GameStop Faces Uncertain Future Amidst Ongoing Store Closures Exceeding 400
Video game retailer GameStop is starting 2026 with a surprising wave of store closures. Recent estimates indicate that around 295 locations have either shut down or are in the process of closing. Just a day later, that figure has surged to nearly 400, with employees bracing for even more closures before January wraps up.
A blog tracking these closures, using employee reports and GameStop’s own store locator, confirms that 390 stores have officially closed, with at least ten more pending confirmation. While not every location can be independently verified, these numbers align with GameStop’s previously announced plans. In a December 2025 SEC filing, the company revealed it had already closed 590 stores in 2024.
The filing states, “We anticipate closing a significant number of additional stores in fiscal 2025.” Although GameStop hasn’t provided a specific figure, the language suggests they may aim to close a number similar to the 590 from the previous year. Online communities related to GameStop are buzzing with employees sharing their concerns about impending layoffs, reinforcing the notion that store closures are a widespread issue.
The SEC filing also outlines GameStop’s strategy to reduce its footprint in international markets, including countries like Austria, Ireland, and Germany. However, all reported closures this year have been within the U.S. The document acknowledges that this strategy may impact short-term sales but is expected to yield long-term benefits.
In recent years, GameStop has been experimenting with its retail strategy. After initially moving away from older games, the company has shifted to capitalize on the growing interest in retro titles through its pre-owned program. Many GameStop stores now feature a variety of products appealing to a broader geek culture, including toys and collectibles. The retailer has also focused on becoming a hub for trading cards, highlighted by a notable event in December where GameStop paid $30,000 for a rare Pokémon card.
Additionally, GameStop has teamed up with the Professional Sports Authenticator division to grade cards for customers, helping to establish their value. In 2025, they introduced a “Power Packs” initiative aimed at creating a digital trading card platform, allowing customers to buy or store graded cards online. The company also attempted to launch an NFT marketplace in 2022, though that venture did not succeed. Recently, GameStop has ramped up its social media presence, focusing on viral content and collaborations with influencers like Casey Neistat and Mega64. Throughout this, GameStop’s stock has seen fluctuations driven by meme investors looking to boost the company’s value, regardless of its performance.
These adaptations, along with investments in Bitcoin, have allowed GameStop to achieve profitability in 2025, even as its stock price continues to decline. An early 2025 SEC filing noted that GameStop operated 2,325 locations in the U.S. at that time. If the company closed 590 stores in 2025 and is now shutting down hundreds more, it could be reducing its physical presence by 20% to 30%. While this strategy may help cut costs, it raises questions about the retailer’s future as a gaming destination. Although GameStop doesn’t seem poised to abandon video games, it appears to be shifting its focus toward more lucrative categories like trading cards.
A GameStop social media account recently remarked, “The world you grew up in no longer exists,” referencing a midnight game release from 2009.
Regardless of the direction, GameStop’s quest for profitability may leave thousands without jobs. Meanwhile, CEO Ryan Cohen has been granted $35 billion in performance-based stock options tied to the company’s growth.
One former employee commented on a thread discussing GameStop’s reward structure for Cohen, stating, “Those people at the top who have never actually worked a retail job just see their employees as numbers on a spreadsheet.”
