GameFly will launch a new digital client this holiday, the biggest benefit of which will be a new "Unlimited PC Play" service. It will allow subscribers to download and play any offered PC/Mac games, presenting a natural evolution of the service since it acquired IGN's Direct2Drive platform several months back.
"We're talking to all publishers about participating. Several have been signed, but we're not announcing at this time," GameFly co-founder Sean Spector told Joystiq. "In the 'Unlimited PC Play' portion for GameFly subscribers, we expect to have over a hundred titles available for the beta launch, but we'll be adding to the list constantly and should have hundreds at the time of our holiday launch."
Asked if the company would offer a PC-only GameFly subscription, similar to those found with movie rental streaming services, Spector said, "We currently have no plans to offer a digital only subscription, as we believe the real value to gamers and our members is our unique combination of console and digital PC game offerings."
Spector tells us that, like the company's mobile apps, the client-based application should update regularly and customers will have access to whatever games they download as long as they maintain a subscription.
GameFly will launch the closed beta for the client on September 8 at a Los Angeles event, where attendees will receive a beta code for themselves and a friend. GameFly subscribers not in the LA area can still sign up by heading over to the beta section of the site.
Reader Comments (52)
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:38AM b3n said
I don't get it.
Is it like Steam?
Is it like Steam?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 2:33PM Ospov said
@b3n
I've always thought it would be cool if Steam had a rental feature. They have those free game weekends so it would be kinda similar to that except you actually pay for it. Once your time is up then it's just removed from your library unless you choose to buy it.
If this is successful I wonder if Steam will think about implementing something like that. It's a pretty neat idea.
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I've always thought it would be cool if Steam had a rental feature. They have those free game weekends so it would be kinda similar to that except you actually pay for it. Once your time is up then it's just removed from your library unless you choose to buy it.
If this is successful I wonder if Steam will think about implementing something like that. It's a pretty neat idea.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 3:49PM Jetleo1 said
@Ospov The sad thing is Steam has already done it on some games. When you buy some games (ex. Killing Floor) you get Guest Passes to send to friends that gives them access to the game for 3 days, with no limitations on it, unlike a demo. Why they don't do deals with publishers to make buying GP's by themselves an option, I don't know.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:38AM mbarriault said
Wait, GameFly will be offering games for PCs? My Linux machine has never felt more loved.
Please, Joystiq. There's lots of PC users who aren't running Windows. If you mean Windows, say it.
Please, Joystiq. There's lots of PC users who aren't running Windows. If you mean Windows, say it.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:54AM Hexidecimal said
@mbarriault Well since there's such a bustling Linux gaming market I can understand your confusion.
It's pretty much assumed at this point that if you're talking about PC gaming you mean Windows. No on is impressed you run Linux, but how's the weather up there on your high horse?
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It's pretty much assumed at this point that if you're talking about PC gaming you mean Windows. No on is impressed you run Linux, but how's the weather up there on your high horse?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:56AM mbarriault said
@Hexidecimal I know it's assumed. I'm protesting that assumption. I'm sorry that wasn't clear.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:30AM Kiichi said
@mbarriault
I am not certain on the history, but is the term PC (personal computer) not strongly connected to the dos and windows famility?
Therefore, to be precise the term PC alone implies Windows, therefore an explicit mentioning might not be nececarry.
No sure though.
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I am not certain on the history, but is the term PC (personal computer) not strongly connected to the dos and windows famility?
Therefore, to be precise the term PC alone implies Windows, therefore an explicit mentioning might not be nececarry.
No sure though.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 6:20PM Aceofwilds said
@mbarriault
You're being dumb and you should feel bad about it.
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You're being dumb and you should feel bad about it.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:41AM FamousLastX said
I don't get it either. So you can play any of the PC games at any time? Cause I don't see how it would work with your games out a time limit, since you won't have to wait for disks to get shipped (speaking of which..I've been waiting 4 days Gamefly, pick up the damn pace.)
