The future of game stores

The future of game stores is beginning to look bleak as more and more locations are beginning to shutter their windows, lock their doors, and pack up their merchandise, leaving nothing but empty shelves behind. Game stores are facing heavy competition due to the digital age we live in where gamers can simply download games to their PC or console, and play.

The benefits of downloading games is that your gaming platform won't sound like a garbage disposal while running the game, and quicker load screens which is a huge benefit because everyone hates those pesky load screens. However, do the pros of downloading games outweigh the excitement of going to a video game store and coming home with something real in your hand.? I guess it really depends on the gamer. I personally like having a game that comes fully loaded in a nice package with cool cover art.

It seems that others don't feel the same way. Just last week, Best Buy closed around 50 stores in order to open smaller mobile stores. Not only Best Buy has been affected though, GameStop has closed a wide variety of locations (including one close to me -_-) and European game store simply named GAME has gone completely out of business.

Then future looks even more bleak Developers are trying to get rid of the used games market by making games only available for download, or even package them with unique numerical codes that players must enter in order to play. The code will be registered as used, so it won't work on another person's PC or console. It is even rumored that the next-generation Xbox will not come equipped with a disc tray.

In the end, this could hurt developers. Sure they won't have to give a percentage of their sales to retail stores, but right now they are only giving them 20% per each purchase of a new game, along with a few other minor fees they tack on. In the end developers are still getting around $40 per purchase of a new game, and they have an outlet that promotes and sells their products for them. If game stores are closed there may be financial backlash towards developers, causing their sales to tank.


Game stores are vital to the industry, as well as used games. If developers go through with their whole no used games campaign, it may hurt them more than it helps. I can't even count how many times I bought a new game by trading in a bunch of old games that I didn't play anymore. Not only is it vital to the gaming industry, it is vital to gamer culture.