GameStop is in the business of selling games. They’re pretty good at it but let’s not give them all the credit – they’ve got some great products to work with. That’s thanks to the work of so many developers around the world but it’s also largely attributable to the fact that both Sony and Microsoft have had such engaging platforms for HD console games for many years now.
But the console game retail business is not in a good place at the moment, GameStop’s profits are falling (into negative figures) and there’s a general feeling everywhere in this industry that we just want the next big thing, as soon as possible, please.
Sony went first, of course, and their February announcement of the PlayStation 4 has been well managed at every step since to give them a good start in the early battle for hearts and minds. But Microsoft is set to announce something within the next couple of months and the better their competition is for Sony’s platform, the better off we’ll all be as consumers of these wonderful interactive experiences (and Netflix, obviously).
[drop2]Well, in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the CEO of GameStop has given perhaps the most candid quotes yet on the next iteration of the Xbox. No, he hasn’t put a stop to all that Xbox 720, Durango, NeXtbox speculation, he’s still largely respectful of Microsoft’s right to break the big news. So we’re still dealing, unfortunately, in degrees of vagueness here. What J. Paul Raines has said is that he thinks the console they’ll be selling for Microsoft at the end of this year and beyond is going to be ace.“We’ve been spending a lot of time with Microsoft, but we have to let them take the lead on this, but it will be a very hot, compelling device. They are doing some really cool stuff, and I’m eager to hear them start their announcements,” Said Raines, well aware of the importance that the next five or six years of successfully pedalling these machines to consumers has on his business.
In some ways, that’s perhaps the most interesting thing to come from these quotes. Raines mentions how beneficial pre-owned games are for making new game purchases more affordable to consumers, as well as the potential for a price increase to the $70 mark (it’s currently $60). Does his enthusiasm for Microsoft’s next move indicate that he knows something more about the oft-rumoured blocking of pre-owned games – a move that would doubtless have a massive impact on GameStop’s business and certainly not endear Microsoft to them at all?
That’s a question which is likely to be left hanging until the very last possible moment for Microsoft, who won’t want the negative press of restricting their consumers but will want the perceived increase to their business (and that of their publishing partners) brought about by denying consumers the right to sell on their licences. In short, publishers will want it but consumers will not.
Which side Microsoft comes down on is still a mystery but the enthusiasm of GameStop’s boss at least gives us hope that his revenue stream – ordinary gamers – won’t be totally put off by whatever Microsoft has planned.
aerobes
$70 would break my habit. I rarely buy new games now but that’s simply too much for me to buy any new games at all. Has he said anything about PS4 because this all seems very pro Microsoft.
JesseDeya
$70 is just stupid, with Steam and places like Green Man Gaming doing PC games for literally half that price I can’t see how $70 will be a tolerable choice for most gamers.
Having said that, early adopters will pay early adopter prices for next gen console games. Myself included.
As for being GameStop being pro MS, it’s long been that way. Both are US owned, MS clearly gives GameStop incentive to promote their games and systems over Sony’s. You only need to walk into almost any GameStop in the US and look at how MS games are geographically advantaged to figure that one out. Having said that, Xbox has sold a lot more in the US than PS3, so it’s also good business sense by GameStop to cater to their biggest consumer base.
KeRaSh
I sometimes wonder why PC games are actually cheaper than console games when console versions are usually the lead dev platform these days. PC piracy is a significant problem and with one time key activations there is no resale value to them but on the other hand console piracy isn’t really a huge problem (at least not on the PS3).
Well, I guess I answered my own question but it’s still a little weird.
$70 would just be RRP and we all know that we rarely pay that much, at least not if you import from the UK. Not sure how it is in the US but I get the feeling that we pay close to RRP in Germany and that is the same price but in €…
sg
i’m pretty sure this an unbiased opinion.
brb pre-ordreing nextbox from gamstop.
rme
Sheepdip
Nothing in America is unbiased. Microsoft have long ago bought the American gaming press, the American gaming stores, the American gaming spin doctors, the American gaming analysts.
How else did they manage to get so many gamers to buy a console that was so badly broken for the first 4 years of it’s life it barely worked, had a very limited set of platform exclusive games, was tied into a subscription gaming plan and had a list of required extras to buy that’s longer than my arm…
BULLofDOOM
“a very hot, compelling device” – we all know it will be hot.
Regardless – exclusives, business methods, innovation, quality and yeah even a touch of brand loyalty has the PS4 pre-ordered. The next Xbox will have to steal Naughty Dog just to get me interested next gen.
bunimomike
If Microsoft were to allay the fears of the more hardcore gamer – which they did such a good job of luring in the first place – I think they would’ve done it by now. They really must be going for something a lot more “fluffy” and casual whilst hopefully maintaining that it’s all about the games. Pure gamers will see through it in an instant but others may well not.
Both Sony and Microsoft have seen what happened with Nintendo. Sony doesn’t want to concentrate with that end of the industry but it looks like Microsoft definitely wants to steal a slice of the casual action. Best of luck to them with whatever they do.
KeRaSh
Nintendo’s Problem is that casuals don’t seem to care much for the Wii U and the core gamers have been scared off for good during the Wii days. Now they are stuck in between without strong 3rd party core support and not enough casual early adopters to push in that direction.
Microsoft has to be really careful not to scare off the core market. It might be a huge pie but it’s currently stuck in Nintendo’s throat and it’s not doing them too many favors.
Sony pretty much satisfied my core needs with what they teasod of their next gen plans so I feel pretty safe in their camp, for now.
gazzagb
As soon as I read the title I immediately thought that it must mean pre-owned games are not blocked, otherwise I’d doubt he’d be as enthusiastic about it. Not long til Microsoft’s Xbox event now!
yiddo
I’m pretty much sold on a PS4 already. The next Xbox will have to at least have the features and specs of the PS4 (or even better) to even be slightly considered. Otherwise, it’s 100% PS4 for me.
bunimomike
Same here. There are millions of “traditional” gamers out there who want to come home from work, stick a truly immersive game on, veg out on the sofa and grab a controller to slay whatever creature stands before them. With this in mind, Sony appear to have utterly nailed the “we’re going to look after you this coming generation” feel to it all.
Microsoft will have to blow my socks off (and maybe even paint my toe nails) to distract me from Sony’s offering. I’m not sure they’re heading in the right direction, for me, but hopefully this month will reveal all.
TSBonyman
Looking forward to hearing what they’ve got planned, although i’ll probably stick with Playstation for continuity.