Not unlike William Gibson and Neal Stephenson predicted so many years ago, our corporate overlords are ever more visibly taking over towards a cyberpunk-style dystopia. In today's chapter: GameStop.
'Warframe' Developer Now Co-Owned By Chicken Processing Plant
Exclusive GameStop DLC isn't new to most gamers. Buy this or that game at GameStop and get an exclusive in-game item like a weapon, a piece of armor, or some other trinket. Nice extras, but nothing huge or game-breaking.
No official joint ventures have yet been announced, but GameStop has had meetings with investing firm R.W. Baird to look into partnering with games studios at the development stage. Says Colin Sebastian of Baird in a note to investors: ""[GameStop] indicated that software publishers are more enthusiastic about partnering with it. For example, by offering exclusive content on each major game release, and longer term, future models may include GameStop offering exclusive gameplay."
The Future Of Your Entertainment: Guild Wars 2 Doubles In Size After Hitting China
Of course nobody forces you to buy at GameStop even if they offer extra gameplay, but where would you rather spend a buck - especially if there's no pricing difference? In a statement to VentureBeat, a GameStop spokesperson said: "We are working with [our development partners] to get both physical and digital exclusives for our customers."
To Eurogamer, GameStop said: "We will not be involved in the creative process - the artistic design and development - that's not our domain!"
In this post-Blockbuster world it makes sense from a business standpoint to entice customers to buy at your brick-and-mortar store with as many goodies as you can advertise, but we'll just see how hands-off they'll remain.
