It’s nothing new to see online stores such as Amazon distributing codes for downloadable games, but GameStop appears to be one of the first to offer games on the eShop.
As you’d expect, pricing and purchase restrictions are exactly the same as on the eShop itself. What will make this worth it for some consumers is the ability to use gift cards and in-store credit from trading games towards the purchase of digital titles.
The library isn’t terribly extensive at the moment, touting only Pushmo and Virtual Console title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, but it will no doubt expand at some point.
If you`re a resident of America, you can find the listing here, which will presumably be updated as GameStop adds support for more titles.
GameStop needed to do this – this at least gives them a play in the digital download space.
Be interesting to see how well these things sell though. Aside from the loyalty club benefits (if GameStop offers those in the US?) it stikes me as an inefficient way to buy these games when I could just turn on the eShop and buy directly.
I guess there is the gift market!
Seems like the gift or incidental/impulse purchase would be their main market. Â There's absolutely no way I would spend time going to a store even if it had a slight discount. Â Though I'm not a club/reward member either.
I'd be interested if they cut deals on these titles (well, I already own these two, but that's another story).
GameStop really isn't a place I frequent nor want to.