GameStop, the Texas based video game retailer, is preparing for another wave of closures in 2025. The company, which has been a staple in the gaming industry since opening its first location in Texas forty years ago, announced this week that a “significant number” of its locations will shut down in the 2025 fiscal year. However, it did not specify which stores will be affected.
GameStop currently operates 3,203 locations worldwide, with 2,325 in the U.S. and 347 in Texas alone. The company’s latest closures are part of a broader “store portfolio optimization review” to assess market conditions and individual store performance. This review led to the closure of 590 U.S. stores in the fiscal year of 2024.
“We have also initiated a comprehensive store portfolio optimization review which involves identifying stores for closure based on many factors, including an evaluation of current market conditions and individual store performance,” GameStop stated in its recent filing. “While this review is ongoing and a specific set of stores has not been identified for closure, we anticipate closing a significant number of additional stores in fiscal 2025.”
The closures come amid a broader downturn in the retail industry, with a recent Business Insider analysis projecting that over 2,000 stores across major retail chains will shut down in 2025. This uptick in closures, surpassing last year’s figures, highlights the growing struggles of brick-and-mortar retailers, particularly in Texas, where several well-known chains are already downsizing their presence in malls and shopping centers.
To diversify its assets, GameStop also announced plans to raise $1.3 billion to acquire Bitcoin (BTC), signaling its continued interest in alternative revenue streams. However, it remains uncertain how this strategy will impact its core retail operations and whether it will provide relief from the company’s ongoing financial struggles.
With Texas home to hundreds of GameStop locations, the impact of these closures will be deeply felt by employees and local communities. As the company continues to evaluate its store portfolio, many wonder what the future holds for the once-dominant gaming retailer.
