Amazons UK games download store ready for October launch

Online retail behemoth Amazon will launch its PC game download store in the UK this October, MCV can reveal.

A US download store has existed since early 2009 but it only started selling downloadable versions of triple-A PC games in November last year.It’s been a much-delayed process for the retailer as the UK service was originally scheduled to launch in April, MCV understands.

The service is currently in its test phase, but everything is in place for a full roll-out this autumn.

We welcome this news, as should all digital distributors, as it is good for this sector of industry,” one rival distributor told MCV.Amazon can use its retail muscle to draw attention to PC digital downloads and even upset the established order, where Valve sits at the head of the table.”

The US Amazon website currently has a section dedicated to PC downloads. Consumers who search for certain PC games will be given the option to either buy the boxed or digital versions.The retailer’s service is seen as a significant threat to Steam’s business.Steam’s Jason Holtman acknowledged the retailer’s plans in an interview with MCV in May.

We do have folks that are out there and do different things,” he said. Amazon is getting into this space in a big way.”