Yes, as of 2022 GameStop does still accept PlayStation 3 (PS3) game trade-ins at their stores. However, the values you‘ll receive have declined substantially in recent years as the PS3 has gotten older and demand for those games has decreased among consumers.
In this guide, we‘ll dive deep on everything you need to know about trading in your PS3 games at GameStop currently: what they will pay, their policies, factors impacting values, tips to maximize your payout, and alternatives if you decide not to trade them in. Let‘s get started!
What‘s the current trade-in value for PS3 games at GameStop?
The amount of credit GameStop will offer for PS3 game trade-ins can vary wildly based on the title, with popular games from the heyday of the console fetching more than obscure games. Some key factors impacting their offer:
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Game popularity & critical reception – Major franchises like Call of Duty will carry more baseline value than unknown games. Highly rated titles also trade higher.
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Disc condition – Scratched or excessively worn discs get deducted value compared to pristine. Must function properly.
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Original case & manuals – Having the complete original case adds $2-3. Manuals add $1-2 more.
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Current demand – Hot new retros get temporary boosts. Sports games lose value quickly each year.
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Your PowerUp Rewards status – PRO members get 10% extra trade credit vs. basic members.
As a general range, common PS3 games in good condition will trade from $2 to $8 currently. Higher demand games can still get up to $15 to $30. The super rare titles like NCAA Football 14 can trade for $50 or more!
Here are average trade values for some popular PS3 games:
| PS3 Game Title | Average Trade Value |
|---|---|
| Call of Duty Black Ops | $3 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | $7 |
| Red Dead Redemption | $10 |
| Metal Gear Solid 4 | $15 |
| NCAA Football 14 | $55 |
For comparison, top PS4 and PS5 games will typically trade from $15 up to $45 at GameStop currently, so there is a substantial generation gap. But PS3 games still carry good intrinsic value for their age that you shouldn‘t ignore.
Evaluating your PS3 games‘ potential trade values
When deciding which PS3 games to trade in vs. keeping, evaluating their current market values is important. Sites like PriceCharting.com let you input specific game titles and view their present buy/sell prices across various marketplaces. This gives you a baseline to compare the GameStop trade offer against.
Additionally, search for your PS3 titles currently for sale on eBay and filter specifically for sold listings. Analyze what they recently actually sold for (not just asking prices). Armed with this market value knowledge, you can better decide to trade or sell a particular PS3 game before heading to GameStop. If their offer seems lower than the going rates, you have good reason to negotiate a better trade number or pass and sell it online instead.
How the PS3 trade-in process works at GameStop
Trading your PS3 games at a GameStop store is fairly straightforward:
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Gather the PS3 games you‘ve selected to trade along with their original cases and manuals if still intact. Clean discs if needed to ensure they are scratch-free.
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Take them to your local GameStop and let an employee know you are there to trade PS3 games. Hand them your stack.
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The employee will inspect each disc condition wise and look up the current trade values in their system. Any defects or missing cases/manuals will lower the totals.
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Once they‘ve made all value assessments, you can choose to receive your payout as cash, store credit, or a split. Opting for store credit gets you an extra 10-20% value bonus.
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If you accept the final trade offer, the employee will complete the transaction and provide your payment type. Traded games are then GameStop‘s property.
Some additional tips from my experience for getting the best price:
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Ask nicely if there is any wiggle room to get more credit if a title seems undervalued. politeness and chatting can‘t hurt!
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Time your trades to coincide with periodic bonus trade credit promotions GameStop runs.
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Trade toward newly released big games to get the 10% boost within 30 days of a major title launch. Maximizes your credit.
Why PS3 game values have decreased substantially
You may be wondering why PS3 games don‘t trade for nearly as much as they used to. Here are the key factors:
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The PS3 generation ended – Once the PS4 launched in 2013, the PS3 was relegated to "last gen" status. Consumer demand pivoted to the next generation.
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Ongoing popularity declined – As the PS3 aged without new releases, fewer gamers actively sought PS3 titles still.
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Supply increased via trade-ins – With demand down, a flood of trade-ins grew used PS3 game supply vastly, lowering resale prices.
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Game franchises continued on newer consoles – Major series like Call of Duty and GTA moved to PS4/PS5, fragmenting the marketplace.
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Production ceased – Without new disc copies being manufactured, the fixed supply has gotten scarcer for less popular titles.
According to VGChartz, PS3 game sales peaked in 2009 at 353 million units globally. By 2016, only 44 million PS3 games were still being sold as the console faded – a massive 88% drop illustrating its decline.
Other options beyond trading in your PS3 games
Trading your PS3 games into GameStop provides convenience and quick value extraction. But depending on your specific games, you may reap higher returns through other options:
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Sell individually online – Marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist allow you to list games for sale directly to buyers at any price. Takes more effort but nets the highest profits if priced right.
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Sell PS3 lots – Combining titles into bundled genre or franchise lots can maximize perceived value to buyers rather than individually.
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Give away to friends or family – Pass down cherished PS3 games you‘ll never play again to others who will enjoy them, especially younger gamers.
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Donate – Drop off at charities like Goodwill to let them resell. Gets you a tax deduction for the estimated value.
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Keep collecting – If you have any truly rare or highly sought after PS3 games, they may accrue value long term as retro collectibles.
The environmental benefits of trading vs. trashing
One final point to consider when deciding what to do with your PS3 games is the environmental impact. When you drop games off at GameStop for trade credit, they either resell them to other gamers or properly recycle them if too damaged. This keeps the discs and cases out of landfills and gives them renewed purpose. Even small bits of plastic add up over billions of game discs sold. So trading unused games is far "greener" than simply throwing them in the trash to sit in a landfill eternally. It gives your old games a new lease on life!
In summary…
While PlayStation 3 game values have certainly declined from their peak years ago, trading them into GameStop can still be a smart play to clear some space and earn decent credit toward new stuff. Take the time to assess your specific games‘ current market values and compare that to GameStop‘s offered trade amount. With some negotiation and bonus promotions, you may get a solid return for titles you‘ll likely never touch again. And trading unused games beats trashing them for the environmental win. Hopefully this guide gave you some helpful insights on maximizing your PS3 game trades!
