v3.23.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Our cash and cash equivalents are carried at fair value and consist primarily of cash, money market funds, cash deposits with commercial banks, U.S. government bonds and notes, and highly rated direct short-term instruments that mature in 90 days or less. Such investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less are classified as cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Restricted cash consists primarily of bank deposits that collateralize our obligations to vendors and landlords.
The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in our Consolidated Balance Sheets to total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
20222021
Cash and cash equivalents$1,139.0 $1,271.4 
Restricted cash(1)
41.3 33.1
Long-term restricted cash(2)
15.7 15.4
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$1,196.0 $1,319.9 
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(1) Recognized in prepaid expenses and other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2) Recognized in other noncurrent assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Investments
We generally invest our excess cash in highly-rated money market funds and investment grade short-term fixed income securities, which consist of U.S. government and agency securities. Such investments with an original maturity in excess of 90 days and less than one year are classified as marketable securities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Our investments are classified as available-for-sale debt securities and reported at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses upon sale or extinguishment are reported in interest (income) expense and other, net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Each reporting period, we evaluate whether declines in fair value below carrying value are due to expected credit losses, as well as our ability and intent to hold the investment until a forecasted recovery occurs.
Merchandise Inventories
Our merchandise inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market generally using the average cost method. Under the average cost method, as new product is received from vendors, its current cost is added to the existing cost of product on-hand and this amount is re-averaged over the cumulative units. Pre-owned gaming systems and other products traded in by customers are recorded as inventory at the amount of the store credit given to the customer. We are required to make adjustments to inventory to reflect potential obsolescence or over-valuation as a result of cost exceeding market. In valuing inventory, we consider quantities on hand, recent sales, potential price protections, returns to vendors and other factors. Our ability to assess these factors is dependent upon our ability to forecast customer demand and to provide a well-balanced merchandise assortment. Inventory is adjusted based on anticipated physical inventory losses or shrinkage and actual losses resulting from periodic physical inventory counts. Inventory reserves as of January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022 were $46.7 million and $34.6 million, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation on fixtures and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, while improvements and major remodeling costs are capitalized. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the terms of the respective leases, which includes reasonably certain renewal options. Costs incurred in purchasing or developing management information systems are capitalized and included in fixtures and equipment. These costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives from the date the technology becomes operational. We periodically review our property and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amounts may not be recoverable or its depreciation or amortization periods should be accelerated. We assess recoverability based on several factors, including our intention with respect to our stores and those stores' projected undiscounted cash flows. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds its fair value, determined based on an estimate of discounted future cash flows or readily available market information for similar assets.
Assets Held for Sale
We consider assets to be held for sale when management, with appropriate authority, approves and commits to a formal plan to actively market the assets for sale at a price reasonable in relation to their estimated fair value, the assets are available for immediate sale in their present condition, an active program to locate a buyer has been initiated, the sale of the assets is probable and expected to be completed within one year, and it is unlikely that significant changes will be made to the plan. Upon designation as held for sale, we record the assets at the lower of their carrying value or their estimated fair value, reduced for the cost to dispose the assets.
Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are expected to contribute to cash flows indefinitely and, therefore, are not subject to amortization but are required to be evaluated at least annually for impairment. If the carrying value of an individual indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, such individual indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired by the amount of the excess. We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis during the fourth quarter or when circumstances indicate the carrying value might be impaired. Our indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of digital assets and trade names.
Digital Assets
We account for digital assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). Our digital assets are initially recorded at cost. Accordingly, if the fair market value at any point during the reporting period is lower than the carrying value, an impairment loss equal to the difference will be recognized in selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. This new cost basis will not be adjusted upward for any subsequent increase in fair value. Gains or losses on the sale of digital assets, if any, will be recognized based on the fair value upon sale or disposal of the assets in SG&A expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. See Note 11, "Intangible Assets" for additional information.
