Recent rumors circulating suggest that GameStop, a prominent video game retailer in North America, may soon enter the arena of buying and selling graded Pokémon cards and other trading cards. These speculations gained traction with confirmation from GameStop employees, as reported by both Pokebeach and Polygon.

According to retail management staff, there’s a belief that trading cards, especially highly collectible items graded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), represent the future of the industry. It’s seen as a strategic move for GameStop to diversify its offerings amid the waning popularity of physical media, particularly for video games.

A GameStop store manager was quoted on Pokebeach stating, “GameStop’s leaders believe this is the obvious next step for the company. Physical media is waning, especially for video games. It was time for the company to branch out to trading cards. They are the future.”

However, there are some limitations to this new venture. GameStop is reportedly planning to accept trading cards valued at up to $500, with only cards graded at tier eight or higher by PSA eligible for trade. Additionally, GameStop is expected to begin selling Pokémon singles in-store, expanding its offerings to cater more effectively to TCG (Trading Card Game) collectors across its 3,000-plus stores nationwide.

GameStop’s potential foray into the graded card market comes amidst financial challenges for the company, including recent layoffs and leadership changes due to poor financial performance. Nevertheless, GameStop appears determined to adapt to market trends and expand its business, contrasting with the struggles faced by its UK counterpart, GAME, which has undergone operational changes and employee layoffs in recent months.