Microsoft have announced that they will now offer games developed specifically for the Xbox platform through the Game Pass platform, which has a monthly subscription system. Although this is a welcome news for the players, same thing can’t be said for the retailers.
Talking to game stores in the UK, GamesIndustry has shed a new light on the retailers’ view on digitalization:
“This news has killed our Xbox sales business in a night. Why would people pay 12 – 15 pounds and get a second game when they can access many more titles for 10 pounds a month? Our Xbox accessories were all sold out , normally we would renew the stock but we will stop doing that now. ”
Stephen Strangroon from Stan’s Games, another game store, has a similar opinion: “If they do that, I will not be stuck with the Xbox stock on my shelves, we only make 3-4 pounds of profit from the new Xbox games, it isn’t worth it. I guess this will kill the second hand market and people will agree with me. I sold a Monster Hunter in the morning, the customer brought the game back in the evening. ”
Paul Lemesuries, from another independent store, Sholing Video, said he won’t be selling the upcoming Xbox exclusive Sea of Thieves.
According to Gamegear, Microsoft’s Game Pass “gambling” will have a big impact on the future of the Xbox platform. We will see what this effect will be.
