In news that might upset a few people, video game mega-retailer GameStop is looking to be more involved in games development to further bolster its pre-order exclusives.
Speaking to investment company R.W. Baird, firm analyst Colin Sebastian divulged that the retailer wants to give customers more value when they pre-order games. While the retailer is doing that now with exclusive content for most high profile titles, it’s now looking into the games development process altogether.
In his note to investors, Sebastian wrote the following:
[GamesStop] indicated that software publishers are more enthusiastic about partnering with it…For example, by offering exclusive content on each major game release, and longer term, future models may include GameStop offering exclusive gameplay
When asked for clarification, Sebastian explained that GameStop is mulling over, “getting involved at the time of game development where there could be some content exclusive to [the retailer] included in the game.”
This statement has been confirmed by GameStop as well, which called it “accurate.” GameStop Public Relations spokesperson Jackie Smith said:
We are working with our [development] partners to build in a longer lead time…And we are working with them to get both physical and digital exclusives for our customers.
For now, the retailer doesn’t know or hasn’t divulged what “exclusives” the statement points to directly; but it’s very clear that it will be more involved in the development process for games, which could have been spurred by platform makers now allowing digital pre-orders and purchases, which cuts out the middleman (GameStop) and whatever profits it would make from physical purchases.
How do you feel about GameStop being involved in a game’s development process to maximize its pre-order shares? Can there be a healthy compromise when it comes to this? Sound off and let us know.
[Source: Games Beat]
