UK second-hand retailer CeX appears to have confirmed plans to launch a dedicated retro gaming store in Birmingham, following earlier reports that the company is preparing to expand its presence in the growing market for classic and imported video games.
The retailer’s website now includes a listing for a “Retro Birmingham” branch, providing the strongest indication yet that CeX intends to open a specialist shop focused on older games, consoles and potentially international imports.
CeX Retro Birmingham Store Appears on Retailer’s Website
Reports of CeX’s retro gaming plans first emerged earlier in August, when retro gaming YouTuber Retro Ghetto said the company was preparing to open two specialist stores.
Unlike conventional CeX branches, which sell modern video games alongside smartphones, computers, laptops, DVDs, Blu-rays and other electronics, the proposed locations are expected to concentrate exclusively on retro gaming products.
According to the initial report, the first shop will be located in Birmingham, next to the existing CeX branch on Bull Street.
The neighbouring premises previously housed KidX, a second-hand retailer specialising in children’s products. The site is now reportedly being prepared to become the first dedicated CeX retro store, with the concept internally referred to as either “ReX”, short for Retro Exchange, or “CeX Retro”.
CeX Listing Provides Strongest Confirmation Yet
CeX has not issued a formal public announcement about the new concept. However, its online store finder now lists a “Retro Birmingham” location within the Midlands section.
The retro branch carries the same address as the existing Birmingham CeX, which remains separately listed. Its map marker is positioned slightly north of the current shop, supporting earlier claims that the new store will occupy the adjacent premises.
The listing remains limited, with the page currently stating only that “opening hours [are] coming soon”.
Its appearance nevertheless lends considerable weight to the earlier report, which suggested the Birmingham retro store could open by “either holiday this year or early 2027”.
Second CeX Retro Store Location Remains Unknown
While the Birmingham location is becoming clearer, there is still no confirmation about where CeX might open its second specialist retro branch.
The original report indicated that two locations were planned, although only Birmingham had been identified. No other dedicated retro branches currently appear on CeX’s website, suggesting the retailer may be concentrating on launching the Midlands location first.
If successful, the concept could give CeX a more specialised presence in Britain’s established retro gaming market, where collectors often seek discontinued consoles, physical games and hardware that can be difficult to find through mainstream retailers.
Imported Japanese and North American Games Could Be Sold
One of the most significant differences between the proposed retro stores and standard CeX branches is expected to be their approach to imported games.
According to the initial report, the specialist shops will stock titles and hardware from different regions rather than concentrating only on PAL-region products traditionally associated with the UK and European markets.
That could include Japanese and North American games and consoles that previously could not be sold through regular CeX branches.
CeX is also reportedly considering expanding the range beyond home consoles and games. Arcade machines could potentially be offered, alongside other retro-related products such as toys and collectibles.
Specialist Staff Could Value Rare Retro Gaming Products
Stock for the new shops is expected to initially come from existing CeX branches, with products potentially transferred from stores outside the UK as well. The approach would help ensure the Birmingham location has sufficient inventory when it opens.
After launch, however, the business is expected to follow the familiar CeX model, with customers selling and trading their second-hand products directly to the retailer.
Dedicated Analyst Expected to Monitor Retro Prices
Valuing older gaming products presents a particular challenge because rare or unusual items can have significantly different prices depending on their condition, region, edition and availability.
The earlier report suggested this was one reason CeX had not previously offered such an extensive range of specialist retro products across its standard stores. Staff working in conventional branches may not necessarily have the expertise required to assess uncommon gaming hardware and software accurately.
Dedicated retro branches are therefore reportedly expected to employ their own analyst. The specialist would assess newly acquired products and regularly update prices in CeX’s system to reflect movements in the wider retro gaming market.
The addition of “Retro Birmingham” to CeX’s website represents the clearest evidence so far that the retailer’s specialist gaming concept is moving towards launch. While details including the opening date and second proposed location remain unconfirmed, the Birmingham branch could mark a significant new direction for one of Britain’s best-known second-hand technology and gaming retailers.
Edward Langley is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developing stories. His work highlights issues, trends and events that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessible journalism.