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After Math: We're not playing around
E3 2019 is nearly upon us and the gaming news is already coming at a breakneck pace. Google divulged new details about its upcoming Stadia game streaming service and Razor announced the launch of a new lightweight headset while GameStop's downward spiral shows no sign of slowing down.
GameStop cuts costs to deal with plunge in console sales
The PS4 and Xbox One are clearly approaching the end of their main lifecycles, and that's doing serious damage to GameStop's bottom line. The video game store's Q1 profits fell to $6.8 million, just a quarter of what they were a year earlier, based on a steep 35 percent drop in new hardware sales. And that's after accounting for the Nintendo Switch's strong performance. While GameStop didn't explain the decline, gamers knew the next PlayStation and Xbox "Scarlett" were on the horizon -- there wasn't much point to buying a current-gen system. The much gentler dip in software sales (4.3 percent) reinforced this.
Pay with crypto at Whole Foods, Gamestop and other retailers
It's been difficult to spend cryptocurrencies at retail due to the technical and regulatory headaches associated with it, but that might not be an issue at some stores in the near future. Flexa has launched a payment network and a companion iOS app, Spedn, that should let you spend digital currency at major retailers like Baskin Robbins, Gamestop and Whole Foods. You just bring up a barcode at the register and the merchant scans it in -- if they don't directly accept crypto, the payment network converts your funds into conventional money in real time.
GameStop gets into esports with 'Performance Center' in Texas
GameStop is getting into esports. The company announced today that it is partnering with esports organization Complexity Gaming to open up the GameStop Performance Center in Frisco, Texas. The 11,000 square foot venue will serve as Complexity Gaming's new headquarters and will host public events designed to help amateurs get into esports and help gamers connect with one another.
GameStop's new CEO is expected to lead a major overhaul
GameStop announced today that it is naming George Sherman as its new chief executive officer. The former head of Verizon retailer Victra has served as an executive at Advance Auto Parts, Best Buy Services, Home Depot and Target. He'll be charged with overseeing a changing business model for the brick and mortar game retailer that has been in financial trouble in recent years.
GameStop confirms buyout talks as downloads take their toll
It won't shock you to hear that GameStop has been suffering as downloads have taken off. Now, however, it might be looking for help. In the wake of a Reuters leak, GameStop has confirmed that it's in talks about a "potential transaction." While the retail chain is shy about what those discussions involve and isn't promising a deal, the sources claimed that the chats were in response to "buyout interest" from private equity companies like Sycamore Partners.
Nintendo's latest 2DS XL is a tribute to Link's Shield
Nintendo has a history of dressing up its handheld systems in festive fashions, and the 2DS XL is no different. This time out, the clamshell console is getting a special edition that resembles Link's Hylian Shield from The Legend of Zelda franchise. From the looks of it, the Gamestop-exclusive hardware's styling betrays the 2Ds' flat motif.
Forever 21 breach exposed customer credit card info for months
If you shopped at a Forever 21 store this year, there's a chance your credit card information may have been stolen, CNET reports. The retail store confirmed this week that between April 3rd and November 18th of this year, a number of point of sale terminals at stores across the US were breached. While it hasn't provided any numbers on how many customers were affected, Forever 21 did say that in most cases, card numbers, expiration dates and verification codes, but not cardholder names, were obtained by hackers. However, in some cases names were also obtained.
GameStop halts its unlimited used game rental program
Back in October, GameStop announced that it would debut a used game rental service called PowerPass. Interested gamers could pay $60 for six months to have one title out at a time. At the end of those six months, subscribers would be able to choose a title to keep. But now, according to Kotaku, it looks like GameStop is suspending the program indefinitely.
GameStop offers used video game rentals with PowerPass program
If you've rented videos or games from the likes of Redbox or Blockbuster, GameStop's new PowerPass will feel instantly familiar. The video game retailer is launching a rental service for used titles and sign ups will begin November 19th.
GameStop confirms extensive credit card data breach
If you're a GameStop customer, check your mail. The company just sent out letters to online patrons confirming a suspected payment security breach. In April, GameStop said they were looking into a possible data breach that might have put customers' credit card information at risk. Confirming those suspicions, Kotaku reported today that a number of GameStop customers have received letters notifying them that their credit cards may have been stolen.
