On March 27, 2019, GameStop announced esports partnerships intended to draw amateur players into clinics, tournaments, collegiate events and gaming experiences tied to its stores. The announcement outlined a strategy, not proof that the activities happened at the scale planned or that they revived the retailer. The available sources do not establish whether the partnerships remain active today.
What GameStop announced
GameStop named Complexity Gaming, Envy, Matcherino and Collegiate Star League (CSL) in its March 27, 2019 announcement. The company said it would work with esports teams and players on original content and experiential activities, while building opportunities for amateur players to learn and compete. GameStop’s announcement described the following initiatives:
- Facility sponsorship: GameStop planned to title-sponsor Complexity’s new headquarters at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
- Amateur competitions: GameStop said it would participate in hundreds of amateur tournaments during 2019, with Matcherino serving as a crowdfunding resource for esports organizers, prize tournaments and streamers.
- Clinics and tournaments: The company planned live and virtual educational events where amateurs could learn from professional players and practice.
- Collegiate events: CSL was to receive retail-partner support across digital platforms and at events including a Summer School League, a fall 2019 campus tour and the 2020 CSL Grand Finals.
These were announced plans. The cited materials do not independently verify how many tournaments, clinics or campus events took place.
How the partnerships were meant to reach players
A dedicated gaming venue
GameStop’s SEC-filed shareholder materials described an 11,000-square-foot GameStop Performance Center with a public gaming area. The filing placed the center within the company’s effort to bring videogame culture and customer experiences into its business. The shareholder material establishes the facility’s stated size and public area, but not its subsequent use or business results.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Comfort is King: Comfort’s in the Cloud III’s DNA. Built for gamers who can’t have an uncomfortable headset ruin the flow of their full-combo, disrupt their speedrun, or knocking them out of the zone.
- Audio Tuned for Your Entertainment: Angled 53mm drivers have been tuned by HyperX audio engineers to provide the optimal listening experience that accents the dynamic sounds of gaming.
- Upgraded Microphone for Clarity and Accuracy: Captures high-quality audio for clear voice chat and calls. The mic is noise-cancelling and features a built-in mesh filter to omit disruptive sounds and LED mic mute indicator lets you know when you’re muted.
- Durability, for the Toughest of Battles: The headset is flexible and features an aluminum frame so it’s resilient against travel, accidents, mishaps, and your ‘level-headed’ reactions to losses and defeat screens.
In-store content and fan experiences
A separate announcement from OpTic Gaming described plans for in-store content and experiences with GameStop, including live and virtual Gaming Clinics drawing on OpTic athletes and opportunities for fans to meet players and creators. OpTic’s announcement adds an in-store component to the broader effort to connect esports personalities with retail customers.
A fighting-game clinic announcement
In June 2019, GameStop announced a planned clinic with professional fighting-game player Justin Wong. It was described as a 45-minute clinic composed of shorter videos intended to help amateur players improve. The announcement documents the plan, not whether the videos were released or whether the clinic continued. GameStop’s Justin Wong announcement provides the details.
Rank #2
- TRIFORCE TITANIUM 50 MM DRIVERS — Our cutting-edge proprietary design divides the driver into 3 parts for the individual tuning of highs, mids, and lows—producing brighter, clearer audio with richer highs and more powerful lows
- HYPERCLEAR CARDIOID MIC — An improved pickup pattern ensures more voice and less noise as it tapers off towards the mic’s back and sides, with the sweet spot easily placed at the mouth because of the mic’s bendable design
- ADVANCED PASSIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Sturdy closed earcups fully cover the ears to prevent noise from leaking into the headset, with its cushions providing a closer seal for more sound isolation
- LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN WITH MEMORY FOAM EAR CUSHIONS — At just 240 g, the headset features thicker headband padding and memory foam ear cushions with leatherette to keep gaming in peak form during grueling tournaments and training sessions
- VOLUME WHEEL — Its on-headset control makes it convenient to adjust audio levels without having to fiddle with any system or program settings
Why GameStop said it was investing in esports
GameStop Chief Marketing Officer Frank Hamlin described the ambition as creating player-development experiences for amateurs and preparing a next generation of professional gamers. In the March announcement, he called the goal becoming the “unofficial pop warner league of esports.” That phrase expressed the company’s aspiration; it was not an independent assessment of the initiative or its results.
