UK game retailers desire peace in online pass vs. used game conflict

Video game retailers in the UK have been suggesting ways to broker peace between them and publishers like EA and Warner Bros over the issue of online passes and used games. Among these retailers is Gordon Crawford of indie Gamespod:

“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.”

That’s…a pretty good idea! This constant battle between publishers and retailers seems so unnecessary. If publishers (and developers for that matter) were given a cut of used game sales, it seems perfectly possible that we could live in a world where every single game isn’t $60. It would be a world where you could just pop a game in and play it without having to register for some profile you’ll never use and enter a 25-digit code for content you already paid for. Other retailers offered their agreements as well.

HMV 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.”

Julian Slater from Bits and Pieces added: “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.”

Unfortunately not all retailers who have spoken up about this issue are optimistic, like Chris Muckell from Xpress Games:

”We’d definitely like to do this, but I don’t see it being something publishers would implement. 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.”

I’d be interested to see what a larger retailer like Gamespot would have to say about this possible compromise. Let’s hope the publishers are listening.

Via MCV