Whether you think it’s immoral or justified, GameStop makes its money from used games. Publishers don’t like it, which is why they love digital distribution. However, following a recent European Court ruling, and emerging technology that could wrest control of digital games from publishers, GameStop might be ready embrace non-physical media too.
“There are some technologies out there in Europe, and we’ve looked at a couple that are involved. We’re interested,” GameStop CEO Paul Raines told 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. There are a few companies, a few startups, out there that we’ve talked to that are doing this.”
Raines is keeping tight-lipped about who is making used digital games possible, because he doesn’t want to give his competition a free tip. Still, it’s a very interesting concept. I can’t imagine how GameStop could wrest control of content away from publishers, since they have that stuff locked down, but who knows? Maybe one day you could sell your XBLA games when you’re done with them, and entitled publishers shall wail uncontrollably in the streets.
I’d be okay with that.
