Wellington, Jan 15, 2026, 01:50 (NZDT)
- EB Games will shut all 38 New Zealand stores on Jan. 31; its distribution centre is due to close on Feb. 28
- The retailer says NZ customers can use gift cards until stores shut and seek refunds afterward
- GameStop shares were up about 0.2% in premarket trading
EB Games will close all of its New Zealand stores on Jan. 31, ending the video game retailer’s local operations after a staff consultation process, according to letters sent to employees. Its New Zealand distribution centre will close on Feb. 28.
The shutdown strips New Zealand of one of its few specialist chains for games and pop-culture merchandise at a time when many retailers are still running on thin margins. Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young said the sector has been under “significant strain” for the past two to three years, and card payments data from Worldline showed online spending jumped 18.9% in December even as other retail spending fell. Otago Daily Times Online News
GameStop, which has owned EB Games since 2005, was little changed in early trading, with shares up about 0.2% in New York premarket activity.
In the staff letters, EB Games Australia & New Zealand managing director Shane Stockwell said the New Zealand business was no longer commercially viable and had posted a “multi-million dollar loss” in its 2024 fiscal year, the company’s 12-month accounting period. “We are saddened to be in this position,” he wrote. 1News
Stockwell said “numerous” third parties had approached after the proposed shutdown became public, but none offered a way “to keep the New Zealand business sustainable.” The company said some New Zealand staff could be offered a chance to relocate into Australian roles, but it did not spell out what comes next for its Australian stores. NZ Herald
In a notice to customers, EB Games said it had made the “difficult decision” to close EB Games New Zealand after “careful consideration and consultation.” It said gift cards can be used in-store and online until stores shut, with refunds available afterward through customer service, and it expects New Zealand customers to gain access to ebgames.com.au by the end of March. EB Games
The company has a narrow window to unwind the basics: clearing preorders tied to release dates, closing out repairs and handling returns that still need an in-store visit. It said most preorders for products releasing after Jan. 31 will be cancelled, while warranties and repairs will move through its customer service channels.
But the timing could still feel messy on the ground. EB Games warned some stores may close earlier than Jan. 31, and it has not said how many jobs will go as the country exits, leaving staff and landlords waiting for the final tally.
