French-Canadian entrepreneur Stephen Tetrault has acquired GameStop’s Canadian business, framing the move as a mission to rebuild the country’s retail gaming culture with a focus on nostalgia, innovation, and community engagement.
“This isn’t just a business decision—it’s about bringing something back that Canadians truly loved,” Tetrault said in a public statement. “We’re going to build something special here, with community, nostalgia, and innovation at its heart.”
Tetrault’s LinkedIn profile lists him as a co-owner of McFarlane Toys, known for its collectable figures, and Imports Dragon, a game and toy manufacturer, suggesting strong industry ties that could help shape the next phase of the venture.
GameStop had previously made it clear that it was seeking to offload its international assets. Back in February, the company publicly invited interest in its Canadian and French businesses.
CEO Ryan Cohen even took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer contact details for would-be buyers, sarcastically adding that “High taxes, liberalism, socialism, progressivism, wokeness and DEI [are] included at no additional cost if you buy today.”
The Canadian sale is part of a broader retreat from global markets. In March, GameStop announced plans to shutter a large number of stores in 2025, having already closed around 600 locations in the US during 2024.
The company also completed its exit from Italy and began winding down operations in Germany.
Financially, the company reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter revenue, net sales declined by 28.5% year-over-year to $1.3 billion.
However, net income more than doubled, reaching $131 million, suggesting the company’s cost-cutting efforts may be bearing fruit.
In a further shift away from traditional retail operations, GameStop’s board also approved the adoption of bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset in March.
The company acknowledged the risks, calling the cryptocurrency “highly volatile” and noting that the move could ultimately prove unsuccessful.
Tetrault’s acquisition marks a fresh chapter for GameStop in Canada, one that will be closely watched by both fans and analysts as the retail gaming landscape continues to evolve.
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