GameStop offering downloadable PC purchases at retail

by Richard Mitchell on Jul 28th 2011 2:30PM

GameStop is expanding its in-store digital sales initiative, now allowing customers to use "any accepted form of payment" in order to "purchase digital PC games at their local store and access the titles immediately at launch." Exactly how this process works isn't made clear, though it would be easy enough to sell download redemption codes, similar to the way GameStop distributes DLC vouchers for console games.

The highlight of the announcement would seem to be the "any accepted form of payment" bit, meaning that players can trade games for credit toward PC downloads. It's worth noting that GameStop isn't the first company to offer such a deal. Amazon also allows users to apply trade-in credit toward PC downloads (or any product on Amazon, for that matter).

The first game to be offered by GameStop's "in-store digital purchase" program will be Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Those who purchase the digital version will also receive downloads of the original Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition and Deus Ex: Invisible War. Customers will also receive the "Explosive Mission" DLC and double PowerUp Rewards points.

Interestingly, Human Revolution is cited as the first of "many" games for the program, meaning that GameStop's current downloadable catalog doesn't apply.

Show full PR text

GameStop Launches New In-Store Digital PC Game Purchase Method
New service kicks off with exclusive offers on Square Enix's Deus Ex: Human Revolution
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Jul 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world's largest multichannel video game retailer, is making it easier for PC gamers to get their hands on hot new releases. Exclusively at GameStop, customers can now use any accepted form of payment, including trade credit and GameStop gift cards, to purchase digital PC games at their local store and access the titles immediately at launch. Deus Ex(R): Human Revolution(TM) is the first of what will soon be many titles to support this new purchase method.

"This is a great illustration of how the digital distribution model and in-store experience really complement one another," said Steve Nix, GameStop's general manager of digital distribution. "We have seen great success selling DLC for console titles in our stores, so expanding on that model and helping customers discover digitally distributed PC games in stores is a natural fit."

In addition to immediate access to the game at launch, customers who pre-purchase the digital PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution at GameStop will also receive:

A digital version of Deus Ex(TM): Game of the Year Edition and Deus Ex: Invisible War(TM)
The Explosive Mission DLC Pack for in-game use in Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Double points for GameStop(R) PowerUp Rewards(TM) members
As an added bonus, PowerUp Rewards(TM) members who pre-order and purchase Deus Ex: Human Revolution will be entered to win a decked out living room in the Augment Your Living Room Sweepstakes. Visit www.poweruprewards.com/PUR/Index/Augment for complete details on the Augment Your Living Room Sweepstakes.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which launches Aug. 23, 2011, is available for pre-order now in GameStop stores nationwide and online at www.GameStop.com.

Deus Ex and Deus Ex: Human Revolution are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Ltd.

Tags: business, deus-ex-human-revolution, download, gamestop, pc

Reader Comments (51)

What's the main point of digital if I have to go to a store and get it?

@nerdydesi1

People don't like using credit cards online.

The important point is that you don't have to. But all the same, not having your personal and financial information tied into a system is incentive enough for a lot of people.

@Epoque

but doesn't it just get tied to gamestop's system by shopping there?

@eat it I'm not sure, I've not shopped there in years.

I know when Guitar Center asks for my information to look up my store standings, I always politely refuse to give them my information and go about my business.

@nerdydesi1

In case anyone receives a gift card for Christmas or has leftover trade-in credit.

@False Can't I use either online on their website?

@nerdydesi1
The same reason why I buy my Microsoft points and PSN points without putting my credit card on the console.

I like that Gamestop and Amazon offer a way to pay without saving a credit card number to a console. I say Amazon because that is a regular shopping destination and I would rather consolidate the amount of places that have my credit card and bank info.

"GameStop's current downloadable catalog doesn't apply...."

They probably have to negotiate game by game basis with the publishers or they just want to do this with new games.

Call me when they start accepting digital trade-ins. Then they'll have something to crow about.

@onan
if they are not trying to figure out how then they are not living up to all of the evil stereotypes, but if they do god help us all.

@eat it
Not unless you write your full name, address, CC number, and mothers maiden name on all of your cash

-insert gamestop sucks comment here-

kk joystiq users, you can stop commenting now.. i have done it for 95 percent of them in one sentence.

@HedonisticKai

Gamestop blows.

Meh. Seems to really defeat the purpose.

I say this is a good idea for the same reason I think them having MSP is a good idea. Not only do I not have a credit card, but I'd much rather spend money when I have it than when I don't. It may be more of a hassle but it's much more worth it in the end when I don't have to worry if I can afford this later on.

@Prboi Why not just get a prepaid credit card?

@Faceless Troll Why not just pay cash? :D

@JonahFalcon

Thank you

@JonahFalcon A prepaid credit card is basically cash. And you don't have to go to Gamestop?

@Faceless Troll

You mean Debit card? Yes, you could do that but I'm just saying that I would prefer using physical money instead of theoretical money

@Prboi No, I mean a prepaid credit card. Look them up. They're limited exactly to the amount of cash you put on them. Also, debit cards are limited to the amount of cash you put on them. Not "theoretical money".

@Prboi

All money is theoretical.

Meh. If I get a digital game it means I don't want to go to a retail store to buy it.

@Faceless Troll

I'm gonna have to agree with you on this one. Imo, convenience is the single largest benefit of digital distribution.

@Xeno378

I'd much rather prefer ensured economic stability over convenience. I'd hate to have to stop playing/buying games because I got so wrapped up in it being convenient for me.

