Gamestop to close Irish operations

Jordan 199

I went into my local Gamestop on Saturday to pick up Resident Evil 4 Remake, and it was busy enough. The first thing I bought in that shop was a chatpad for my Xbox 360 controller and that was back in 2012 or 2013 (pretty sure it was 2012). I bought three consoles in that shop (PS4 Pro, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X), collector's editions, controllers etc. Did a good few trades there aswell.

I do have good memories of that shop and I will be sad to see it go.

Potential-Monke

I still think people don't get the trade in offers that Gamestop had. Smyths was a consideration of mine, but when they stopped taking trade ins, the only gaming related thing I bought from them since is the Logitech G29 (which Gamestop didn't stock at the time). With the older Level system, you could get great deals on upcoming releases, things like up to 50% extra trade in credit once you add your benefits at Level 4. I believed the place was on the way out about a year ago when they stopped Levels and introduced Pro instead, a massive step down and, like the decisions of the people who run the company, was not thought up of by someone who's into gaming.

They were cheaper for me for nearly everything with the trade ins. Streaming/subscriptions will be the main way in the future, and already that had slowed down my spending. I was no longer spending €20 here and there on a game I wasn't sure on, instead waiting for these games to be included in some subscription at some point, and they usually are. But Gamestop were the best, for me, for getting new releases for around €35.

PopePalpatine

My nearest GameStop got replaced with a Holland & Barrett, the Vinyl Pop crap got replaced by a different kind of crap.

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410522#Comment_120410522

Maybe they should have teamed up. Gamestop feat. Holland 'n' Barrett.

A place where you can get Call of Duty and multivitamins 😄

martyos121

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120411969#Comment_120411969

Every new release comes with a month’s supply of Vitamin D to make up for all the sunlight you’ll miss out on.

dublinman1990

The retail units around the old Gamestop store in Dun Laoghaire became a plethora of unsustainable cafes and restaurants which were opened just a few years before Covid.

I think one of them became a local credit union during the pandemic.

Even the local Golden Discs only closed down in the area due to the lease closing down last month.

Aokay

I'll definitely miss GameStop when they leave mostly because of their trade in promotions that were just asking to be abused sometimes. Managed to get brand new releases for significantly cheaper just by buying games on sale to then trade in for a higher amount in credit. I'm surprised they lasted this long as they must have so much excess stock of used games that people have zero interest in.

dublinman1990

Take this with a pinch of salt but Gamestop staff were apparently told, via a poster on Reddit, that Gamestop in Ireland will close their stores in late July. That would be a month after the complete closure of Argos.

dublinman1990

HMV are planning to open stores in Europe later this year. I am not sure if there could be an Irish store and website included in the plans at the moment. There are no locations announced yet.

Their European store plans were announced alongside their upcoming re-opening of their old UK Flagship store in 363 Oxford Street.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-65417131

But this news with the impending closure of Argos and Gamestop to take place in the summer which is very bad news for any Irish video gamer that uses a physical games console.

It would be an amazing bit of news to see if HMV can get a few stores back open again in Ireland in the near future.

RGARDINR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120534606#Comment_120534606

Only thing last 2 times they were here I believe they really messed the staff over when they were closing down

dublinman1990

Is there any hint of irony that HMV are planning to open stores in Europe once Gamestop are closing them down over the next few months?

If HMV do get to open here again; I do see one good and one consequence to take from it.

It would create a good backup for video gamers here if they want to buy discs or cartridges for their consoles.

The bad thing is HMV are copying the exact same strategy that Golden Discs are offering to their customers here. Although Golden Discs are doing this without providing the video game products to sell to their Irish customers at this current time.

Does this type of situation create the backdrop to allow Golden Discs to add new video games for sale from their stores without the need for HMV to come over here again in the near future?

Ubbquittious

Soon there will be no more physical shops, no more offices and we'll still have a housing shortage

RobbingBandit

Definitely Irish stores opening for HMV the jobs are already being advertised rumours of GAME reopening too but these are different companies to the ones that were here before in that they have been bought out or taken over so same name but different owners now.

I for one would be glad of bricks and mortar stores to shop in and pick stuff up in as internet shopping is just not for me. Seemingly both Gamestop and Argos will both be completely gone by June 25th Argos are closing their first Dublin Store in two weeks Stephens Green. GameStop looks to be having a clearance sale starting soon but Argos apparently won't be.

dublinman1990

That is great news about HMV is about to come back here. Do you have any idea about which stores they are opening this year?

Even hints of the return of GAME coming back here is good news as well. Although GAME is now owned by Mike Ashley, who is the owner of Sports Direct, both here & in the UK.

The GAME stores are already integrated with Sports Direct in the UK as in some cases when you buy the latest FIFA Game; you get it with a football jersey as an added extra.

Killinator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120536538#Comment_120536538

I was one of those staff, we had to sit in (Limerick) to get anything.

Can't see why anything would change and would expect them to be closed again a few years after opening, they had no idea how to go with the times and had no interest in listening to staff on the ground who were telling them what customers actually wanted

RobbingBandit

Indeed.ie is advertising for staff for HMV no particular details of the specific store locations

GAME in Newry were telling me about the Irish store potential reopenings on Friday all rumours right now but the talk is with the gap in the market again.

HMV and Xtravision closure was handled very badly when that happened so was GAME it's strange to think of HMV reopenings as dvd and Blu-ray is pretty much dead Vinyl is doing extremely well but who knows if they sell games I will spend my money. GAME would work in that they'd be the only one taking trade in against new games but again It's all up in the air right now as to what's going to happen.

