California GameStop stores must post DLC warnings for used titles

GameStop shops in California must post warnings when their used games come with one-time-use online passes or extra fees for downloadable content.

As part of a class-action settlement by law firm Baron & Budd, the retailer giant will be forced to put up signs both online and in California shops to warn those who buy used versions of games that they’ll have to pay for online codes to access the advertised ‘free DLC.’

The DLC referred to only comes free to customers who buy new copies of each game.

The report from Business Wire also details that Baron & Budd claimed GameStop was attempting to maximize profits by purchasing used games at a fraction of their costs and jacking up their prices ‘without paying any royalties to video game publishers or developers.’

"We are pleased that as a result of this lawsuit, we were able to obtain complete restitution for consumers, with actual money paid out to people who were harmed by GameStop’s conduct," said Mark Pifko, Baron and Budd attorney and counsel in the lawsuit.

"The in-store and online warnings are an important benefit under the settlement as well, because if GameStop discloses the truth to consumers, it is unlikely that they will be able to continue selling used copies of certain games for only $5 less than the price of a new copy. In fact, we already know that not long after the lawsuit was filed, GameStop lowered prices for used copies of many of the game titles identified in the lawsuit."

Baron & Budd added that customers will be able to recover ‘the additional $15 they would have been required to pay to access the downloadable content’ in the form of checks and/or store credit.