UK second-hand retail chain CeX is reportedly opening two stores dedicated entirely to retro games.
The first Computer Exchange opened in London in 1992, and since then the business has grown to nearly 400 stores across the UK, as well as numerous stores in Republic of Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Australia and Portugal, among others.
Now, according to retro YouTuber Retro Ghetto (as spotted by Retro Dodo), the company is set to open two new CeX stores which are dedicated solely to retro games.
CeX has been selling retro games and hardware for a number of years now, but these often take up a small part of their stores, which also sell modern games, mobile phones, computers, laptops, DVDs and Blu-rays.
The growing interest in retro gaming, however, has seen these sections becoming more popular, and as a result these two new stores – which are currently being codenamed ‘ReX’ (for Retro Exchange) or ‘CeX Retro’ – will instead focus entirely on retro games.
They will also reportedly sell games from all regions, rather than just PAL regions, meaning games and hardware that could never previously be sold in CeX (including North American and Japanese imports) will be on sale in the new stores.
According to Retro Ghetto, the first of these stores will be opened in Birmingham, in an empty shop next to the existing CeX in Bull Street. This shop was previously a second-hand shop for children’s goods called KidX, but is now set to become the first ‘ReX’ store. The second location wasn’t confirmed in the video.
ReX stores may also sell arcade games and other retro collectibles
The shops’ initial stock will be shipped over from other CeX stores, as well as potentially other stores outside of the UK, to ensure there’s enough to buy on opening day. Once the stores open, however, new stock will be based on the buying and trading of customers’ second-hand items, as in other CeX stores.
CeX is also reportedly considering selling arcade machines at the stores, as well as the option to sell other retro items such as toys or collectibles.
The report says the reason CeX hasn’t been doing this in its other stores is because unique items need unique prices, and CeX staff aren’t necessarily trained to be able to judge the value of an older product.
These dedicated stores, however, will reportedly have their own analyst whose job will be to appraise new items that come into the store and constantly update prices on its system to make sure its prices are in line with the retro marketplace.
“Apparently, this is very hush hush, even amongst CeX staff,” Retro Ghetto said in their video. “There’s people probably watching this now that work for CeX who had no idea this is happening. It’s taken quite a long time to get all this information together so that I could share it with you guys today. And as much as I trust my CeX source, I did want further confirmation.
“So, I’m now at a point where I’ve actually had two internal CeX sources share this information with me. And listen, ultimately, until something happens, there’s a chance it could not happening. But I can confirm this is definitely in the works. This is definitely their intention.
“I’d be very surprised if this doesn’t come to fruition, given the fact that they’ve already confirmed the venue, they’ve even named the manager, I know who the manager is going to be.
“There’s no point in me sharing individual names or information or anything like that on this video. It’s not relevant. I wouldn’t want to do that anyway. But if you’re going to get to that point where you’re appointing staff, getting a location, this looks like it’s definitely going to happen and and hopefully CeX plan to open it, I think, holiday this year. That would obviously make sense. I was told either holiday this year or early 2027.”
