The retailer has 13 stores set up around the country, but those will close as of February 7, according to its official website.

GameStop announced yesterday it would close its three stores in Northern Ireland in Belfast, Derry and Newry, but the latest development could suggest something bigger might be in play.

We were told in a tweet yesterday that GameStop is apparently set to pull out of Europe entirely in brick and mortar form at least. Its biggest presence is currently in the Republic of Ireland.

GameStop UK commercial director Michael Finucane said overnight stores that are south of the Northern Irish border are safe for now at least.

According to a recently-held press conference for the Iberica region – the part in Europe containing Spain and Portugal – Nintendo sold 1.3 million combined units of DS and Wii hardware in the area last year.

It was also reported that 6.39 million software units were sold in the two countries for the two consoles in last year, making up for a 44.7 percent market share.

Nintendo claims that DS is now the best-selling console in Spanish history with 5.3 million units. That makes up for a market share of 67.9 percent. Art Academy is DS’s best-selling game in the region.

Wii, meanwhile, has sold 2.7 million units, claiming a market share of 49.2 percent.

But despite that, figures from the company in the region went down by six percent last year.

Nintendo is set to release its new DS SKU, 3DS, in Europe in March, with more concrete details coming later today at the publisher’s event for the handheld in Amsterdam.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Eurogamer.pt – that’s Portugal – is reporting that God of War 3 will be appearing at E3.

Sony has apparently sent round a press release stating nothing else apart from confirmation of its appearance.

“Relembramos,” says the rather comical Google translation, “that God Of War III goes to be available, for Playstation 3, only in the end of the next year.”

This is much better Sony. More please.

By Mike Bowden

Eurogamer Network’s just announced the launch of its Portuguese site – Eurogamer.pt, obviously – to be published in conjunction with local publisher LusoPlay.

The company also claimed it reached more than 2.1 million unique users with the Eurogamer brand in April 2008.

There are now local language Eurogamer sites in place in the UK, France, Germany and Portugal.

“[Lusoplay's] expertise in the Portuguese gaming market and community, combined with the Eurogamer brand, reach, technology and infrastructure, mean Eurogamer.pt will quickly become the leading video game content site in Portugal,” said Eurogamer MD Rupert Loman.

Press release after the link.

Eurogamer expands into Portugal

Press Release

Brighton, England, May 21st, 2008: Eurogamer today announces the newest website in the Eurogamer network – Eurogamer Portugal. The site is now live at http://www.eurogamer.pt

The site is being published in partnership with LusoPlay. Since being launched by Tiago Silva in 2006, LusoPlay has become a leading gaming community in Portugal. The site will be merged into Eurogamer.pt as part of the deal.

Eurogamer’s managing director Rupert Loman said, “We were very impressed with the success Tiago and his team achieved with LusoPlay. Their expertise in the Portuguese gaming market and community, combined with the Eurogamer brand, reach, technology and infrastructure, mean Eurogamer.pt will quickly become the leading video game content site in Portugal.”

Eurogamer Portugal’s Tiago Silva added, “I’m really happy to be part of Eurogamer. It has always been my favourite videogames website and it is regarded as one of the most important videogames websites around world. It’s a pleasure to join the family. We are planning to make Eurogamer the best Portuguese-language videogames website ever.”

Eurogamer is currently rolling out its first pan-European advertising deals with publishers, which incorporate activity on Eurogamer.net, Eurogamer Germany, Eurogamer France and Eurogamer Portugal. Several additional European-language sites are expected to launch this year, giving games publishers an unbeatable one-stop shop for reaching gamers across the continent.

Eurogamer – Europe’s leading independent video games website – reached more than 2.1 million unique users in April 2008.

The latest European site from Eurogamer Network means the company’s now got content in in four European languages, the others being German, French and, of course, English.

So there we are.