Editing GameStop (section)

==== NFT platform ====
On May 26, 2021, GameStop announced that it was working on a [[non-fungible token]] (NFT) platform creating a token that is based on [[blockchain]] Ethereum technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/5/gamestop-nft-announcement-information |title=GameStop Quietly Announces That It's Working on NFTs |website=HypeBeast.com |last=Perper |first=Rosie |date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525230307/https://hypebeast.com/2021/5/gamestop-nft-announcement-information |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Business Insider'' reported that "GameStop is building an NFT platform as part of an ambitious plan to transform itself into the Amazon of gaming."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/gamestop-nft-building-ethereum-powered-platform-hiring-team-ecommerce-transformation-2021-5-1030467635 |title=GameStop is building an NFT platform as part of an ambitious plan to transform itself into the Amazon of gaming |last=Nagarajan |first=Shalini |work=Business Insider |date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015142036/https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/news/gamestop-nft-building-ethereum-powered-platform-hiring-team-ecommerce-transformation-2021-5-1030467635 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 15, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Beta version of the platform launched on July 11, 2022. The marketplace is curated, with a vetting process in place for artists; in July 2022 GameStop removed an NFT associated with artwork which referenced the photo  ''[[The Falling Man]]'' and removed the ability for the creator's account to mint new NFTs on its platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/gamestop-falling-man-nft-181910264.html |title=GameStop is letting someone sell an NFT that references a 9/11 photo |last=Bonifacic |first=Igor |work=Engadget |date=July 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407233327/https://www.engadget.com/gamestop-falling-man-nft-181910264.html |access-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |url-status=live |via=engadget.com}}</ref> In another case, a user sold hundreds of NFTs associated with HTML5 games they did not have a license for. GameStop removed their minting ability and the listings for the NFTs on their marketplace, although the NFTs themselves remain on the blockchain, the games themselves on Gamestop's servers, and can be sold on other marketplaces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/08/indie-devs-outraged-by-unlicensed-game-sales-on-gamestops-nft-market/ |title=Indie devs outraged by unlicensed game sales on GameStop's NFT market |last=Orland|first=Kyle|work=Ars Technica|date=August 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210212551/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/08/indie-devs-outraged-by-unlicensed-game-sales-on-gamestops-nft-market/ |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2022, GameStop laid off a large portion of the team working on the NFT platform. In August 2023, GameStop announced wind down of its crypto and NFT wallet citing "regulatory uncertainty".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=2023-08-04 |title=GameStop, citing "regulatory uncertainty," winds down its crypto and NFT wallet |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/08/gamestop-citing-regulatory-uncertainty-winds-down-its-crypto-and-nft-wallet/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> As of December 2023, Gamestop's NFT marketplace still allowed users the ability to trade in-game items using other NFT wallets (such as MetaMask).<ref name=NFTMarketplace>{{Cite web|title=Gamestop NFT Marketplace|url=https://nft.gamestop.com/|website=Gamestop|language=en}}</ref> However, in January 2024, Gamestop ultimately announced that on February 2, 2024, the NFT marketplace would be shuttered completely.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Sophie |date=2024-01-15 |title=GameStop closes crypto marketplace |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamestop-closes-crypto-marketplace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124021148/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamestop-closes-crypto-marketplace |archive-date=2024-01-24 |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Gamesindustry.biz}}</ref>