GameStop Shuts Down ‘Infinite Money Glitch’ That Boosted Trade-In Values

A YouTuber has reportedly uncovered a method to generate unlimited trade-in credit through a bizarre glitch at GameStop. After posting a video detailing the exploit, the retailer quickly caught on and announced that they have “patched” the issue. It’s unclear if this is a genuine fix or part of some unconventional marketing strategy—or perhaps a mix of both.

On January 20, GameStop shared a detailed statement on Twitter regarding the so-called “Infinite Money Glitch” highlighted by YouTuber RJCmedia. The glitch allowed players to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 for $415 and then trade it back in alongside a pre-owned game, triggering a promotion that inflated the trade-in value to $472. By repeating this process, users could accumulate significant trade-in credit.

GameStop explained the glitch, stating, “In short, our system briefly valued the pre-owned trade more than the new retail cost of the console itself, creating a narrow window where customers could repeat this transaction over and over again to amass infinite trade credit.”

The company declared that “effective immediately, the glitch has been patched,” and noted that “trade promotions have been updated to ensure customers can no longer convert basic arithmetic into an endless revenue stream, and balance has been restored.”

Known for its meme culture and marketing blunders, GameStop concluded its statement by emphasizing its commitment to providing promotions that benefit customers, while also “gently” reminding everyone that its stores are “not designed to function as infinite money printers.”

So, is this glitch for real? RJCmedia’s video appears authentic, showcasing the creator visiting various stores and documenting the trade-in process. There’s a moment where he expresses surprise at a GameStop location closing soon, which could hint at the company’s struggles—something they likely wouldn’t want associated with a viral marketing campaign. The video doesn’t indicate any paid sponsorship, and given the creator’s smaller following, it seems unlikely they would collaborate on a guerrilla marketing effort.

While it may seem odd to scrutinize the authenticity of this situation, GameStop has become quite the enigma lately, so caution is warranted.

In any case, I believe this glitch is genuine, though GameStop’s response seems to be trying to spin it into a lighthearted narrative, reminiscent of last year’s stapler incident. Here’s hoping others managed to take advantage of this quirky bug. Power to the players!