Well I have only been to Gamestop once in perhaps 5 months so there might be some truth to this idea.
GameStop's business would be devastated if streaming services catch
on. Sony hasn't announced the exact details for PlayStation Now, but
earlier this week it explained how the service will work. When it
launches, gamers will have the ability to purchase a subscription. Once
they become subscribers, they'll get access to a catalog of games from
previous Sony PlayStation (1, 2, and 3) consoles. They can then stream
the games over the Internet to their Sony PlayStation 4, HDTV, or mobile
device.
Even more than digital purchases, streaming games weigh on GameStop's
business by completely eliminating both the hardware component and the
ownership of individual games. Access to games will be part of a
service, and getting that service won't even require buying a console
from GameStop if you have a compatible TV.
Hmm, Playstation Now might tip my hand on whether to buy a PS4 or an Xbone. The idea of playing some classic PS1 games on my phone or tablet sounds intriguing. Some of the older Final Fantasy titles would go great to pass the time when riding the bus or something. Also if you can just click something on the PS4 and you can download the new Call of Duty or NCAA Football (maybe at a reduced price?) then I would sign up for sure.
In any case I would see Microsoft quickly follow suit to keep up with Sony. That would certainly be the death knell for Gamestop. I used to love going there and looking at the various games. Now there really isn't a reason to visit there since I haven't gotten a next gen console yet. I guess this is another case of technology changing the physical world again.
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