This time, the lineup wasn’t for toilet paper or groceries.

Dozens of avid gamers shook off a global COVID-19 pandemic, public shaming from police, Premier Doug Ford, Mayor John Tory and random passersby shouting and swearing, to get their hands on Nintendo’s latest blockbuster game release: “Animal Crossing — New Horizons.”

Brian Livingstone, who waited in line for about an hour before being admitted to the Yonge and Shuter streets store, said he was well aware of the virus, but insisted he was staying safe.

“I’ve been inside for the last three weeks, so I can’t have it. And as soon as I get it, I’m going back home probably for another three weeks,” said Livingstone. “People are staying a good distance apart, and the store’s doing a pretty good job.”

At about noon, Mother Nature seemingly disapproved, as the skies opened up with a brief downpour.

Dennis Johnson said he was excited for “Animal Crossing,” as well as the launch of “Doom: Eternal.” Getting them in-store rather than downloading them online made it less likely the games would be damaged.

“The data could get corrupted in a download. This way, I know I’ve got the game. I’m going to be home for a while,” said Johnson.

One man who declined to speak to reporters, was in line with two young children. When the trio exited the store, game in hand, one of the children was beaming, saying excitedly “we got the game!”

The only time people in the lineup seemed to get nervous was when a woman wandered down the line, attempting to sneak up on waiting shoppers and give them a hug or tousle their hair. One man looked shell-shocked after the woman twirled away southwards on Yonge St. while giggling.

At city hall on Friday, Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, who is leading the city’s emergency management of the COVID-19 crisis, said emergency officials are “looking into” the store’s actions to determine the “appropriate response.”

“It may involve enforcement,” Pegg said, “but the most effective means is one of education in achieving public support and compliance.”

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s public health chief who on Thursday urged non-essential stores to close, said she was “disappointed” the owner of EB Games allowed “that sort of crowd was allowed to build.”

“It doesn’t line up with what we expect from those in our community who are interested in protecting and strengthening our community.”

Tory, during an online press conference, slammed EB Games for staying open, but was slightly gentler on the gamers.

“They placed commerce above the public interest. I don’t necessarily blame the people who lined up. If the store hadn’t have been opened, they wouldn’t have lined up,” said Tory.

At Queen’s Park, the premier said the situation at EB Games outlet was “unacceptable” during a pandemic and he hoped municipal bylaw officials or police would intervene.

“Guys, young people, please, please do not get in line. Practise social distancing. This is exactly what causes the spread — when people gather and are in close proximity to each other,” said Ford.

“I just can’t stress it enough and if you’re a parent and you know your child is going down there, don’t let them go down,” he said. “It’s frustrating when I hear stories like this.”

Ford added he was “frustrated, to be very frank with the store owner that would allow this to happen.”

“They have a responsibility, everyone in this province has a responsibility to make sure we protect each other and I am very, very disappointed in the store owner that would do this.”

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Friday evening, sources at two Greater Toronto Area EB Games stores told the Star that they’d be closing Saturday for the foreseeable future.

The Star is granting the sources anonymity because they’re concerned about repercussions from the company.

The company confirmed the closures via Twitter at around 10:30 p.m.

“We will continue to monitor COVID-19 closely with the committment to open again at a time we feel both our team and customers are safe,” EB Games said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“It is important to recognize the committment and efforts of our team during this very difficult team. They are truly inspirational and take great pride in the relationships we share with you, the valued customer,” the statement added.

In the early afternoon, a pair of police officers stopped in front of the store after hopping off their bikes. They strolled down the line, encouraging people to stand further apart.

“You know there’s a pandemic going on, right?” one officer said, before heading into the store to deliver a similar message.

Later, a man who appeared to be a bike courier delivered an expletive-laden criticism of the line while riding past.

“Holy s-, come on. Go home and stay inside. What the f-?”

On Thursday, EB Games told the Star that stores would practise social distancing by making sure people in lineups would be at least a metre apart.

An EB Games store manager told the Star that generally, customers were indeed following protocol in terms of keeping distance from one another.

“Everyone has been really good here, waiting or coming back when requested. And if they were waiting they spread out pretty well,” the manager said.

Another employee told the Star that they were “disappointed and furious” that the stores went ahead with the video game launch, adding that they refused to go into work on Friday.

EB Games employees at an Oakville location also confirmed that their store was closed on Friday, after employees rallied together on Thursday and decided not to go into work.