US video games giant GameStop has opened its first store in Great Britain and plans an aggressive expansion to build up a national presence.

GameStop's entry and it's ambitious growth plans have increased speculation it may be running a slide rule over UK market leader Game. The latter revealed last month it was in talks that could lead to a possible offer for the business.

GameStop opened the 1,700 sq ft (160 sq m) store at Birmingham's Bullring earlier this month. GameStop Europe commercial director Michael Finucane said: 'That is the intention (to be a national player). We want to open as many stores as quickly as we possibly can.'

Finucane refused to comment on whether the retailer is interested in acquiring Game.

GameStop already has 21 stores in the Republic of Ireland and four in Northern Ireland.

GameStop has more than 1,800 stores in the US and had sales of US $1.84 billion (£972.9 million) last year on earnings before income tax of US $98.9 million (£52.3 million). It acquired Irish business Gamesworld, founded by Finucane and managing director Kevin Neary in 2003, which has become GameStop Europe.

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