A couple of UK retailers have said they’d accept a revenue-sharing scheme for pre-owned games, if online pass systems are given the flick.
“As a retail store we would happily share part of the sale from a used game if we get something in return. Perhaps new games at better prices and no more online codes,” Gamespod’s Gordon Crawford told MCV.
“If you want to stop these one-time codes then yeah, fair enough, we’ll share revenues. If publishers gave me a better deal, then maybe. The publishers are not the poor man here,” Julian Slater of Bits and Pieces said.
“We all know how the business model in the industry is changing. So if there is any merit in this idea then it may be worth looking into,” an HMV representative added.
“We’d definitely like to [share revenue], but I don’t see it being something publishers would implement,” Xpress Games’ Chris Muckell said.
“With new releases dropping in price after just the second week, I’d have thought their investments would be better in making money from DLC.”
Online Passes are bundled with new copies of games, and grant the first purchaser access to locked content like multiplayer. Publishers have noted reasonable success in selling passes for a premium for those who’ve picked up a disc second hand, bringing in revenue on sales which are otherwise closed to them.
THQ, EA, Warner Bros., Sony and Ubisoft are among those who utilise or have experiment ed with Online Pass systems.
Thanks, EDGE.
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