GameStop refuses to sell Consoles bundled with Digital Games

[dlevere]

By chavosaur



Gamestop released a rather interesting tidbit about their policy in carrying consoles with a digital title. In fact, they flat out said they refuse to carry them anymore. Here's the breakdown:

During a recent earnings report conference call, GameStop executives outlined their decision to move away from "digital" bundles and highlighted their recent effort to provide "physical" bundles instead. This new strategy went into effect just last month, with the release of Madden NFL 16. While other stores sold Xbox One and PlayStation 4 bundles featuring digital copies of the football game, GameStop "worked with Sony, Microsoft, and EA" to reach an arrangement for the retailer to provide a physical copy with any new console purchased. This isn't just a little experiment either. GameStop COO Tony Bartel explained that if Sony and Microsoft continue to release digital bundles, GameStop will turn to "third party" physical-bundles. This could mean that they'll work out a deal with a major publisher like EA or Ubisoft to include a free physical copy of a recent release.

The obvious stance here is, Gamestop's only continued profitability and business model relies on used game sales. Controversy has always stemmed from the pay out of a used game that will eventually be resold to another consumer for a $50 price tag, but in the end it is what drives Gamestop's overall cash flow.

It is rather interesting to see the trend of Digital games continue to rise against the physical copies of games. Early NX rumors have begun circulating that the new Nintendo console may be intending to go full digital for the future, and i'm sure most 1st and 3rd parties would love to cash in on the market of digital sales.

As a purveyor of digital games, I find the stance understandable but a little silly. How do you feel about this move? And what is your stance on the timeless Physical vs Digital argument?

[47iscool]

Someone needs to put them out of business already.

[Helder]

I'm thinking of using shitty snes sports games and rom swap them for high end games like Earth Bound and trade them in for $$

[rimsky82]

Gamestop doesn't take carts anymore, at least my local one doesn't.

Gamestop is going the way of Blockbuster, and they know it. Digital is where it's at for me, and going for the rest. I like showing my collection off in my living room, don't get me wrong, but my kids also like to scratch the discs and then they are ruined. I'd rather invest in some hdd space and choose my game from a menu instead of having to find the disc and hope it works.

[xirtamehtsitahw]

I've begun experimenting with PC games downloaded from Steam, myself. Using a client called GamesDeal, I can often get games for half the price the console versions would be. The reason this is still working is due to the fact that it is far cheaper to distribute digital copies of games than produce millions of DVD or Blu-ray disks (which may end up scratching, rendering their game contents unreadable). It also eliminates the need for physical storage media (other than your PC or laptop's hard drive).

Physical-media-based game consoles are going the way of the dodo. Nintendo is making a VERY wise move by suggesting its NX console is going to be made digital-only. Unfortunately for us, that means it is most likely going to be much more closely monitored (and thus MUCH more difficult to hack...but NOT impossible...heh heh).

[Combusto Dragon]

so i will stick with Amazon and Voltage, my local video game store. they have good PS2 games to buy, they come in a case but some don''t have manuals or memory card holder

[Demonic722]

Physical Copies - Yes
GameStop - No

I only buy digital games if they're idie or available for VC.

[Dybbles]

I heard about this from, ReviewtechUSA. He said the same thing. GameStop is trying to slow down the transition from physical to digital by refusing digital.
rimsky is right, they are becoming a lot like Block Buster and if we go all digital, GameStop's days are numbered.