GameStop looks into a potentially serious credit card breach
Did you shop at GameStop's online store for the holidays, or take advantage of its post-holiday clearance sales? You might want to check your credit card statement. GameStop has confirmed to security guru Brian Krebs that it's looking into a possible data breach that compromised credit card info between September 2016 and February 2017. Krebs' financial industry sources claim that the intruders not only took card numbers, expiration dates and cardholder addresses, but the three-digit security number that's ordinarily hard to get (as it's not usually stored online). This suggests the attackers planted malware on the site to harvest the info before it was transmitted -- this was clearly not a run-of-the-mill breach if so.
Digital downloads killed 150 GameStop stores
It's game over for at least 150 GameStop stores. The retailer has announced that it's shutting down 2 to 3 percent of 7,500 shops across the globe after sales and earning plummeted last year. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company was affected by the shift to digital downloads. More and more people now prefer installing their games straight from their console's online store instead of buying physical copies, that GameStop's sales dropped 14 percent in 2016. It did especially bad this past holiday season when its sales dipped 19 percent. As a result, its fourth-quarter profits fell 16 percent and its shares went down by about 12 percent, as well.
Xbox One is $50 less through Christmas Eve
Microsoft is following Sony's lead and temporarily dropping the price on the Xbox One for the holiday season. Now through Christmas Eve you can save $50 on all One and One S bundles, which could make grabbing another game or a spare controller a little bit easier on the wallet. Hell, even if you aren't looking for a game console specifically, the Xbox One S makes for an incredibly solid UHD Blu-ray player. A post on Xbox Wire says that the deals are available at places like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Stores and Walmart's website, so maybe call ahead before you sally forth debit card in hand.
'Final Fantasy XV' slim PS4 bundle hits the US on November 29th
Did you look on wistfully as Sony Japan unveiled a special edition slim PS4 to mark the launch of Final Fantasy XV? You don't have to anymore. Sony has confirmed that the console will reach GameStop stores in North America on November 29th for $449 US, or $549 Canadian. In the UK, it'll launch on the same day at GAME for £330. Besides the conspicuous moon decal on the system, you're getting a 1TB hard drive, a branded DualShock 4 controller, Square Enix's role-playing game (plus downloadable extras) and the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV movie on Blu-ray. It's a tempting deal if you can't get enough Final Fantasy into your life, although we have to ask: do you get this, or would it be wiser to spring for the more powerful PS4 Pro plus a separate copy of the game?
The best places to buy and sell a used iPhone
By Jackie Dove With a new iPhone arriving soon, many people will look to sell their old iPhone for some quick cash. But which places offer the best return and the smoothest process? To find out, Tom's Guide tested seven services that buy and sell used iPhones.
Last PlayStation VR pre-orders start on June 30th
Did you miss out on the first round of PlayStation VR pre-orders, but remain determined to get Sony's virtual reality headset on launch day? You have one last (official) chance to make it happen. Sony has reiterated that its final wave of American PSVR pre-orders starts on June 30th at 10AM Eastern, when you can snag the PS4 wearable through GameStop's website. The company is promising that stores will have units on release should you miss out, but let's be honest -- if you're an early adopter, you probably don't want to risk going VR-free come October 13th.
PlayStation VR demos begin at Best Buy and GameStop tomorrow
At this week's annual E3 game show, Sony revealed the exact ship date for its PlayStation VR setup: October 13th. Pre-orders have been open since March, but if you're still weighing the pros and cons, you'll have the chance to try before you buy starting tomorrow (June 17th). At select Best Buy and Gamestop locations, the virtual reality tech will be available for your to test drive.
Ready at Dawn's new game is nothing like 'The Order'
While Ready at Dawn developers were working on The Order: 1886, they saturated themselves in big-budget single-player experiences. The office's gaming nook was usually occupied by one person running through a gorgeous digital world as developers studied 3-D environments, motion-captured facial expressions and cinematic cut scenes. In the end, Ready at Dawn created a beautiful game that was widely criticized for its lack of mechanical or narrative innovation. For many players, The Order was missing something. That thing might have been a sense of pure, unadulterated fun -- specifically for more than one person at a time.
GameStop starts its own game publishing wing
Now that GameStop has dipped its toes into game publishing, it's ready to jump in with both feet: the retailer has launched GameTrust, its own publishing division. The new wing will initially handle titles from existing partner Insomniac Games (of Ratchet & Clank fame) as well as Frozenbyte (Trine), Ready At Dawn (The Order: 1886) and Tequila Works (Deadlight). As you might guess, this isn't a traditional publishing business. GameStop is taking a hands-off approach to the actual content. Instead, it wants to create "exclusive real estate" online and in physical stores to help people discover indie games that might otherwise get missed.
