Editing GameStop (section)

====European expansion and stagnation====
GameStop's entry into the European market began in 2003 with the acquisition of Irish video game retailer, Gamesworld.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamedevelopers.ie/gamestop-gamesworld-takeover/|title=GameStop: Gamesworld Takeover|publisher=gamedevelopers.ie|date=20 August 2003|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamestop-buys-irish-game-retail-chain|title=Gamestop buys Irish game retail chain|first=Rob|last=Fahey|work=[[Gamer Network|GamesIndustry.biz]]|date=20 August 2003|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> Gamesworld, which had eleven stores in Ireland, then announced that it planned to add 33 stores across the island of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/gamesworld-goes-on-the-growth-path-1.376555|title=Gamesworld goes on the growth path|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=17 September 2003|access-date=12 December 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/gamesworld-in-major-expansion-initiative/25930209.html|title=Gamesworld in major expansion initiative|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=10 September 2003|access-date=12 December 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref> GameStop's merger with EB Games in October 2005 expanded GameStop's European footprint with the addition of nearly 400 stores across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.<ref name="ebgames" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.computerworld.dk/art/27889/spilkaeder-i-milliardfusion-vil-erobre-europa|title=Spilkæder i milliardfusion vil erobre Europa|first=Casper|last=Thomsen|work=computerworld.dk|date=10 April 2005|access-date=12 December 2024|language=Danish}}</ref> The merger did not include EB Game's British and Irish stores which continued separately under the [[Game (retailer)|GAME]] brand. GameStop continued its expansion, operating 636 stores across Europe by 2007, now including Portugal.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-opens-1000th-international-location|title=GameStop Opens 1,000th International Location|publisher=GameStop|date=26 June 2007|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> In April 2008 with the acquisition of [[Free Record Shop]]'s 49 Norwegian stores.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-acquire-49-free-record-locations-norway|title=GameStop to Acquire 49 Free Record Locations in Norway|publisher=GameStop|date=31 March 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="freerecord" /> This was followed in October with the acquisition of French video-game retailer [[Micromania (video game retailer)|Micromania]] and its 332 stores for $700m, which increased its European store count to 1,077.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-acquires-micromania-frances-leading-video-game-retailer|title=GameStop Acquires Micromania, France's Leading Video Game Retailer|publisher=GameStop|date=1 October 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="micromania_1" /><ref name="micromania_2" /> However, GameStop's attempts to expand into the UK were less successful. In 2007, its bid to acquire [[GameStation]] and its 217 stores from struggling [[Blockbuster (retailer)|Blockbuster]] were thwarted by GAME who acquired it instead in May.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2006/07/4686/|title=GameStop may be sniffing around UK game chain GameStation|first=Ben|last=Kuchera|work=[[Ars Technica]]|date=19 July 2006|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Boyes |first=Emma |date=2 May 2007 |title=gamestop |url=https://gamestop.vn/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=Game Stop}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://mcvuk.com/business-news/retail/analyst-gamestop-made-error-in-not-buying-gamestation/|title=Analyst: GameStop made error in not buying Gamestation|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[MCV/Develop]]|date=19 March 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> In November, when British retailer [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]] went into administration British gaming magazine, [[MCV/Develop|MCV]], reported that GameStop was bidding for half of Woolsworth's 815 stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/2/hi/business/7751064.stm|title=Woolworths set for administration|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[BBC]]|date=26 November 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://mcvuk.com/business-news/now-gamestop-eyes-woolies-stores/|title=Now GameStop eyes Woolies stores|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[MCV/Develop]]|date=4 December 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> GameStop later issued a press statement completely denying the reports.