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Re:

Does GameStop Charge Your Card for Preorders?

GameStop’s preorder payment timing depends on whether the order ships, is picked up in-store, or is reserved at a store. Learn how to distinguish an authorization from a charge and what to do if payment fails.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read

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Yes—but when GameStop collects payment depends on how you placed the preorder. For a standard online order shipped to you, GameStop says it charges about one week before release; an earlier pending card entry may be a temporary authorization, not a completed charge. Online preorders for store pickup are charged at checkout, while an in-store reservation requires a deposit.

When GameStop charges for each preorder type

Preorder type What to expect Timing
Online preorder shipped to you A temporary authorization may appear on your card before shipment; it is not a completed charge. GameStop’s preorder FAQ says payment is taken about one week before release. Its general payment guidance says it does not charge until shipment, so do not treat the FAQ timing as a guaranteed bank-posting date.
Online preorder for store pickup GameStop says the order is charged at checkout. At checkout.
In-store reservation A deposit is required rather than full payment upfront. GameStop lists a $10 minimum deposit for most games and collectibles; the amount is not universal.

These policies come from GameStop’s preorder FAQ, store-pickup preorder guidance, and payment guidance. The distinction that matters most is whether the order is shipping or being picked up in a store.

Why a pending GameStop preorder entry may appear

For shipped online preorders, GameStop may ask the card issuer to authorize the payment before shipment. That can show up in a banking app as a pending transaction and reduce available credit or funds, even though it is not a completed purchase. GameStop describes the authorization as temporary and says it typically drops off.

A pending authorization is different from a posted charge. Check the transaction status in your card account and the order status in your GameStop account before treating the entry as a final payment. Your bank or card issuer controls how a pending authorization appears and when it disappears; the policy does not establish an exact release time for every issuer.

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What to do if payment fails or the order needs to be canceled

If GameStop reports a payment issue

Update the payment details promptly using GameStop’s instructions. Its payment-issue guidance says you have 24 hours after the reported issue to correct the information before the order is automatically canceled. The guidance was last updated April 23, 2026: How Do I Fix a Payment Issue?

If you want to cancel

Use GameStop’s online cancellation process as soon as possible. Cancellation may no longer be available once an order enters final processing or is being prepared to ship. See GameStop’s online preorder cancellation guidance for eligibility and steps.

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If the card activity does not match the order

  • If the entry is still pending on a shipped preorder, check whether it is an authorization and allow time for it to drop off.
  • If a charge has posted but the order has not shipped, or an authorization remains longer than expected, contact GameStop support and your card issuer with the order details and transaction status.
  • If one preorder includes items with different release dates, GameStop says they may ship separately and generate separate charges. Shipping fees are charged when an item is released, and different release dates may mean separate shipping fees. See the shipping FAQ, last updated May 20, 2026.
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Which date should you use to plan your balance?

For a shipped preorder, plan for payment near release rather than assuming no funds will be affected until delivery: GameStop says the preorder charge is about one week before release, while its general payment page describes charging at shipment. A temporary authorization may also affect available credit or funds earlier. For pickup orders, account for payment at checkout. The exact date a transaction posts or an authorization clears can depend on processing and your card issuer.

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