Wata Games
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Wata Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wata Games
- Legal name
- PSA Video Games
- Website
- https://watagames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wata Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collectibles Authentication and Grading Services
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Collectibles Grading & Authentication Services (CRAMAOAH)
Keywords
Where Wata Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Wata Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Collectibles Grading Services: Wata Games (now PSA Video Games) generates revenue through grading and authentication services for video game collectibles. After rebranding under Collectors Universe/PSA umbrella, the service offers submission-based grading with expected 30% YoY growth in 2025.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Wata Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wata Games (now rebranded as PSA Video Games) provides third-party authentication and grading services for vintage and retro video game collectibles. Collectors submit games through an online submission portal; the company inspects, assigns a grade, encapsulates the item, and issues a unique certification number that can be verified via Cert Lookup. Additional offerings include Pop Reports (population data) and a Dealer Program for bulk submissions from resellers.
Product overview
PSA Video Games (formerly Wata Games) operates as a unified platform offering video game collectible grading and authentication services. The core product encompasses certification lookup, population reports, and a submission portal that work together to provide end-to-end authentication services. Additional offerings include a dealer program for bulk submissions and dedicated support services. Following the 2025 rebrand to PSA, the platform aligns with the broader PSA umbrella of collectibles authentication services under Collectors Universe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PSA Video Games Grading and Authentication Service End-to-end video game collectibles grading service where individual collectors submit games to be inspected, assigned a numerical grade, encapsulated in a protective case, and assigned a unique certification number. Targets individual video game collectors seeking third-party authentication.
- Cert Lookup Online verification tool that allows users to confirm the authenticity and grade of a video game collectible by entering its unique certification number.
- Pop Reports Population data reports providing statistics on the count and grade distribution of certified video game collectibles by title and edition, enabling collectors and dealers to assess rarity and market value.
- Submission Services Self-serve online submission portal that guides collectors through the process of preparing and sending in video games for professional grading and authentication.
- Dealer Program Dedicated program for video game dealers and resellers offering discounted grading rates, bulk submission processing, and dedicated support for high-volume inventory certification.
Companies that use Wata Games
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Wata Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Wata Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Collectors UniverseflagshipWata Games was acquired by Collectors Universe over four years ago (circa 2021) and has now completed rebranding to PSA. The acquisition aligned Wata Games operations under the PSA umbrella, integrating pop-culture collectibles authentication into the broader Collectors Universe family of brands.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wata Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- eBay: Largest general-purpose collectibles marketplace where a meaningful share of graded video game transactions occur. eBay is not a grading competitor but functions as a downstream distribution channel that amplifies the value proposition of PSA Video Games certifications.
- PWCC Marketplace: Major trading card and collectibles marketplace that depends heavily on third-party grading for transaction trust. While not a grader itself, PWCC is an ecosystem participant whose dealer base overlaps directly with the PSA Video Games Dealer Program.
Broad incumbents
- Heritage Auctions: Largest US collectibles auction house handling video games, comics, and trading cards. Heritage competes indirectly through its own in-house authentication and population-grade references, and shares the same high-value collector customer base as PSA Video Games.
- Beckett Grading Services (BGS): Long-standing sports card and collectibles grading service with the same slab-based authentication model. While focused on sports cards rather than video games, BGS shares the pricing-by-tier, population-reporting, and dealer submission workflow that PSA Video Games operates.
- Certified Guaranty Company (CGC): Established third-party grading service specializing in comics and trading cards, with adjacent collectibles categories. Operates the same transaction-fee authentication business model and serves an overlapping collector demographic, making it a structurally comparable but broader incumbent.
- Goldin: Premium collectibles auction and marketplace platform featuring graded trading cards and pop-culture memorabilia. Goldin serves the same affluent collector and dealer audience, and benefits from third-party grading providers like PSA Video Games whose certifications underwrite item valuations.
- Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC): Independent grading service primarily for sports and trading cards using the same submission-to-certification workflow. SGC competes for the same dealer and collector dollars in adjacent collectibles verticals, making it a comparable business-model peer even without direct video game overlap.
Direct peers
- Video Game Authority (VGA): Direct competitor focused exclusively on grading and authenticating collectible video games. VGA offers comparable certification, slab, and population services to the same collector and dealer customer base, making it the closest functional substitute to PSA Video Games (formerly Wata Games).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wata Games social profiles
Digital presenceWata Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wata Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Wata Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wata Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wata Games
What does Wata Games do?
Wata Games (now rebranded as PSA Video Games) provides third-party authentication and grading services for vintage and retro video game collectibles. Collectors submit games through an online submission portal; the company inspects, assigns a grade, encapsulates the item, and issues a unique certification number that can be verified via Cert Lookup. Additional offerings include Pop Reports (population data) and a Dealer Program for bulk submissions from resellers.
Is Wata Games a public or private company?
Wata Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wata Games founded?
Wata Games was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wata Games based?
Wata Games is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wata Games make money?
One revenue line is on record: collectibles Grading Services.
Who are Wata Games's main competitors?
Others on record are eBay and PWCC Marketplace. Broad incumbents are Heritage Auctions, Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), Goldin and Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC). Video Game Authority (VGA) is listed as a direct peer.
Does Wata Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wata Games.
What industry is Wata Games in?
Wata Games's product category is Collectibles Authentication and Grading Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAOAH, Sports Collectibles Grading & Authentication Services. Its SIC code is 7990.