Reports are that the PSP Go will not be stocked in certain major retailers in the Neatherlands and Spain despite the fact that major U.S. retailer GameStop is carrying the device. Word is, however, that GameStop's EB Games branch in Australia is refusing to carry the system.
Kotaku reports that EB Games Australia does not mention the PSP Go on its website, nor is the portable console in the system of any local stores. While the retailer refused to comment on the issue, Sony issued a statement, though they refused to directly address the EB Games Australia reluctance to carry the system.
"In relation to our business and the launch of PSP Go, we are already experiencing solid support for launch day on October 1 in Australia," wrote a SCE Australia spokesperson. "Retail support of the PSP platform, includes both PSP-3000 and PSP Go. Many retailers will choose to range both PSP models side-by-side, as we continue to offer expanded choice for the consumer for the handheld device platform. As with any new product, there will be continued discussions with retail partners to continue to expand reach over time in line with growth of the entire PSP platform."
The reason EB Games Australia is not carrying the PSP Go is probably that the all digital download system cuts not only new game sales out of the mix, but high-margin used game sales as well. Getting important retail partners to stock the hardware as consoles move towards a seemingly inevitable all-download future is an intriguing development to watch.
1 Comments
September 24, 2009
I wonder if the impact of selling all games as downloads would be enough to push retailers such as EB Games out of the market entirely? At that point, all they'd have left to sell are consoles and accessories; perhaps companies such as Sony would simply allow consumers to then order from them directly. The only reason I can think of using a middleman model like exists now is to mitigate shipping costs (and perhaps liability for theft, considering the value of the products); I wonder if the direct-to-consumer model would afford companies enough profit to justify distributing goods themselves. Do I smell local Sony stores in the future?
Eh, I can dream.