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:43AM SpiderPrime said
@FamousLastX
It's a digital service where you download full games on your PC to play, think of it like netflix, you can download what you want as long as you want if you're paying your subscription fee to the service, once that's done, you won't be able to access the games anymore.
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It's a digital service where you download full games on your PC to play, think of it like netflix, you can download what you want as long as you want if you're paying your subscription fee to the service, once that's done, you won't be able to access the games anymore.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:02AM swooded said
@SpiderPrime
Also like Netflix will be the fact that the games available for PC play will not necessarily be the same ones available to rent. It will be a limited library, based on the contracts they can sign with publishers, but will still be a free addition to the existing service.
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Also like Netflix will be the fact that the games available for PC play will not necessarily be the same ones available to rent. It will be a limited library, based on the contracts they can sign with publishers, but will still be a free addition to the existing service.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:42AM SpiderPrime said
Now, this I like.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:51AM StormChaser91 said
@SpiderPrime same, hopefully allot of good games like COD, Dragon Age ect :)
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Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:52AM ksaad said
What do they mean by "unlimited"? Because if you put that with "customers will have access to whatever games they download as long as they maintain a subscription"; then it probably means I pay a fixed amount monthly and download all the games I want for no extra charges? Because honestly it sounds ridiculous.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 8:57AM Supagreen12 said
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you can't rent DC Universe online without buying a subscription. disregard placeholder image.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:00AM b3n said
No chance. Bandwidth is still too slow and too expensive.
I already limit my Steam activity so I don't exceed my download cap each month.
I get 100GB per month. If I got over it costs £1.50 per extra gigabyte o_O
I already limit my Steam activity so I don't exceed my download cap each month.
I get 100GB per month. If I got over it costs £1.50 per extra gigabyte o_O
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:01AM Vageryn said
Gamefly is going the Gametap route huh? Could be interesting. I thought OnLive was going to be a game changer, but unless you have an extremely good internet connection the service is crap.
Gametap has had its ups and downs sense Metaboli took over but the sevirce is still pretty good, but if Gamefly can deliver the games I might just change my subscription.
Gametap has had its ups and downs sense Metaboli took over but the sevirce is still pretty good, but if Gamefly can deliver the games I might just change my subscription.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 10:55AM DAmwake said
@Vageryn Onlive isn't really just about internet service either, I have a great connection that by all means should be lag free and it sucks for me because of my distance to their servers. I know people with less bandwidth and higher pings that had better luck due to proximity.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:19AM ItsameMatt03 said
Will these run off their servers similar to OnLive, or will your PC still have to run the minimum specs to play?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:35AM (Unverified) said
@ItsameMatt03
you download it and play it on your own machine, no backend servers like Onlive
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you download it and play it on your own machine, no backend servers like Onlive
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:22AM kinghd818 said
So wers that la beta thing gunna be at? And when?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:26AM Slomoshun said
nty, next!
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:28AM hanger3com said
GameTap was my first thought
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:33AM (Unverified) said
@sonofman
You can't buy a Wii exclusive subscription, or a PS3 or 360 games only one, on Gamefly either.
It only seems far to not offer platform exclusivity to a single platform at a decreased price and ignore all the others who could benefit from singular platform exclusivity as well.
You can't buy a Wii exclusive subscription, or a PS3 or 360 games only one, on Gamefly either.
It only seems far to not offer platform exclusivity to a single platform at a decreased price and ignore all the others who could benefit from singular platform exclusivity as well.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:35AM DukeOAwesome323 said
i wonder if this is gonna be somehow integrated with D2D? like if you play it and like it on the "rental service", you can get it on Direct 2 Drive at a reduced cost.
at least that's what i hope they do.
at least that's what i hope they do.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 9:55AM whatisdelicious said
F YES. God I love GameFly. Suck it, Steam.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 10:12AM Bladex206 said
Wow this is fantastic. I already have a plan for two disks out a time, does this mean Ill be able to use this service?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 10:12AM macnbc said
I'm excited about the possibilities here, but it all honestly comes down to the contracts.
