EB Games has lost their mind: will keep stores open during pandemic [UPDATED]

UPDATE: GameStop and EB will now be closing stores after all to comply with rules closing non-essential businesses.

GameStop, and its Canadian subsidiary EB Games, have announced plans to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite many jurisdictions asking non-essential retailers to close.

In an internal leaked memo, the company went as far as to argue that they are, in fact, an essential service, as their products “enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home.”

Gamestop corporate further went on to stress that they intend to defy requests from authorities to close, putting that burden on individual location staff.

“We have received reports of local authorities visiting stores to enforce closure despite our classification [as an essential retailer]”, the company stated in the memo. “Store managers are approved to provide the document listed to law enforcement as needed”.

The leak has generated a flurry of outrage across the gaming community, with many accusing GameStop of putting profits over the safety and well-being of their employees.

Speaking to Kotaku, one anonymous employee stated that they have “been with company almost a decade,” and that “this is indefensible.” Other employees have also expressed their concerns about the company’s “flawed approach” to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on their website, EB Games Canada stated that they do indeed plan to stay open during the pandemic, but clarified that they would be taking precautions to protect their staff and customers.

“We are taking action to institute multiple social distancing practices in our stores, such as only allowing a maximum of 10 customers in our stores at any given time, will no longer be accepting cash or trades, cancelling all gaming events and midnight launch activities until further notice, introducing in-store line management practices that creates a 1-meter parameter between customers in checkout lines, and encouraging customers to leverage our online ecommerce…”

They also went on to state that they are aggressively sourcing sanitation supplies and implementing “heightened cleaning practices” for all high-touch surfaces. Stores will also be closed to walk-in traffic on March 20th, only allowing those who had pre-ordered Doom: Eternal and Animal Crossing to pick up their games. However, stores will re-open on the 21st with modified hours.

Gamestop has been under tremendous financial pressure lately as digital sales begin to eclipse physical releases. Those discussing the issue on Reddit have speculated that the chain might not have enough cash on hand to weather pandemic related closures. Which would explain the thought process behind the rather tasteless response to the their staff’s concerns. Though this has not been confirmed by the company.

This is the latest in a string of PR controversies for the beleaguered video game retailer. In 2017, another leaked memo indicated that upper management was forcing aggressive sales quotas, with threats of termination if not met, on store staff as part of their “Circle of Life” program.