Big Gerry

I can't say I'm supervised its closing down.

The video game industry has got like the movie industry were they have franchises that just keep repeating the same sh1t year after year.

Greyfox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120540978#Comment_120540978

The games industry is far healthier than the film industry and still produces plenty of originality, the issue is every game that gamestop sells can be got cheaper somewhere else.

RGARDINR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120540775#Comment_120540775

Sorry to hear that. Yeah I remember the staff got screwed over. I saw people in Henry St store who got screwed over 1st time round back working with them again 2nd time round and same crap happened to them again. I always thought why go back and work there a 2nd time when hmv literally screwed you over 1st time round.

Killinator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120541778#Comment_120541778

Thanks

When it first happened it was owned by the English side and they basically used the Irish stores to prop up their failing UK stores until it all came crashing down.

The 2nd time around the Irish HMVs were basically a seperate company to the UK ones so the belief was that they'd be run differently (and a lot of the old staff were re-hired). Unfortunately it was still the same kind of people managing as the first spell so it ended the same way.

Thankfully I got to leave on my own terms the 2nd time around before I got screwed over again.

Potential-Monke

Couldn't care less about HMV unless they do gaming and trading! It's the trading I'm already missing. Had inteded on trading in Hogwarts Legacy towards Dead Island 2, would have halved the cost. Instead I "had" (wanted) to buy both at full price. Could use CEX but they don't do new games (maybe they should?!). GAME would be a very welcome return instead. Smyths have the opportunity to get back into the second hand market, but I can't see them doing it.

Now sure how a B&M store would survive though. While games are now ~€80, they're still cheaper than the SNES days (adjusting for inflation, SNES games were ~€110!). But between people considering that too much, considering trade in prices too little, Gamepass/PS+ subscriptions, it's hard to see how physical could survive in little ole Ireland. In Dubland maybe, but in the smaller cities, I think the want for them is not enough to justify them anymore.

But the more who come to market, the better overall. Could be ordering the PS5 Pro/PS6 direct from Playstation in the future.

RobbingBandit

Definitely won't see HMV opening all across the country it'll be a December 8th resurgence for all ye country boys to get your games up in the big smoke.

CeX definitely not getting into new games as the markup and wholesale costs would do them in. Plus I couldn't see Sony or Microsoft doing business with them on that sort of level.

Beta Ray Bill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120545734#Comment_120545734

Re:CeX - They sell a lot of retro gear, for which there is definitely a market for these days.

I've had games consoles for years, the latest generation (while powerful) have fallen far behind the power of PC Equipment for serious gamers. Add to that the stagnation of "Quality" and "Life" of modern games with particular reference to PS and Xbox titles.

Like CeX have a bunch unboxed PS5's in stock, and All the Smyths toyshops/Gamestops have new ones in Stock. (This is a console that was difficult to get 4 months ago). I think the "Hype" of the latest generation of consoles along with online sales and digital stores have all but ended Gamestop.

RedXIV

You do generally see with independant gaming stores that the retro scene is definitely alive and kicking, and not just in Dublin.

It is a shame to lose a store but I was in one yesterday and jesus christ, there is no need for a second hand sonic frontiers to be €59.99.

I have great memories of teenage years going up and seeing the buy 2 get the third free on in second hand games and you'd be able to get some weird and quirky games for PSX or PS2 (alright showing my age now) for maybe 20 quid. Which felt about right because a new release would set you back 50. As the pre-owned prices started to climb, just couldn't justify the shopping anymore. Think the last things I got were the PS5 console and before that, some of the black friday deals they used to do years ago

paul71

It is an interesting an inevitable end to the retail side of the games industry. The is simply no place for a games retailer anymore, Gamestop are and always have been the biggest specialist retailer in the World and Ireland was their first expansion into Europe when they bought 51% of Gamesworld. Their withdrawal is simply the sad end of a 1980s/90s business model in the 2020s.

murpho999

Don't understand why people are saying that they miss Gamestop for the trading as the prices offered were horrendous.

Either way, most people are gone digital now, purely for the convenience. Xbox Game Pass makes gamin very cheap and non Game Pass games can be bought online at reduced prices after a few months or in sales.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120446256#Comment_120446256

One of my wife's friends works in Gamestop and he confirmed that they're closing.

Went in to compare prices of Dead Island 2 in Cork - Smyths were 20euro cheaper than Gamestop...60 To 80euro.....sorry for anyone to lose their jobs but thats a major difference

edit as the above poster - Sonic Frontiers new is 35quid in Smyths

Potential-Monke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120547082#Comment_120547082

They always worked out cheaper for me with trading. I never paid above €35 for a new game. With the Level 4 trading, plus a pre-order bonus, I was getting new releases for as low as €15/20 some times. I play a game once, then trade it. I don't do repeat playings so it worked brilliantly for me. If I finished the new game before the next one I was interest in was out, I got upwards of €50 off it trade+preorder bonus. That will no longer happen. New games are worth €30-35 cash in Cex and drop quick. And do people think Smyths are going to keep those cheaper prices once Gamestop are gone? They'll slowly go up if there's no competition.

Manager of one of the stores I went to said that it is a shame, because Ireland was apparantly a profitable arm of Gamestop overall. He started in Game, then went to Xtravision, then Cex and ended in Gamestop over the last 25 years. So I hope Game do come back.

L1011

I know from having applied for a job there over half a decade ago and knowing someone who worked there at the end; that Gamestop Ireland did a lot of the back-end for a lot of Northern Europe - those stores are now all long gone (those weren't the only countries but any of the others I remembered are gone too) so presumably the Irish ops just became too small then.