Gamestop Interested in used digital games market

[chavosaur]

According to The head of gamestop they want to possibly take a shot at selling used digital games. Meaning you can trade in games you have downloaded.​

"We're interested," Raines tells Gamespot. "It's not a meaningful business yet. Right now we're not seeing that as a huge market, but I think we're on the leading edge."

​

​

Source: http://content.usato.../1#.UBSgXGgqjHg​

So according to the article they've been checking out similar tech in Europe as well. Im curious as to how the hell people could trust a digital game trade in. I don't fully understand how the hell they could implement this, unless someone would like to enlighten me.​

 

[basher11]

Only gamestop.

 

[AceWarhead]

They'll buy our Steam games for .49c

 

[MelodieOctavia]

This will most likely be with their own proprietary service, akin to Steam or Origin. I don't see this happening with any existing services.

 

[KingVamp]

I didn't know how they would,but that sure does sound like Gamestop.

Maybe if they take back codes and somehow they renew them behind the counter.

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

There's already a service that buys back licenses for games it's sold you, for partial store credit. Look up GreenManGaming. I can see GameStop doing something similar for games they've sold, although I agree they'd need their own distribution method.

The best part is that with digital distribution, you can't really tell if you're getting a new license or one that's been traded back by someone else, meaning GameStop can sell a game for $20, buy it back for $7-$10, and then sell that same license for $20 again, netting a profit of $30+ for a single $20 game.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

This is very stupid.

 

[LightyKD]

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

"No no it's cool I swear it's a legit serial! Really! It is!"

 

[chartube12]

Gamestop recently did launch the gamestop app for buying digital pc games. They actually gave away Rift two weeks ago through it for power plus members. Not a bad game, but not worth buying 15 a month for.

 

[Rockhoundhigh]

Are you fucking kidding me? Can't say I'm surprised though.

 

[GameWinner]

Um...how?
Oh wait Gamestop.
Nevermind!

 

[DragorianSword]

I really wonder how that works...

 

[LockeCole_101629]

probably adding new feature on steam to wrap your games into giftable pack.
anyway it's not really good imo, it will hammer developer even more to do this since they got no revenue from 2nd hand sales, and yes even more profits for gamestop.

but tbh I don't know if this is good or not for long term.

 

[Minox]

probably adding new feature on steam to wrap your games into giftable pack.

Uhm, since when did Gamestop become so closely affiliated with Valve's Steam that they'd have the ability to decide on such a thing themselves? They sell currency that you can add to your Steam wallet sure, but other than that?

 

[LockeCole_101629]

that's why I said probably.

 

[EyeZ]

I don't see this happening with any existing services.

Agreed, the mind boggles on how they would implement this.

 

[Minox]

that's why I said probably.

Well, Valve has pretty much constantly said that they won't be doing such a thing so I think you can count Valve out from that equation.

 

[Qtis]

I'd more likely see another platform for this instead of a company like Gamestop which takes such a huge cut out of it. Actually I don't see the whole point here. Second hand trading should be possible regardless of DRM..

 

[Gahars]

There's no GameStopping them now.