--- title: "PayMore Launches “Level Up” as Gamers Enter a Major Hardware Upgrade Cycle" url: https://burnaze.com/article/18defbcd-b2fa-4bcb-b014-1fb80a0e41e3 source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20261006_paymore_launches_level_up_as_gamers_enter_a_major_hardware_upgrade_cycle.html category: "Specialty retail" industry: "Retail" segment: "Specialty retail" published: 2026-10-06T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T14:57:31.148Z image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1524749292158-7540c2494485?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop --- # PayMore Launches “Level Up” as Gamers Enter a Major Hardware Upgrade Cycle **TL;DR:** PayMore, an electronics resale franchise, has launched a new consumer promotion called Level Up, which gives customers a $10 gift card when they sell a qualifying gaming system. The promotion runs through November 20 at participating U.S. and Canadian locations. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-10-06. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20261006_paymore_launches_level_up_as_gamers_enter_a_major_hardware_upgrade_cycle.html).* ## Key facts - PayMore has 150 locations - Level Up runs through November 20 - Customers get $10 gift card per console ## Story NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As major game releases and new hardware push gamers toward their next console upgrade, PayMore is turning its view of the secondary electronics market into a new consumer promotion. ## Level Up promotion PayMore, a leading electronics resale franchise approaching 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada, today announced Level Up, running now through November 20 at participating U.S. and Canadian locations. The promotion will give customers who sell a qualifying gaming system their regular cash offer plus a $10 PayMore promotional gift card ($10 CAD in Canada). The launch comes ahead of the November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto VI for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. For gamers still using previous-generation PlayStation 4 or Xbox One hardware, playing the highly anticipated title will require moving to a supported console. At the same time, Nintendo Switch 2 is driving another hardware cycle among owners of the original Switch. PayMore’s own transaction data shows activity in the secondary market behind those upgrades. In a recent month, the company’s U.S. stores purchased gaming systems from consumers, returning cash to customers. Historical data shows thousands of gaming systems moving through PayMore stores month to month, including during the 2025 holiday quarter. ## Gaming system trends The activity spans PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox systems across multiple generations, illustrating patterns in how consumers buy, sell and upgrade gaming technology. “We have a front-row seat to the way consumers are changing how they think about the technology they own,” said Stephen Preuss, CEO of PayMore. “Across our network, we see thousands of gaming systems come through our doors month after month. People are realizing that upgrading doesn’t have to mean starting from zero. There can be real value in the technology they’re replacing, and we’ve built PayMore to make accessing that value simple, safe and immediate.” PayMore’s data also shows continued activity across previous-generation hardware, even as newer consoles enter the market. For consumers, that means an upgrade does not necessarily eliminate the resale value of the system being replaced. “We see the technology cycle play out in our stores every day, and gaming is a particularly clear example of it,” said Erik Helgesen, President and Co-Founder of PayMore. “GTA VI creates a very specific hardware decision for someone who is still playing on a PS4 or Xbox One, while Nintendo players are already making similar decisions around moving from Switch to Switch 2. What consumers may not realize is that the system they’re replacing can still have demand and resale value, which can help offset the cost of upgrading.” The convergence of major game releases and newer hardware, along with the approaching holiday season, creates a timely context for assessing gaming technology that may no longer be used. Electronics such as smartphones, gaming consoles and other devices can retain value after owners move on. From October 5 through November 20, customers will receive their regular cash offer plus a $10 PayMore promotional gift card ($10 CAD in Canada) for each qualifying gaming console or gaming system sold to PayMore, with no limit on the number of bonuses a customer can earn. Stores evaluate devices in person and provide customers with an offer based on factors such as model, age, condition and current market demand. In addition to gaming systems, electronics such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and other consumer electronics are bought and sold. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - Retail (sector) - PayMore (company) - Erik Helgesen (person) - electronics resale (topic) - Stephen Preuss (person) - PlayStation 5 (company) - Xbox Series X|S (company) - Nintendo Switch 2 (company) - gaming console resale (topic) - consumer promotion (topic) - hardware upgrade cycle (topic) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20261006_paymore_launches_level_up_as_gamers_enter_a_major_hardware_upgrade_cycle.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/18defbcd-b2fa-4bcb-b014-1fb80a0e41e3).