GameStop confirms it is looking for a buyer, but how much time can that buy them?

Despite GameStop possibly finding a buyer, they still have an uphill battle

It appears that our beloved game store is indeed looking for a savior. In an exclusive from Reuters, it has been confirmed that GameStop is holding talks with potential buyers. That means there is hope that our favorite store may never suffer the fate of so many stores.

Like Sears and Toys 'R Us before it, GameStop has suffered from declining numbers to do increased pressure from online sales and ecommerce giants like Amazon; unlike those stores, GameStop faces an ever greater opponent: digital downloads.

In today's environment, brick and mortar stores are struggling to stay relevant, and with GameStop's competitors, shipping time is no issue. Microsoft and Sony have both made it very clear: the future of game purchasing will be digital. Customers are now given the option of instant gratification because of digital downloading. You want the new God of War? You aren't going to GameStop to buy it or even Amazon to order it; you are downloading it straight to your console. With fast enough internet, you can be playing in less time than it would take to run to the store.

Unfortunately, the future is not looking any brighter for GameStop. Microsoft is pushing more toward streaming than it is physical discs, and Steam is only getting more popular. GameStop has one key product keeping it alive: used games. As long as consoles support used games, GameStop can keep some home. However, as has been rumored before, there is no guarantee Microsoft and Sony will support this forever.

So yes, it appears that GameStop may find a buyer to support them for the present, but the outlook for stores such as GameStop is darker than ever. A buyer may buy them some time for now, but barring a drastic restructuring of their business plan, GameStop may soon see a future where it is just forced to stop.