@Prboi I don't see what economic stability has to do with anything.

@Prboi

Explain.

@Xeno378

Let's say I wanted a game. I could either run down to gamestop & buy it with the money I have now or buy it online with my credit card. I'm not saying credit cards are bad but when it comes to money right now, I'd much rather have to spend the money I have now & not have to worry about 1) keeping a credit card active & 2) late fees. It keeps me more at ease. It may not be a big deal to you if you're a middle aged adult with a stable job but as a teen, it's much more of a "worry free" concept that I like.

@Prboi Or you could use a debit card. Which is limited to the cash you have. I don't see why people always seem to think that credit cards are the only option.

@Prboi

What exactly do you have to do to keep a credit card active aside from making your payment on time each month? As for late fees, you only have those if you're, you know...late. The benefits of a credit card far outweigh any negative aspects, so long as you don't abuse it. It seems you have more of an issue with responsibility than "economic stability", as you put it.

If I am a exclusive PC gamer, I really don't have anything to trade-in as used PC games are worthless.

@FriedConsole

If you were an exclusive PC gamer, you'd never leave your mother's basement.

Hiiiiiii-Yooooooooo!!!

Why get it from GameStop digitally?

1. They have their own preorder bonuses that you might like.
2. You don't have to use your credit card online. In fact, you can pay cash.

@JonahFalcon Oh, and you might belong to the GameStop Rewards program.

@JonahFalcon

If there's one thing I trust GameStop with, it's pre-order bonuses and DLC codes.

Unless the code is printed on the receipt, I can be pretty certain that the 'tard behind the counters of the two nearest GameStops are going to either forget to give me my DLC codes, or they're going to inform me that they "ran out."

There's no good reason to shop at GameStop.

Can someone call me when GameStop stops trying to capitalize on the digital download market?

@Yothe

Simple.

MONEY!

@Yothe

Gamestop will not stop. (no pun intended)

Think of it this way, if there's a plate full of brownies that you can eat, are you not going to eat some because some people don't want you to?

@Yothe

If they don't want to die they will need to adapt.

Of course, trying to sell PC games through your store that basically doesnt offer retail PC games doesn't seem like the way to go, as those people aren't really your customers anyway.

@Draugdraugr

I think one of the most obvious flaws with this is that GameStop is feeding in to the devaluing of physical media, which is sort of their bread and butter.

They buy your games for dirt, and sell them for dirt³. If they're giving you a digital product that can't be resold in exchange for your old games, they're just going to be tossing more boxes of unsold used software in to the dumpster.

It's not like they're really going to break in to the digital market, at this point, either. Amazon and Gamefly already do the trade ins/used sales online. Steam, D2D, Impulse, Origin and Amazon are already trying to gobble up every scrap of the digital market.

This looks like GameStop scrambling to remain relevant.

@Chareth Cutestory

That second sentence came out a lot more convoluted than I wanted.

Basically, GameStop exists because they buy used games cheap and sell them for a far greater price.

Digital games can't be sold back to GameStop, so they'll be taking in old software in exchange for software that they'll never see again.

This might just be their last ditch effort to stay in the PC game market, though.

@Chareth Cutestory

I agree with you, they are kinda getting late in the game.

They bought impulse though, that right there gives them a foothold, which they obviously need to start. To clarify, Gamestop has offered digital sales for a while now, this is merely notification that you can buy it digitally from there store. Seems silly to me though, I mean, if your already there why not pick up the physical copy? I wonder if this was implemented just so when they get the odd customer asking about 'X' PC game they don't lose out on the sale, as chances are they don't have it stocked. If they are going to do this they should just ditch their PC retail section, meager as it is, and just replace it with a kiosk that way you don't need to deal with the dope behind the counter.

Obviously the used games market is where they make most of their money, as digital becomes more and more prevalent gamestop will just keep getting smaller. It won't be the behemoth it once was, imo.

btw, your eyepatched Jason Bateman is an endless source of amusement.

Awesome. I can trade in my good games and get $4 off my next digital download. Sorry but only an idiot or someone who's in a serious hurry goes to Gamestop.

@Arcaria So your good games are all old Madden games, right?

This seems like a good deal, no?

@Jon Jon

Being that it's optional, of course it's a good deal

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution

GameStop offering downloadable PC purchases at retail

Reader Comments (51)

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:35PM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:37PM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:45PM Epoque said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:46PM eat it said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:50PM Epoque said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:04PM False said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:23PM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 5:16PM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:36PM Bluebreaker said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:45PM onan said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:54PM ansalon929 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:14PM Nova17899 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 2:57PM HedonisticKai said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:11PM Banana Hammock said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:00PM The Cole Train said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:03PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:09PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:33PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:56PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:05PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:33PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:51PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:11PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:09PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:26PM Xeno378 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:00PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:04PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:04PM Xeno378 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:42PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:50PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 6:10PM Xeno378 said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:25PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:34PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:33PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:34PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:16PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:42PM Yothe said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 3:49PM Veteran Gear said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:03PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 6:22PM Draugdraugr said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:21PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:25PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 9:53PM Draugdraugr said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:06PM Arcaria said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 7:04PM Roflrex said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:08PM Jon Jon said

Posted: Jul 28th 2011 4:43PM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 30th 2011 9:20AM dineshverma said

Posted: Jul 29th 2011 9:35AM dineshverma141 said

Posted: Jul 29th 2011 9:37AM dineshverma said

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