GameStop is receiving considerable criticism for its decision to keep its doors open during the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic. While critics have been outspoken, GameStop isn't budging and has instead offered a variety of ways that it's trying to control the risk of an outbreak at its stores.
GameStop previously declared itself an 'essential business' akin to grocery stores and pharmacies that are eligible to keep their doors open during this troubling time. This decision is likely partially due to the fact that the coronavirus outbreak is overlapping with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Doom Eternal, which are both expected to be major hits for both the developers and game retailers.
GameStop released a tweet today detailing what the store would be doing in order to keep potential customers - and employees - allegedly safe. These measures include recommendations from the CDC of maintaining a distance of six feet between patrons, limiting store hours, and discontinuing trade-ins temporarily.
However, the measures GameStop has taken hasn't stopped gamers and others from criticizing the retailer for its decision to remain open. Most have argued that GameStop is in no way an 'essential business,' especially in light of fellow retailer Amazon delaying game orders after declaring them to be non-essential products.
Of course, the likely reason that GameStop has made this decision is due to the fact that the retailer has been struggling for a very long time. It's been proposed that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are GameStop's last chance to stay open, and while other retailers and businesses are shutting their doors for the foreseeable future, this action could potentially spell the end of GameStop for good depending on how long the pandemic lasts.
There's no doubt that GameStop is in an unfortunate situation here, but then again, so are all people and companies right now. Even if the stores remain open, gamers are less likely to go out - especially those under shelter-in-place orders - just to seek a game, especially when downloading it digitally is a much safer option right now. GameStop's decision to stay open could not only put the health of employees and customers in danger, but without enough customers coming in, it might not save the company in the end anyway.