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-addresses-inaccurate-report-bid-locations-uk|title=GameStop Addresses Inaccurate Report of Bid for Locations in the UK|publisher=GameStop|date=5 December 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamestop-bid-for-woolworths-is-completely-inaccurate|title=GameStop bid for Woolworths is "completely inaccurate"|first=Matt|last=Martin|work=[[Gamer Network|GamesIndustry.biz]]|date=8 December 2008|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> Now operating over 1,400 stores across Europe with sales of $1,810 million, 2011 was the limit of GameStop's growth in Europe. GameStop gave up on UK expansion,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mcvuk.com/business-news/gamestop-rules-out-uk-shops/|title=GameStop rules out UK shops|author=<!--not stated-->|work=[[MCV/Develop]]|date=26 November 2010|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> and in July announced that it would be closing its two solitary stores in Britain and launching an e-commerce website for UK customers.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-now-open-business-247-uk|title=GameStop is Now Open for Business 24/7 in the UK|publisher=GameStop|date=28 July 2011|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/gamestop-launches-estore-only-presence-in-mainland-uk|title=GameStop launches eStore-only presence in mainland UK|first=Johnny|last=Cullen|work=[[Gamer Network|VG247]]|date=29 July 2011|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> In January 2012, GameStop closed its four remaining stores in Northern Ireland, thus ending its physical presence in the United Kingdom, and transferring its UK business online.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-16716719|title=Gamestop closes four NI stores|first=Colletta|last=Smith|work=[[BBC]]|date=25 January 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/gamestop-abandons-u-k-stores/|title=GameStop Abandons U.K. Stores|first=Greg|last=Tito|work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|Escapist Magazine]]|date=24 January 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref>

Also in January, GameStop left Portugal closing its 13 stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vg247.com/report-gamestop-to-close-its-stores-in-portugal|title=Report: GameStop to close its stores in Portugal|first=Johnny|last=Cullen|work=[[Gamer Network|VG247]]|date=25 January 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Soares |first=Jorge |date=25 January 2012 |title=Confirmado o fecho das lojas GameStop em Portugal |trans-title=The closure of GameStop stores in Portugal has been confirmed. |url=https://www.eurogamer.pt/confirmado-o-fecho-das-loja-gamestop-em-portugal |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |language=Portuguese}}</ref> Later in March, GameStop's competitor, GAME, entered administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/high-street-blues-game-enters-administration|title=High Street Blues: GAME Enters Administration|first=Alex|last=Meer|work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|date=26 March 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> While GameStop actively explored acquiring GAME's Spanish business and its 291 stores, it was sold instead to investment vehicle, Cherrilux Investments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/gamestop-wants-to-buy-games-shops-in-spain-and-portugal-report|title=GameStop wants to buy GAME's shops in Spain and Portugal|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|work=[[Eurogamer]]|date=13 March 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/game-news/game-sells-spanish-and-portuguese-operations-to-opcapita/|title=Game sells Spanish and Portuguese operations to OpCapita|first=Tom|last=Worthington|work=[[Pocket Gamer]]|date=13 April 2012|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> GameStop's Spanish business was originally an acquisition of Jump Ordenadores SLU by EB Games in 2005 just prior to the merger with GameStop.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jump-into-spain-for-electronics-boutique|title=Jump into Spain for Electronics Boutique|first=Rpb|last=Fahey|work=[[Gamer Network|GamesIndustry.biz]]|date=24 May 2005|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref> In September 2014, GameStop announced its withdrawal from Spain and the sale of some of its stores to GAME, the very company it had tried to acquire only two years previously.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://news.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/gamestop-announces-strategic-update-regarding-its-european|title=GameStop Announces Strategic Update Regarding Its European Operations|publisher=GameStop|date=15 September 2014|access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Caballero |first=David |date=19 September 2014 |title=Cierra Gamestop; despidos y venta de tiendas a GAME |trans-title=GameStop closes; layoffs and sale of stores to GAME. |url=https://www.gamereactor.es/cierra-gamestop-despidos-y-venta-de-tiendas-a-game-338703/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=[[Gamereactor]] |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Varela |first=Ramón |date=15 September 2014 |title=Cierra Gamestop en España, según informaciones |trans-title=GameStop is closing in Spain, according to reports. |url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350655514/cierra-gamestop-en-espana-segun-informaciones/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=[[El Español|El Español (Vandal)]] |language=Spanish}}</ref>