"Pre-owned is pushing devs into digital"

Game publishing and development firms are finding sanctuary in digital distribution platforms because boxed retail is dependent on pre-owned sales schemes, industry veteran David Perry has said.

Speaking today at the Cloud Gaming Europe event in London, Perry said companies like Gamestop are getting so good at selling used games, getting better and better at squeezing revenues, that they are encouraging publishers to go digital.”

Pre-owned sales has long been a divisive subject in the games business. Retailers, which take all profits from selling second-hand games, say they are an essential business pillar. Publishers and developers, who make nothing from such sales, say the practice hurts revenues.

Develop has more details.