GameStop’s California-based stores will be required to warn second-hand game buyers that downloadable content advertised as free may require an additional purchase, following the settlement of a class action lawsuit brought against the retailer for allegedly engaging in "deceptive and misleading practices". More >
3US retail chain GameStop has poured cold water on claims that Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor will somehow prevent used games from being played. In January, a Kotaku report claimed that Microsoft's next console would use Blu-Ray discs and feature "some sort of anti-used game system". Speaking during an investor call yesterday, CEO Paul Raines said Microsoft should be wary of thwarting pre-owned games because trade-in credit does much to stimulate sales of new releases. More >
4GameStop has announced its financial results for the year ending January 28, which reveal the US retailer has enough cash in the bank to buy ailing UK chain Game Group almost 50 times over. More >
US retail chain GameStop has reportedly expressed an interest in buying troubled UK retailer Game Group's Iberian operation. The Independent reports that GameStop, which has apparently distanced itself from speculation linking it with an outright takeover of the troubled company, is keen on Game Group's 291-store portfolio in Spain and Portugal. More >
1Retailer GameStop has closed all of its Northern Irish stores and told staff that it has ceased trading in the region. Customers were met with closed shutters and posters redirecting them to the website. More >
3US retailer GameStop has posted sales of $3.02 billion for the nine weeks ended December 31, 2011. More >
Sony quickly moved to quash the rumour, senior director of corporate communications Patrick Seybold issuing a statement saying this wasn't the case. More >
A Neogaf forum member has posted what they claim to be a shot (see below) from GameStop's database which lists the Wii RPG release date and also states that it will be a GameStop exclusive. More >
3EB Games, the Canadian subsidiary of US retail chain GameStop, has reportedly merged its used and new game sections, with minimal distinction between which is which and new copies of games hidden behind pre-owned ones. An employee informed Kotaku that staff have been told to put the same, white price stickers on both new and used games; in the past, pre-owned games have carried yellow price tags. Although one employee got in touch with Kotaku to dispute the claim, scores more have verified it, and the retailer is yet to comment. More >
7Lower than expected sales of new software were offset by a significant jump in digital sales at GameStop during the US retailer’s third financial quarter ended October 29, 2011. More >
Game retail chain executive says he doesn't see free-to-play or digital distribution as a threat.
3US retailer GameStop will launch its "GameStop certified gaming platform", a tablet, across its stores next year. The company’s president Tony Bartel says the tablet will use the Android operating system and be compatible with a dedicated controller. GameStop intends to stream games to owners of the device. Bartel says: “We've created a controller that we're testing to really allow for immersive gameplay. It's hard to imagine how to stream a game - let' say Modern Warfare 3 - onto a tablet and then play it with your finger.”
1Online retailer GameStop is to sell the white PS3, first released in Japan last year, from November 1. The console, exclusive to Gamestop, comes with a 320GB hard drive and two white Dualshock 3 controllers, at a cost of £249.97.
The US retailer was last week found to be removing codes from the PC release of Deus Ex: Human Revolution that gave users a free copy of the game on streaming service OnLive, which it saw as promoting a competitor. It has since removed the game from sale entirely, and has written to customers to apologise. "We were not aware that the product box would contain this competitor's offer," CEO Paul Raines wrote. "We regret the events surrounding this title release and that our customers were put in the middle of this issue between GameStop and Square Enix. For this, we are truly sorry…We want to earn back your trust and confidence in the GameStop experience." The retailer is offering all affected customers a $50 gift card, and a buy-two-get-one-free deal on pre-owned games.
The US retailer caused uproar earlier this week when it admitted to removing free OnLive codes from PC copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution to avoid promoting a competitor. In response, an internal memo was sent to staff telling them to remove the game from shelves. It reads: "As GameStop is developing a streaming service in our Spawn Labs Cloud Gaming Division, the coupon that was included is for a competitive service. We are returning all copies of the PC regular edition to the vendor in agreement with Square Enix."
Vouchers for free, streaming copies of the RPG shooter removed from boxed PC version to thwart competition.
6
Letting customers trade in old games drives sales of new ones, sequels and DLC, says executive VP Mike Mauler.
9The European 3DS price cut doesn't come into effect until Friday, but Gamestop.co.uk has already cut the price of the handheld to £134.97. This is a significant discount, and our first indication of the likely price of a UK 3DS after the price drop - there's no official RRP for the system, with Nintendo instead fixing a trade price, with the cost at tills up to retailers. Those thinking this might be a low-cost route to both a 3DS and the 20 classic games on offer through the Ambassador programme, however, should bear in mind that they have to connect to the eShop before 11pm tomorrow to qualify for the offer.
Fallout from Capcom’s decision to not allow deletion of save files continues as some retailers refuse to accept pre-owned copies.
2
Retailer picks up game streaming startup Spawn Labs and mobile distribution platform Impulse.