James Delahunty
7 Feb 2013 16:47
GameStop cites surveys of its customers.
The game retailer - which makes around half of its profits from selling pre-owned games - has warned that its customers might decide not to buy a next generation games console if it blocks playing pre-owned titles.
GameStop spokesman, Matt Hodges, pointed to surveys of members of the chain's PowerUp Rewards loyalty program, which boasts about 21 million members in the United States, that suggest they would be reluctant to spend their money on such restrictive platforms. PowerUp members were responsible for about 75 percent of all GameStop's sales in the United States last year.
"We know the desire to purchase a next-generation console would be significantly diminished if new consoles were to prohibit playing pre-owned games, limit portability or not play new physical games," Hodges told Bloomberg.
Following a report this week suggesting that Microsoft's next Xbox console would not allow pre-owned games to be played (with physical discs coming with one-time activation codes), shares of GameStop dropped 6 percent to $52.50.
Microsoft has so far refused to confirm or deny the reports about the restriction.