Yesterday, a story broke about the potential of the PlayStation Orbis being a real thing. One of the bullet points of information was the "fact" that the next-generation PlayStation console may prevent used games from offering up the full experience or may not be playable at all.
Industry analyst, Michael Pachter remarks to GI.biz that GameStop may very well not stock the PlayStation Orbis if this rumor is indeed a true one.
The problem with this that I see is the fact that if GameStop refuses to stock the console, that won't deter people form still buying it elsewhere. The demand may wane a slight bit but with there being a ton of alternatives out there for where people can make console purchases, I really don't see this as being an issue at all if one national retailer refuses to stock the item.
The only thing this seems like it would really impact are the used game sales. If the rumor of used games being a thing of the past anyway, then this really won't change much of anything for the end consumer, only for GameStop.
Industry analyst, Michael Pachter remarks to GI.biz that GameStop may very well not stock the PlayStation Orbis if this rumor is indeed a true one.
"It isn't really in Sony's or Microsoft's best interests to block used games. It would benefit Activision and EA slightly, and would hurt GameStop a great deal. If Sony unilaterally did this, I could see GameStop refusing to carry their console, and sales of the PS4 would therefore suffer," he said.
Pachter stressed that "if one does it and the others don't, the one who does it will see a loss of market share." He added that none of the big three console manufacturers "are stupid enough to do this unilaterally" and none of them "are evil enough to do it together."
David Cole of DFC Intelligence agrees that Sony or Microsoft would be foolish to block pre-owned, as a console with anti-used technology would turn off a large chunk of the hardcore gaming market.
"A system that tried to stop used game sales would probably turn off the core consumers that rush to trade in their old product to buy new product. In other words, I don't think it would do so well in the core market," he said.
Pachter stressed that "if one does it and the others don't, the one who does it will see a loss of market share." He added that none of the big three console manufacturers "are stupid enough to do this unilaterally" and none of them "are evil enough to do it together."
David Cole of DFC Intelligence agrees that Sony or Microsoft would be foolish to block pre-owned, as a console with anti-used technology would turn off a large chunk of the hardcore gaming market.
"A system that tried to stop used game sales would probably turn off the core consumers that rush to trade in their old product to buy new product. In other words, I don't think it would do so well in the core market," he said.
The problem with this that I see is the fact that if GameStop refuses to stock the console, that won't deter people form still buying it elsewhere. The demand may wane a slight bit but with there being a ton of alternatives out there for where people can make console purchases, I really don't see this as being an issue at all if one national retailer refuses to stock the item.
The only thing this seems like it would really impact are the used game sales. If the rumor of used games being a thing of the past anyway, then this really won't change much of anything for the end consumer, only for GameStop.
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