14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts is satisfied with its Ten Dollar Project and will introduce the Online Pass, which will charge used game buyers 10 dollars in order to allow them access to the multiplayer features of EA Sports titles. Ubisoft is watching from the margins and doing something similar. But despite all the heat coming down on used games sales, specialist retailer GameStop, which makes quite a bit of money buying used games and reselling them, says it will not feel an impact from these initiatives.
Talking about the limitations that publishers are aiming to place on second hand games, Dan DeMatteo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of retailer GameStop, told investors, “We see that as extending the life of titles and broadening the base of players. We do not anticipate an impact to our used game margins.”
Mr. DeMatteo went on to say that the kind of gamers who shop in the locations he manages are better prepared than others, “GameStop consumers are ahead of the mass market in digital adoption. Our investments in proprietary point-of-sale tech have put us in a position to partner with publishers as they grow their digital offerings.”
The CEO offered an example, stating that when the Stimulus Package was launched for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, GameStop managed to sell quite a lot more points cards for the Xbox Live service. It seems that offering all the content for a videogame in the same location can make a difference when it comes to how gamers spend their money.
Electronic Arts is hoping the Online Pass concept will entice players to get more of their Madden NFL and FIFA new, giving more money to the publisher and developer, while also creating a revenue stream for those who get the game second hand and will pay 10 dollars to get into multiplayer. The quarterly results for GameStop in about six months will indicate how the Online Pass is impacting sales.