They get the big guns like EA, Ubisoft, Activision, etc. on board? Hell yes it'll be amazing. I'll subscribe.
If the best they can do is some shovelware apps from some Eastern European developer nobody's ever heard of? No thanks.
They get the big guns like EA, Ubisoft, Activision, etc. on board? Hell yes it'll be amazing. I'll subscribe.
If the best they can do is some shovelware apps from some Eastern European developer nobody's ever heard of? No thanks.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 10:18AM FentonAlpha said
Interested if it is like i originally thought... i pay $30 or whatever a month and get free access to the catalog. But for that Assassins Creed clip i guess it is just a Steam like service... I'll just stick with Steam then.
The on site trailer gives the impression you can play ANY platform on your PC, Xbox Games included... probably purposefully vague advertising.
The on site trailer gives the impression you can play ANY platform on your PC, Xbox Games included... probably purposefully vague advertising.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 10:58AM DAmwake said
@(Unverified) I disagree on the grounds that the PC is the ONLY one that does not require any mailing to be done. I think what he is saying is that there should be a "no mailing" option that just allows the downloading of games. I agree with this notion as if I did get disc games I would probably just have them sitting there without ever being used.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 11:07AM Ignatius said
I do hope that GameFly's software won't include system-crippling DRM.
Really don't need more spyware running on my system just to make sure I don't steal stuff when I'm a legitimate customer.
Really don't need more spyware running on my system just to make sure I don't steal stuff when I'm a legitimate customer.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 11:40AM Diebold said
Will it be the current price or will it be a lot more?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 12:36PM jasev01 said
wow gamefly was on its last leg with me. I literally was about to cancel in September when I cancelled netflix but this.... this might bring new life. Good job gamefly. This would be awesome
Posted: Aug 10th 2011 7:06AM WC said
@jasev01 lol I was going to do the same! This was going to be my last month. I have 1 game in my queue, and it's due in October.
It's not even really GF's fault... The games I -really- want to play, I'm pre-ordering, and the rest of them don't even hit the 'mediocre' level, which is where they have to be to get on my queue. (Though, their customer service was rude to me recently, and that factored in a bit... They had never been rude in the past, either...)
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It's not even really GF's fault... The games I -really- want to play, I'm pre-ordering, and the rest of them don't even hit the 'mediocre' level, which is where they have to be to get on my queue. (Though, their customer service was rude to me recently, and that factored in a bit... They had never been rude in the past, either...)
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 12:39PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
YUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 1:26PM kamikazebubble said
@DAmwake there is a "no mailing" options. Just don't put any console games on your Q and they won't mail any. Problem Solved.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 2:12PM KGameLover1 said
Ummm... This might actually convince me to subscribe to GameFly! Hurray for Mac support!!
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 2:56PM (Unverified) said
Nice. This is the answer to those game companies and their online passes for console game rentals. Now i dont have to pay $10 to play online when i rent a game. Hopefully they dont create something similar for PC gaming. Damn online passes.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 3:29PM stundio said
So what now every game company makes a Steam/OnLive like platform?
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 3:29PM jondastunna84 said
sounds like an awesome deal if its included in the regular rental price, i'm not a Gamefly member i rather just buy my games. Nothing wrong with renting, i just rather have my own stuff. On the other hand though for PC games i think i really would be consider renting. It's a shame that my laptop's graphic card is terrible for gaming on it though.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 3:54PM Jetleo1 said
Meh. It sounds like a great deal for all of you who already use it, but I won't. I prefer owning my games, so if there's a month or even whole season of nothing new I want, I can still have the old ones without having to pay. Seems like a good idea though, if they can net enough good publishers.
Posted: Aug 9th 2011 6:28PM Marco le Polo said
I wonder how this will compare to Onlive's unlimited play package? Over 70 games for $9.99/month. Doesn't seem to hard to beat for Gamefly, but I do like the streaming.








