Report: GameStop to earn $1.5 billion in sales by 2014 by stealing from Steam

by Jessica Conditt on Jul 15th 2011 6:30PM

GameStop is expected to triple its sales over the next three years, from a projected $500 million in 2011 to $1.5 billion in 2014, thanks to its fledgling digital strategy. This includes GameStop's digital distribution service, Impulse, which it acquired this year, and the addition of former Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim.

Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian said in an investor report that GameStop plans to take "a meaningful share from market leader Steam" with Impulse. GameStop is looking to begin its digital regicide with a strike on Battlefield 3, according to the report: "The upcoming EA title Battlefield 3 will be sold as a download through GameStop, but not through Steam. Given Steam's dominance -- and insistence on users downloading a Steam client application -- publishers are likely to be receptive to a competitive alternative."

EA's list of digital retailers for Battlefield 3 is currently down, leaving Impulse's inclusion and Steam's dismissal offically unconfirmed, for now. We have contacted Sebastian and EA for clarification. One thing that is confirmed is GameStop's bravado in the digital realm, but that may also only be for now.

Source: Gamasutra

Tags: digital-distribution, GameStop, pc, STEAM

Reader Comments (99)

Best headline.

I worked at GameStop for a year, and this is by far the best way to put it.
Gamestop isn't opening business to cater to competition to people that prefer them; no they are truly trying to steal from steam.

@Dreda

why can I not post on Joystiq unless it's to reply to someone else's comment?

@Dreda

Just another reason to not buy from Gamestop. Sorry but I will not be buying battlefield 3 in any form from gamestop.

@Fakeassname Either Joystiq hates you or you're doing it wrong.

@Dreda

Ouch didn't realize that many people loved gamestop.
I loved gamestop, but after I saw the corporate greed and how badly the store overall does not give back to their customers in any way D:

The powerup rewards are neat, but most can be found online for semi-cheap :(

How's it stealing? I didn't realize Steam was owed everything

@Cleric
If that's considered stealing I better get out of this country! There's no telling how many years I've racked up.

@Cleric
Because Joystiq was being totally serious... they seriously believe Gamestop is literally stealing from Steam.

@Cleric
It's a good point; I feel favourable towards Steam so I guess I wouldn't want anything to hurt it, but we have to accept that alternatives have the right to exist.

Still, the idea of Gamestop being that alternative is a little off-putting. They did just steal the idea, and I doubt they'll treat their customers right.

@Cleric

"Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian said in an investor report that GameStop plans to take "a meaningful share from market leader Steam" with Impulse."

Stealing marektshare, stealing customers. It's like if someone said Microsoft stole a lot of Sony's marketshare in the console market this generation. They're not referring to someone going in with ski masks and weapons drawn.

Welcome to the present, Gamestop.

I say we try real hard not to purchase anything from GameStop or Impulse. Let's make a pact.

STEAM has treated us well, we should pay them back in kind.

@Meekermoloko

If steam treats people well why would you need to make a pact?

@Meekermoloko

there are no pacts between lions and men

@Meekermoloko I pay them back well everytime they have a sale.

@Meekermoloko

I really doubt Impulse is going to take as many sales away from Steam as they hope it will.

@Meekermoloko If I can't get it digitally on Steam I'll get the physical copy. I prefer all my digital content on 1 platform, I don't want 10 different clients on my PC, and REGARDLESS of what the article says, Impulse has a client you need to use to download their games.

I just like Steam too much to make a switch over to something like this. And I'm actually one of the few people left that like Gamestop.

Oh my, the word gamestop was used. Let the childish bashing begin and the justifying for why its ok for them to do so.... Only if it was me who owned gamestop. I'd make sure to do whatever "seemed" to be in the best interest of everyone else even if meant my own demise. Only if I could demonstrate my integrity and my will to do what is right.

Steam doesnt own me I will buy from who the hell I want to buy from and that will be who has the best deal at the time that I want to buy it be it Steam,GameStop/Impulse,Direct2Drive,Amazon or any number of other online retailers.

@alucard3000

Yeah, I thought Steam didn't own me, either.

But that's because I never read the Terms and Conditions when I signed up for their service. I just clicked 'I Accept'

That picture looks photoshopped. Those prices are to low to be sold by gamestop.

I think as much as some gamers will want to fight it. Digital game distribution will be the future of gaming. No way of beating about the bush. While I'm sure physical game stores will be around for quite some time. In the end eventually physical copies of games may die out.

:(

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery
Did you even check it out? Not photoshopped, real prices

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery Lead and Gold is today's daily deal. And before you ask, Impulse has been having daily deals WELL before it got taken in by GStop

I'll use it if they have awesome deals like Steam. I don't care about Battlefield 3 digital downloads though.

ill believe it when i see it.

Worst headline ever. That's like saying if I buy a game from Target, then Target is stealing from Best Buy.

