GameStop has hinted that a big announcement is coming soon, but unlike most teases, a lot of people seem to have no idea what it means. The video game retailer remains one of the last vestiges of a time long past, when brick-and-mortar stores were the primary source for video games, consoles, and related paraphernalia. And to say that GameStop has long been struggling to stay afloat would be an understatement.
In fact, many are still surprised that the formerly ubiquitous gaming retailer is still around, and a lot of gamers are glad that it’s hanging in there. Its official and permanent closure would be the end of an era, a time of midnight game and console launches, browsing shelves for sales and new releases, and trading in precious games for 98% less than they were bought for.
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Recently, GameStop announced a plan to place more emphasis on trading cards, as that niche market has so far provided the company with its first profitable opening quarter since 2019. And many people are speculating that the teaser video posted on the company’s Twitter page on June 15 is related to that shift in focus. The footage has a decidedly retro feel, however, not one that brings to mind trading cards.
What Is GameStop Teasing in Its New Video?
In it, the GameStop mascot bunny, sporting sunglasses, bounces into frame with an arcade store center screen. Viewers have spotted other retro-themed hints as well, including a neon bunny sign reminiscent of Pac-Man, a poster that resembles the Ghostbusters logo, a blurry image that may be the “hang in there” cat, and a car that closely resembles a Lamborghini Countach, which was produced between 1974-1990. There is also a related page on the GameStop website, which currently only says “Something is coming” and has a spot to subscribe for updates.
Another running theory is that the teaser will ultimately lead to an announcement about a GameStop retro-themed cryptocurrency. As recently as March, an SEC report revealed that GameStop is planning to close even more stores in 2025 and also intends to invest in Bitcoin. For many people, this shows how desperate the gaming retailer is to remain solvent, but the announcement was met by a very brief uptick in stock value. In contrast, GameStop’s confirmed intention to expand into trading cards caused its stock price to drop.
Yet one more possible explanation of the teaser video has to do with Limited Run Games, a company that releases limited quantities of physical editions of games, including collector’s editions, rare games, and titles that are otherwise only available digitally. In November 2024, Limited Run had a temporary partnership with GameStop. Select brick-and-mortar locations of the gaming retailer has begun to sell retro games, and Limited Run made physical editions of 16 classic titles available at these stores for the holidays. Perhaps, speculate some, the joint venture was successful enough that it may become a permanent one.
- Date Founded
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January 1, 1984
- Headquarters
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Grapevine, Texas, United States