tshirts. So they wont bother.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

I was at the mall a week ago, passed by a Gamestop and right at the front of the store they were selling red and green xmas sweaters. Not even branded with video game content. Literally generic Xmas sweaters you buy at a clothing store.

They sell all that collectible and clothing junk because it's high margin knick knacks compared to selling games and consoles.

What they could do is expand their board game selection. There arent many specialized board game stores in my area and the ones I've been in usually have decent foot traffic and an area for people to play card games. It always seems there's people in them browsing, buying or at tables playing something.

But I'm going to guess selling $50 board games dont have the profit margins like selling funko, coffee mugs or video game tshirts. So they wont bother.

Niche stores like that only make sense in big cities. Your average provincial city mall doesn't have enough people interested in board games.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

I was at the mall a week ago, passed by a Gamestop and right at the front of the store they were selling red and green xmas sweaters. Not even branded with video game content. Literally generic Xmas sweaters you buy at a clothing store.

They sell all that collectible and clothing junk because it's high margin knick knacks compared to selling games and consoles.

There is a Gamestop still open near me... I'll have to go by and see what they are trying to sell.

 

[Rodolink]

time to redeem my 30€ gift card on used games

 

[kazuyamishima]

People always want GS/EB Games to close.

But most of the other stores here in Australia are shit regarding trade-ins.

The Best Buy like store (JB Hi-Fi) offer a maximum of $10 trade-in credit for every new release.

 

[Rodolink]

I mean before it was like heaven going to these stores, now they just sell funko and apparel, and manga?.. sadly

 

[Esppiral]

Why the distinction between Germany and Europe? Lol.

 

[Vick]

They have sold all the stores they had in Italy as well.
It's over.

I had no idea they were sold to Gamelife, as GameStops in my area are all going super strong as always.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Bericht: GameStop schließt Anfang 2025 alle Filialen in Deutschland

Einem Bericht zufolge schließt die Kette GameStop Ende Januar 2025 ihre verbleibenden Filialen in Deutschland.

www.computerbase.de

Translate from German to English

The US company GameStop, which sells video games, consoles, accessories and merchandise in its stores, will close all of its stores in Germany on January 31, 2025. This was reported by Games Wirtschaft, citing people familiar with the decision. There is no official statement yet.

The approximately 500 employees affected, according to information from summer 2024, are said to have been informed throughout Germany on Thursday. Suppliers have also already been informed.

A farewell in installments
The end of the GameStop stores in Germany was an end in installments. The Group had already parted ways with more than half of its 200 stores by 2023.

The number is also decreasing internationally: while there were still 5,700 stores in 14 countries in 2019, there were just under 4,200 in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France and Germany at the beginning of 2024.

On the retreat in Europe
GameStop currently still operates 69 stores in Germany and a temporary pop-up store in Berlin. The German company headquarters in Tannheim, Baden-Württemberg, also functions as the European headquarters.

After the Group closed its stores in Austria in 2023 and sold its stores in Switzerland and Italy to Cidiverte (Gamelife) from Italy in 2022 and last week respectively, only France will remain as a European location from February 2025 as things stand.

You are the next target

 

[StreetsofBeige]

They probably still have that COD Black Ops card game.

I remember years back that card game was everywhere in the store.

 

[Lorianus]

Cant exploit your workers without rights and work them for peanuts in europe i guess, same reason walmart canceled its venture into germany after only a 9 year period and 3 billion in losses.

 

[Ronin_7]

GameStop has never been big in Europe honestly.

Seems like more United States focused.

 

[Spyxos]

Ha i have ps5 pro from gamestop. Does sony now cover the warranty or am I screwed?

 

[demigod]

 

[Sooner]

I'm surprised Gamestop is still in business, even in the US.

They're closing left and right in Tulsa. But, this was the test-bed to switch the stores into Internet Cafe type gaming spots. They did this right before Covid and they were doomed from the start.

There is one regular GameStop at a mall. Every other in the city metroplex became a gaming Cafe/birthday party place. Many of those have closed, with the others seemingly in trouble.

Safe to say, this won't be the idea that saves the company.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

The memes about trade in values stop being relevant a while ago. They give good value (+50%) as long as you are trading in toward a preorder or game that was released within the last two weeks. I’ve traded in some games for more than I paid. Also, there is no sales tax charged on games paid with store credit. I got seven day-one games fully paid this year by trading in only 11 games.

 

[Goalus]

The ever-growing physical games market just got larger.

 

[SHA]

Who's next? Virgin?

 

[Moses85]

 

[deriks]

It's a shame

I mean, the employees as a whole sucks now, but until the early 2010s it was a place to have for real gaming people

...and those days are over

 

[cireza]

Makes sense. After it is called Gamestop for a reason.

 

[Davevil]

we have all been here before

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

 

[RCX]

 

[adamsapple]

I had no idea Gamestops were outside of US or Canada

 

[Big Baller]

I had no idea Gamestops were outside of US or Canada

 

[Kerotan]

This is a big blow for second hand physical consumers. CEX doesn't have any competition where I live now for trade ins whether it's discs or consoles.

 

[WoJ]

I want physical media to stick around, but I seriously don't know how gsmestop is in business. I had $400 worth of gamestop gift cards I had initially been saving to buy the Switch successor, which I thought would be this year.

I'm no longer convinced gamestop will be around long enough for me to actually buy a switch 2 through them so I used them this week to add to my backlog.

 

[VolticArchangel]

Good for Germany and Europe.

The downside here is the 500 employees being out of work, and hope they land back on their feet, assume EU laws are strict enough for a severance package for a few months.

 

[DAHGAMING]

Yea go on, fuck off.

 

[Mercador]

TIL Europe is a country like Germany

 

[ungalo]

They're doing pretty good in France. 600 millions in revenue, 10 millions net income. So they still exist in Europe.

 

[Schmendrick]

They will leave the US and Canada too when they follow blockbuster.