Trade Names
The fair value of our trade names are estimated by using a relief-from-royalty approach, which assumes the value of the trade name is the discounted cash flows of the amount that would be paid by a hypothetical market participant had they not owned the trade name and instead licensed the trade name from another company. As a result of our annual impairment testing in fiscal 2020, we recognized impairment charges of $1.1 million associated with our trade names. We recognized no impairment charges during fiscal 2022 and 2021. See Note 11, "Intangible Assets" for additional information.
Definite-lived Intangible Assets
Our definite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of leasehold rights. The estimated useful life and amortization methodology of intangible assets are determined based on the period in which they are expected to contribute directly to cash flows. Intangible assets that are determined to have a definite life are amortized over the life of the asset.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when performance obligations are satisfied by transferring goods or services to the customer in an amount that we expect to collect in exchange for those goods or services. The satisfaction of a performance obligation with a single customer may occur at a point in time or may occur over time. The significant majority of our revenue is recognized at a point in time, generally when a customer purchases and takes possession of merchandise through our stores or when merchandise purchased through our ecommerce platforms is delivered to a customer. We have arrangements with customers where our performance obligations are satisfied over time, which primarily relate to extended warranties and our Game Informer® magazine. In arrangements where we have multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on their relative stand-alone selling price (see "Loyalty Program").
Revenue is recognized net of sales discounts and net of an estimated sales return reserve. Our sales return policy is generally limited to 30 days or less and as such our sales returns are, and historically have been, immaterial. Revenues do not include sales taxes or other taxes collected from customers.
Advertising revenues for Game Informer® are recorded upon release of magazines for sale to consumers. Subscription revenues for our PowerUp Rewards® loyalty program and magazines are recognized on a straight-line basis over the subscription period. Revenue from the sales of product replacement plans is recognized on a straight-line basis over the coverage period. Customer liabilities and other deferred revenues for our PowerUp Rewards® loyalty program, gift cards, customer credits, magazines and product replacement plans are included in accrued liabilities and other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
We also sell a variety of digital products which generally allow consumers to download software or play games on the internet. The significant majority of the digital products we sell are unbundled and do not require us to purchase inventory or take physical possession of, or take title to, inventory. When purchasing these products from us, consumers pay a retail price and we earn a commission based on a percentage of the retail sale as negotiated with the digital product publisher. We recognize the sale of these digital products on a net basis, whereby the commissions earned are recorded as revenue.
Loyalty Program
Our PowerUp Rewards® loyalty program allows paid members to earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for rewards that include discounts or coupons. When loyalty program members purchase our product, we allocate the transaction price between the product and loyalty points earned based on the relative stand-alone selling prices and expected point redemption. The portion allocated to the loyalty points is initially recorded as deferred revenue and subsequently recognized as revenue upon redemption or expiration.
The two primary estimates utilized to record the deferred revenue for loyalty points earned by members are the estimated retail price per point and estimated breakage. The estimated retail price per point is based on the actual historical retail prices of product purchased through the redemption of loyalty points. We estimate breakage of loyalty points based on historical redemption rates. We continually evaluate our methodology and assumptions based on developments in retail price per point redeemed, redemption patterns and other factors. Changes in the retail price per point and redemption rates have the effect of either increasing or decreasing the deferred revenue liability through current period revenue by an amount estimated to represent the retail value of all points previously earned but not yet redeemed by loyalty program members as of the end of the reporting period. The cost of administering the loyalty program, including program administration fees, program communications and cost of loyalty cards, is recognized in SG&A expenses in our Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Customer Liabilities
We establish a liability upon the issuance of merchandise credits and the sale of gift cards. Revenue is subsequently recognized when the credits and gift cards are redeemed. In addition, we recognize breakage in revenue upon redemption and in proportion to historical redemption patterns, regardless of the age of the unused gift cards and merchandise credit liabilities. To the extent that future redemption patterns differ from those historically experienced, there will be variations in the recorded breakage.
