TL;DR
GameStop is moving ahead with a large round of U.S. store closures, with a tracker listing 435 locations across 42 states as of Jan. 11. The cuts follow hundreds of closures last year and come as the company reduces international operations and pursues cost reductions tied to broader financial goals.
What happened
Retailer GameStop has accelerated reductions in its physical footprint as it begins 2026. According to a closures tracker cited in reporting, 435 stores in 42 U.S. states were scheduled to shut or had already closed as of January 11. The company previously closed 590 stores in fiscal 2024 and told the SEC it expects to close a “significant number of additional stores” in fiscal 2025; GameStop’s fiscal year ends January 31. As of February 2025 the chain operated 2,325 U.S. locations, so the recent wave represents a substantial contraction. The company is also winding down international operations, having exited several European and North American markets and planning an exit from France within 12 months. The reporting notes that the changes will result in job losses. GameStop did not respond to a request for comment.
Why it matters
- A large set of U.S. closures materially reduces GameStop’s brick-and-mortar reach and alters local retail access for customers.
- Shrinking the store base is presented as a cost-cutting step that could affect company profitability and strategic direction.
- Closures contribute to job losses at scale—reporting indicates thousands of positions will be affected.
- The retrenchment is part of a broader international pullback, with exits from multiple countries and a planned exit from France.
Key facts
- Tracker listed 435 planned or completed store closures across 42 states as of Jan. 11.
- GameStop closed 590 stores in fiscal year 2024.
- In an SEC filing the company said it anticipates closing a “significant number of additional stores” in fiscal 2025.
- GameStop’s fiscal year ends on January 31.
- As of February 2025 the company operated 2,325 U.S. stores.
- GameStop has exited Canada, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland and Italy, and plans to exit France within the next 12 months.
- Reporting states the closures will leave thousands unemployed.
- Reporting links the cost cuts and closures to efforts to alter the company’s financial position; GameStop did not reply to a request for comment.
What to watch next
- Whether the company records additional closures before the fiscal year ends on January 31 (not confirmed in the source).
- How many total U.S. store counts will be after this round of closures compared with the 2,325 stores reported in February 2025 (not confirmed in the source).
- The timeline and scale for GameStop’s planned exit from France and any other international market wind-downs (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Market capitalization: The total market value of a company’s outstanding shares, calculated by multiplying share price by number of shares.
- Fiscal year: A 12-month accounting period a company uses for financial reporting, which may not align with the calendar year.
- SEC filing: A document submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that provides investors and regulators with company disclosures.
- Store footprint: The number and geographic distribution of a retailer’s physical locations.
- Layoff: A workforce reduction where employees are dismissed, often for cost-cutting or restructuring reasons.
Reader FAQ
How many stores is GameStop closing now?
A closures tracker cited in reporting listed 435 planned or completed closures across 42 states as of January 11.
How many stores did GameStop close last year?
The company closed 590 stores in fiscal year 2024.
Why is GameStop closing stores?
Reporting links the closures to cost-cutting and an SEC filing saying the company expects to close additional stores; other specific strategic motives are not confirmed in the source.
How many employees will be affected?
The reporting says the closures will leave thousands unemployed, but precise employee counts were not provided.
NEWS BUSINESS GAMING GameStop is kicking off 2026 by shutting down over 400 stores in 42 states The retailer continues to shrink its brick and mortar presence as the CEO…
Sources
- GameStop is kicking off 2026 by shutting down over 400 stores in 42 states
- GameStop's future in turmoil as estimated 400 stores close …
- Popular gaming retailer could close over 400 stores by …
- GameStop plans more store closures
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