More than a year of suspense
As a reminder, it was in February 2025 that Ryan Cohen, the boss of GameStop, announced on Micromania-Zing. A simple post on a social network to seal the fate of 300 stores and 1,200 employees, without the slightest explanation or transition plan.
GameStop, which bought Micromania in 2008 for around 500 million euros, was gradually withdrawing from Europe. Germany had seen its stores close for lack of a buyer, Italy had been sold to Cidiverte (now Gamelife). France was waiting. And months passed without any candidate coming forward publicly.
A buyer from the leisure sector
According to information relayed by gaming specialist Gyo sur X, a North American group whose name has not yet been communicated is on the verge of finalizing the takeover. The most reassuring point: all stores would remain open and all jobs would be maintained.
Micromania remained a profitable brand (606 million euros in turnover and 10 million in net profit in 2023), which made the search for a buyer credible. The fact that the buyer specializes in leisure suggests that the brand could continue to sell video games, perhaps by further expanding its offering to other cultural or entertainment products.
What awaits Micromania now
The takeover, if confirmed in the coming days, would be excellent news for the French physical video game market, which still represents 21% of sales in France. Employees, who had been living in uncertainty for more than a year, could finally breathe.
It remains to be seen what identity the brand will take under this new management, and whether the Micromania name will be retained. The 300 stores are a dense network that few players can afford to maintain, and the digital transition of the sector continues to eat away at physical sales year after year.
What do we say about it?
If everything is confirmed, it’s a real relief. When we saw what had happened in Germany, with the complete closure of all stores, we could legitimately fear the worst for France. The fact that all shops and all jobs are a priori preserved is the best possible outcome in this context. Now, we are still curious to know who this American group is and what they intend to do with the brand. Micromania is 40 years of video game history in France, and for many of us, it’s where we bought our first cartridges. In any case, let’s keep our fingers crossed that it comes to fruition.