@dogmaticatheist

Because an article on the internet couldn't possible be non srs bsns.

Your Gamestop purchase has been approved!
[POPUP] Would you like to preorder Batman: Arkham City?
no.
[POPUP] Would you like to take advantage of our download assurance program?
No.
[POPUP] Would you like to set up an ONLINE EDGE account? 1 year for $10 and you save 10% on used PC games in store. You also get a subscription to a paper magazine.
NO.

there are few companies in the game industry that i dislike more than EA, Gamestop is one of them.

@SmilinGoat
Why do you dislike gamestop?

@SmilinGoat And I hate Activision even more than both those companies combined. Oh wait, then there's Best Buy too..another winner.

@robotlove85

Because when they sell a used game, they give 0% to the publisher/ developer. They could give less, take less, but no. They'd rather take everything.

@FreakSheet So?

But, I like the Steam client. I like having all of my games on one platform and I especially like being able to download all my old games whenever I want to

@Ramen of Doom

I also like the Steam community.

For those who don't think there is much of a difference, do a bit of research. Read about how Valve treats its customers, and compare that to GameStop's practices.

Valve realizes that they are in a relationship with you, the gamer.

GameStop simply wants your $.

Nevermind the whole "stealing customers" bit. I'm just annoyed at the gall of them thinking we'll just stop using the service that we've grown to love over the past 7 or so years. That the "Gamestop" name carries that much weight.

@ticklefist
That the Gamestop name means ANYTHING to PC gamers.

I remember GameStop, then Babbage's, actually sold computer HARDWARE, not just games. Half the store was consoles, the other half was pc.

Oh, and their used section was two shelves, or a bin. And they didn't open up every single copy for a "display" copy.

That was a long time ago.

Was the /sarcasm really needed? Thought it was obvious

When Gamestop gives me a platform where I can right click and icon and launch one of the last five games I've played..As well as automatic updates and awesome sales..I'll be down.

So far..Origin is as bad as EADM, Capsule is terrible, and GFWL is lol'able.

@Vocality

uhm ... you've never used Impulse, have you?

Interesting that for a "dying" platform, we have several companies that care enough to want a slice of the PC games digital distribution market. Especially when companies like EA and Gamestop don't care for PC gaming to begin with.

@nerdydesi1 PC gaming was only ever said to be dying because Valve doesn't release Steam sales numbers. Most PC gamers use Steam because it's just easier and smoother than other alternatives and on top of all that it's black so it doesn't sting your eyes every time you open it.

Competition is a good thing, its what allows the industry to grow for the better, and steam has been going for too long without major competition.

That said I really don't want to install any more download services onto my computer...

@Nashk

But Steam has had competitors for years now... The reason steam owns such a big part of this market isn't because it's all alone... It's because steam is just so much better then everything else out there. Sure there are aspects of some of the other services that are interesting, and possibly even better than steam. But all together, as one complete service, steam is leagues ahead of everything else.

@liquidsoap89

Eh I worded it a bit wrong and didn't catch it before I posted, was going to say steam needed more competition but still.

@Nashk

Steam sells major release games for $2 during sales.

That's without any significant competition.

I don't think they need further incentive at this point to offer better services. They just do it anyway.

@Nashk
This is what Im hoping for, maybe it will make steam come up with better prices for euro regions

I think the reason Gamestop will fail in their goal is because they will never create the same experience that Steam does. Selling digital downloads of games is only part of what Steam is.

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Report: GameStop to earn $1.5 billion in sales by 2014 by stealing from Steam

Reader Comments (99)

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:33PM Dreda said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:57PM Fakeassname said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:45PM maxxgold said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 9:03PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 10:14PM Dreda said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:35PM Cleric said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:40PM Will96 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:16PM Special Agent Steve said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 11:46PM Haggard said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 7:57AM Jenks said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:36PM The Blank Mage Returns said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:36PM Meekermoloko said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:07PM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:26PM dnelson1025 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:39PM Peril said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 9:36PM Ospov said

Posted: Jul 17th 2011 2:16PM SirUrza said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:40PM blackangel209 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:41PM Maximo said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:41PM alucard3000 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:18PM copa said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:43PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:16PM robotlove85 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:21PM LOMDR said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:44PM Boomzilla said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:47PM damnreds said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:48PM dogmaticatheist said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 7:58AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:50PM ticklefist said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:51PM SmilinGoat said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:18PM robotlove85 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 9:33PM JCat said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 10:38PM FreakSheet said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 4:27AM TheStickFullofJoy said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:52PM Ramen of Doom said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 11:34PM Kamalot said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:54PM ticklefist said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:55PM ticklefist said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:15PM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:55PM Maximo said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:58PM Vocality said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:59PM Fakeassname said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 6:58PM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:06PM blackangel209 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:01PM Nashk said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:06PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:22PM Nashk said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:29PM arkweld said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 11:48AM shruikan said

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