GameStop expand in Cork

GameStop is to open its 50th store in Ireland at the Ballincollig Shopping Centre in Cork today.

The company also has plans for a number of new stores in 2008, which will help create additional new jobs around the country.

The company currently has 388 employees and counting.

It has experienced phenomenal growth over the past four years since GameStop, the US games retail giant, acquired a majority shareholding in Irish company Gamesworld, which was founded by Kevin Neary and Michael Finucane from Finglas.

Turnover is likely to soar this year to almost €70m as a result of the new store openings and huge demand for new products including the Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3.

The store has recently got an extra supply of the must-have gizmo for Christmas, the Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo, which is producing 1.8 million consoles a month, has raised production targets several times in recent months.

It plans to ship a massive 17.5 million units worldwide this year, up from 14 million.

Michael Finucane, commercial director, GameStop Ireland, said: “The games industry and GameStop have experienced massive growth in Ireland over the past five years with the launches of next generation games consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.

“And with more and more Irish consumers being attracted to video games, they will increasingly find a GameStop near them,” he added.