GameStop says it’s an essential business that should stay open in coronavirus pandemic
GameStop is telling its employees to keep the business open as the coronavirus spreads.
GameStop sent a memo to its employees saying that if local authorities try to close the store, they are to tell them the company believes they are “classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time,” Vice reported.
“Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home, we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time,” the retailer said in the memo , according to Kotaku.
GameStop, which is based in Grapevine, Texas, issueda public statement Thursday afternoon saying it is “working diligently during this unprecedented time,” according to a company news release.
The decision to keep stores open comes as the coronavirus continues to spread. As of Thursday, there were more than 13,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins. University. That’s a 68 percent increase from Wednesday’s number of confirmed cases.
Vice reported that it is a “big week for video games,” as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Doom Eternal are both set to launch on Friday.
“We are implementing changes to our retail operations so that we may continue to provide products to our customers that allows them to stay connected, and provide products that allows business and consumers to work remotely,” the company said.
Some of those changes include only allowing 10 people in a store at any given time, keeping a 6-foot parameter between customers at checkout, changing store hours to 12-8 p.m., and postponing all gaming events and midnight launch activities.
Many people on social media, however, didn’t think the company was doing enough. Some even called for a boycott of the company, saying it is putting people in danger.
One employee told Polygon that they believe the company is “putting employees at even more risk,” the news outlet reported.
“Please go ahead and cancel your pre-order for Animal Crossing or anything else you may have pending with GameStop,” one Twitter user said.