The plan aligned with themes GameStop later outlined in its September 2019 fiscal-results announcement: optimizing its core business, making stores social and cultural gaming hubs, building digital capabilities and transforming vendor and partner relationships. The company’s fiscal Q2 2019 update described that broader strategy. The esports announcements fit the cultural-hub and partnership themes, but do not demonstrate that the strategy succeeded.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- TRIFORCE TITANIUM 50 MM DRIVERS — Our cutting-edge proprietary design divides the driver into 3 parts for the individual tuning of highs, mids, and lows—producing brighter, clearer audio with richer highs and more powerful lows
- HYPERCLEAR CARDIOID MIC — An improved pickup pattern ensures more voice and less noise as it tapers off towards the mic’s back and sides, with the sweet spot easily placed at the mouth because of the mic’s bendable design
- ADVANCED PASSIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Sturdy closed earcups fully cover the ears to prevent noise from leaking into the headset, with its cushions providing a closer seal for more sound isolation
- LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN WITH MEMORY FOAM EAR CUSHIONS — At just 240 g, the headset features thicker headband padding and memory foam ear cushions with leatherette to keep gaming in peak form during grueling tournaments and training sessions
- WORKS WITH WINDOWS SONIC — Make the most of the headset’s powerful drivers by pairing it with lifelike surround sound that places audio with pinpoint accuracy, heightening in-game awareness and immersion
What the announcements do—and do not—show
The dated announcements show that GameStop sought to use esports partnerships to create player-development activities and customer experiences around its stores and digital channels. They do not establish participation, revenue, customer-retention gains, profitability or other measurable effects. Nor do these historical sources confirm that the named relationships or the Performance Center remain active in 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- TRIFORCE 50MM DRIVERS GEN-2 — Tuned for improved clarity and positional performance, the Gen-2 drivers not only deliver more powerful audio, but have an improved soundstage to clearly hear every footstep and audio cue
- DETACHABLE HYPERCLEAR CARDIOID 9.9MM MIC — The mic’s unidirectional pickup pattern ensures more voice and less noise, while its detachable design allows for easy removal when not in use
- HYPERSPEED WIRELESS — Featuring an ultra-fast 2.4 GHz wireless connection, enjoy high-performance, low-latency competitive play with sound that’s perfectly synced to the game
- 3 MODES OF CONNECTIVITY — Gain the competitive edge when gaming on PC, console or mobile; seamlessly switch between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth with SmartSwitch Dual Wireless or stay plugged in for non-stop gaming via USB
- 7.1 SURROUND SOUND — With our advanced 7.1 surround sound, enjoy true-to-life acoustics that optimizes the game’s sound design to hear everything like being right in the middle of it all
Rank #4
- Detachable pro grade microphone featuring real time Blue Voice technology, including noise reducer, compressor, limiter and more for cleaner, professional sounding voice comms; Requires included USB external sound card, Windows PC, and Logitech G HUB software
- Next gen 7.1 and object based surround sound for greater in game positional, distance, and object awareness during gameplay. Requires included USB external sound card, Windows PC, and Logitech G HUB software
- Soft memory foam ear-pads with your choice of premium passive noise canceling leatherette or soft, breathable velour for supreme comfort
- Built to last with a durable aluminum fork and steel headband. Impedance - 35 Ohm
- Advanced PRO G 50 millimeter drivers deliver clear and precise sound imaging with improved bass response. Hear footsteps and environmental cues with clarity to give you the competitive advantage in game
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
