GameStop is one of the largest, if not the largest retailer of console video games in the world. With over 6,000 retail stores in The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, GameStop aims to serves the many needs of gamers worldwide. Offering the latest titles, the newest consoles, and a large selection of pre-owned games, GameStop does exactly that. Founded in 1984 in Texas, GameStop has now become an eminent force in console gaming. But, what else does GameStop do? We are going to look at 5 things you probably didn’t know about GameStop.
5. GameStop owns EB Games.
You have probably seen an EB Games (formerly Electronic Boutique) store in your local shopping mall and have thought “hmm maybe I can get a better deal at this store than I can get at GameStop, since they are a large corporation that wants to take my money”. Well sorry to break it to you, but EB Games is also GameStop. As GameStop grew larger and larger, they wanted to take as much control over retail gaming market as possible and acquired EB Games in 2004 for about 1.4 billion dollars. This acquisition was a good move for GameStop as it allowed them to break into the Australian, Canadian, and European markets. It is interesting that GameStop still kept this brand name as you will often find an EB Games store in close proximity to a GameStop store at your local shopping mall.
4. You can trade in your games at GameStop
“What are you talking about? This is common knowledge and one of the focal points of GameStop” you may say. Well believe it or not, in a recent interview with GameStops president Tony Bartel, he said that only about 40% of people who walk into a GameStop store knew that they can trade in their video games. This seemingly unbelievable fact is apparently true. Blame it on poor marketing by GameStop or uninformed consumers, not many people know they can trade in their games at GameStop.
3. GameStop has their own magazine: Game Informer
Game Informer was a magazine that was first published in the early 90’s and provided consumers with game reviews, news, and facts about the latest and greatest video game titles. GameStop wanted to diversify their brand more so the purchased Game Informer in the early 2000’s. This purchase gave GameStop an additional revenue stream and allowed them to break into this new market. Game Informer subscriptions can be purchased at any GameStop stores who provides customers with added incentives to purchase the magazine, such as higher trade in values for games and Reward points.
2. They have their own browser based video game website: Kongregate
Looking to break into the popular HTML 5 and browser based Adobe Flash video games, GameStop acquired the San Francisco based company Kongregate in 2010. Kongregate is a website that allows consumers and user to play a variety of free-to-play browser based flash games on your computer. Kongregate is a great website that allows up and coming video game developers to display and host their games. When GameStop acquired Kongregate, it gave a chance for Kongregate’s game developers to promote their games in GameStop stores, giving them more publicity.
1. GameStop operates a prepaid cellphone company
That’s right, in addition to video games, GameStop also sells cellular phones and tablets under the AIO wireless brand and the Spring Moblie brand. Working with AT&T, GameStop wanted to offer consumers prepaid cellular devices in their stores and they did exactly that. Introducing yet another revenue stream in the form of wireless devices was yet another way that allowed GameStop to diversify itself from its competitors.
Photo by Ethan Miller
