UK retailer CeX is set to open a dedicated retro store in Birmingham, in what may be the first of many for the company. The confirmation came through the company's store locator, which now lists 'Retro Birmingham' at 89-90 Bull Street.
CeX's plan to counter digital takeover
CeX is the biggest gaming retailer in the UK, following the downfall of GAME, but its future is in question as the gaming landscape becomes increasingly digital. Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation discs after 2027 has only accelerated fears around the second-hand retailer's prospects. As reported earlier this month, CeX appears to have a plan to counter the looming digital takeover.
According to YouTuber Retro Ghetto, CeX is planning to launch a new retro-only offshoot in Birmingham later this year or in early 2027. While the retailer has yet to publicly announce this new store, allegedly codenamed 'ReX' or 'CeX Retro', it has seemingly accidentally confirmed its existence via its website.
What the retro store will offer
According to the initial report, this store will be dedicated entirely to retro games, including imported titles from the likes of Japan and North America. Additionally, it's said the store will potentially stock arcade machines and retro collectibles.
This store will apparently have a 'dedicated analyst' too, whose job is to assess the price of items that are brought into the store and update their systems so they're in line with rivals.
Trial for future retro stores
It's claimed this first store in Birmingham is 'very much a trial' for more retro CeX shops in the future. 'It's more a case of if it goes well, that will happen,' Retro Ghetto said, citing internal CeX sources. 'If it doesn't, it won't.'
The big question is whether any retro CeX chain can prove enticing to hardcore collectors, especially against competitive prices on online marketplaces. At the moment, regular CeX stores aren't exactly known for offering the best deals when you trade-in games, DVDs, Blu-rays, and hardware, but presumably the company is aware of that reputation.
