GameStop has stated that their U.S. stores will remain open despite other retail stores closing down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The company released a statement saying that they’re “working diligently during this unprecedented time to provide our customers and associates with the safest environment possible” by establishing changes to their operations that would adhere to CDC-recommended guidelines, allowing stores to continue to sell consoles, games and other products that help customers stay connected to their friends and other players as well as work remotely.
The changes GameStop has implemented include, but not limited to:
- Social distancing practices, such as allowing 10 customers in their stores at a time, per CDC guidelines.
- Creating a 6-foot parameter between customers in checkout lines, per CDC guidelines.
- Reducing store hours to 12 to 8 p.m., which will be in place until Sunday, March 29.
- Suspending trade-ins of video games and consoles until Sunday, March 29.
- Postponing all gaming and midnight launch events until further notice.
- Temporarily disabling all gaming kiosks.
- Rolling out delivery-at-door services to allow customers to pick up their purchased games or consoles at the front door of their stores.
The statement comes just after GameStop announced that they will sell Doom Eternal one day earlier than originally scheduled “as a safety precaution,” and keep the March 20 launch date for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
GameStop also posted a letter to customers saying that they have assembled an internal coronavirus task force dedicated to tackling the spread of the virus and instructed their employees to follow CDC guidelines.
They said they provided the stores with hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies to disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently, and told employees to stay home if they are sick and experiencing flu-like symptoms related to the coronavirus, no matter how mild they may seem, until a doctor gives them the green light to go back to work.
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