- GameStop stock (NYSE:GME) jumped after it declared the “console wars” over, following Microsoft’s announcement that Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch on PlayStation 5 next year
- The White House joined the meme frenzy, sharing an AI-generated image of President Trump as Master Chief, sparking widespread online reactions
- GameStop fired back with its own viral image featuring Trump’s mugshot on Master Chief’s helmet and VP JD Vance as Cortana, fuelling both praise and controversy
- GameStop stock (NYSE:GME) opened trading at US$23.52
GameStop (NYSE:GME) saw a sharp rise in its stock price Monday, after a weekend of viral social media activity that blended gaming culture, political satire, and AI-generated imagery. The meme stock was trading more than 7 per cent higher at one point, before closing up 0.99 per cent.
The catalyst? A tongue-in-cheek declaration from GameStop that the decades-long “console wars” between Xbox and PlayStation were officially over.
This declaration ignores the fact that the console wars started back in the 80’s between Nintendo (OTC:NTDOF) and Sega (OTC:SGAMF), but let’s not let facts get in the way of telling a story.
This announcement followed Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) morose reveal that Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, will launch on PlayStation 5 in 2026—marking the first time the iconic Xbox-exclusive franchise will appear on Sony’s (NYSE:SONY) platform. This means Master Chief, Xbox’s own Mario-level mascot for nearly 25 years, will grace the competition.
GameStop responded with a mock presidential-style statement on X, proclaiming peace between console factions and positioning itself as a “Neutral Entity and The World’s Retail Gaming & Trade-in Destination.” It was a smart bit of promotion for the store that capitalized on the news. The post quickly gained traction, prompting an unexpected reply from the official White House account.
In a surreal twist, the White House reposted GameStop’s declaration alongside an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump dressed as Halo’s Master Chief, saluting in front of the White House with a stylized American flag (missing 10 stars). The caption read “Power to the Players,” GameStop’s slogan. Yes, this is an official image released by the White House. I know this might shock you, but I don’t think President Trump fully grasped the issue before having the image released, given that his Master Chief disguise represents the loser in this console war (also, is this why Master Chief never took off his helmet?). Let’s not forget that Microsoft is an American company and Sony is not, so this might not be a winning story for someone who wants to promote domestic business to celebrate.
GameStop then escalated the meme war with its own AI-generated image: Trump’s mugshot superimposed onto Master Chief’s helmet, and Vice President JD Vance depicted as Cortana, the franchise’s female AI companion. Vance’s face was bloated in the rendering, referencing a viral meme that has followed him since his inauguration.
While some might praise the playful engagement, others criticize the politicization of gaming culture and the use of AI-generated content on official government-run channels. The image of Trump as Master Chief drew backlash, not just for its inaccuracies, but its cringeworthy attempt to appeal to younger voters.
Despite the controversy, the meme momentum translated into market movement, as retail investors rallied behind the viral moment.
About GameStop Corp.
GameStop Corp. is a U.S. video game, consumer electronics and services retailer. The company sells new and second-hand video game hardware, physical and digital video game software, and video game accessories.
GameStop stock (NYSE:GME) opened trading at US$23.52 and though it has fallen 25.27 per cent since the year began, it is up 3.26 per cent since this time last year.
Join the discussion: Find out what the Bullboards are saying about GameStop and check out Stockhouse’s stock forums and message boards.
Stockhouse does not provide investment advice or recommendations. All investment decisions should be made based on your own research and consultation with a registered investment professional. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein. For full disclaimer information, please click here.