Vendor Arrangements
We participate in vendor cooperative advertising programs and other vendor marketing programs in which vendors provide us with cash consideration in exchange for marketing and advertising the vendors’ products. Our accounting for cooperative advertising arrangements and other vendor marketing programs results in a significant portion of the consideration received from our vendors reducing the product costs in inventory rather than as an offset to our marketing and advertising costs. The consideration serving as a reduction in inventory is recognized in cost of sales as inventory is sold. The amount of vendor allowances to be recorded as a reduction of inventory is determined based on the nature of the consideration received and the merchandise inventory to which the consideration relates. We apply a sell-through rate to determine the timing in which the consideration should be recognized in cost of sales. Consideration received that relates to gaming products that have not yet been released to the public is deferred as a reduction of inventory.
The cooperative advertising programs and other vendor marketing programs generally cover a period from a few days up to a few weeks and include items such as product catalog advertising, in-store display promotions, internet advertising, co-op print advertising and other programs. The allowance for each event is negotiated with the vendor and requires specific performance by us to be earned. Vendor allowances of $70.3 million, $71.7 million and $72.5 million were recorded as a reduction of cost of sales for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Cost of Sales and Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses Classification
The classification of cost of sales and SG&A expenses varies across the retail industry. We include certain purchasing, receiving and distribution costs in SG&A in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We include processing fees associated with purchases made by credit cards and other payment methods in cost of sales in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Advertising Expenses
We expense advertising costs for television, print, digital advertising, and other media when the advertising takes place. Advertising expenses for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020 totaled $75.0 million, $93.6 million, and $58.4 million, respectively.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense includes federal, state, local and international income taxes. Income taxes are accounted for utilizing an asset and liability approach and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to
taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized. In accordance with GAAP, we maintain liabilities for uncertain tax positions until examination of the tax year is completed by the applicable taxing authority, available review periods expire or additional facts and circumstances cause us to change our assessment of the appropriate accrual amount. See Note 15, "Income Taxes," for additional information.
We do not assert indefinite reinvestment on the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. Income tax and/or withholding tax associated with any amounts available for distribution as of January 28, 2023 is not expected to be material to our financial statements.
Leases
We conduct the substantial majority of our business with leased real estate properties, including retail stores, warehouse facilities and office space. We also lease certain equipment and vehicles. These are generally leased under non-cancelable agreements and include various renewal options for additional periods. These agreements generally provide for minimum, and in some cases, percentage rentals, and require us to pay insurance, taxes and other maintenance costs. Percentage rentals are based on sales performance in excess of specified minimums at various stores and are accounted for in the period in which the amount of percentage rentals can be accurately estimated. All of our lease agreements are classified as operating leases.
We determine if an arrangement is considered a lease at inception. We recognize ROU assets, on the commencement date based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term, including reasonably certain renewal options. As the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable for most leases, we utilize our incremental borrowing rate ("IBR") to determine the present value of future payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents a significant judgment that is based on an analysis of our credit rating, country risk, corporate bond yields and the effect of collateralization. For our real estate leases, we do not separate the components of a contract, thus our future payments include minimum rent payments and fixed executory costs. For our non-real estate leases, future payments include only fixed minimum rent payments. We record the amortization of our ROU assets and the accretion of our lease liabilities as a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the lease term, which includes option terms we are reasonably certain to exercise. We recognize our cash or lease incentives as a reduction to the ROU asset. We assess ROU assets for impairment in accordance with our long-lived asset impairment policy, which is performed periodically or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.
Foreign Currency
Generally, we have determined that the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are the subsidiaries’ local currencies. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate as of the end of the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at an average rate over the period. Currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income in our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss. Currency translation adjustments related to divested foreign businesses are reclassified into earnings as a component of SG&A in our Consolidated Statements of Operations once the liquidation of the respective foreign businesses is substantially complete.
Transaction gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in nonfunctional currencies and derivatives resulted in net losses of $2.6 million, $3.4 million, and $1.0 million, for fiscal 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These costs were recognized in SG&A expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
We use forward exchange contracts to manage currency risk primarily related to foreign-currency denominated intercompany assets and liabilities. The forward exchange contracts are not designated as hedges and, therefore, changes in the fair values of these derivatives are recognized in earnings, thereby offsetting the current earnings effect of the re-measurement of related intercompany loans. See Note 12, "Fair Value Measurements," for additional information regarding our forward exchange contracts.