GameStop: We dont like pre-owned

UPDATE: An official spokesperson from the US GameStop office has contacted MCV with the following statement: These comments from an unnamed and unknown person claiming to be a GameStop employee are inaccurate.

Pre-owned is the cornerstone of our business and, as you say, a key driving force for us. Both the buy/sell model and bricks and mortar retail are extremely important for our business both today and in the future as we continue to grow. Our European business is very important to us and we have lots of exciting new developments in the pipeline.”

Original story:Leading international games retailer GameStop has made the startling claim that it doesn’t like the pre-owned games business and would retreat from the model if it were able to.

Speaking at a keynote hosted by Instant Action CEO Louis Castle at today’s Develop Conference, a GameStop spokesperson stated:

We don’t like being in the used games business, but we have to be there. We would have to exit the games business otherwise.”

Used game sales have been one of the key driving forces for the retailer for many years now, but in recent months publishers have stepped up their offensive against the sector via the introduction of one-use DLC codes in many new titles.

Despite the drive, and despite some legal complications that have arrived as a result, GameStop has claimed that the pre-owned sector will live on – though it has also insisted that retail itself can be a key driver of digital growth.