GameStop Has Created a Publishing Label and Signed Three More Games

[ffronw]

GameStop Has Created a Publishing Label and Signed Three More Games

//cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1313/1313236.jpgGameStop is expanding its publishing portfolio, adding three new games.

Back in February, GameStop announced that they would be publishing Song of the Deep a 2D metroidvania set in an underwater world. At the time, they told MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/gamestop-we-re-not-trying-to-be-a-publisher/0162124] that they were "not attempting to be publishers here."

You have to wonder if they're trying very hard, because after publishing a game, they're going to publish three more. They've also created their own publishing label, named "GameTrust Initiative," and they've signed three new game projects to that label.

No specific games have been announced yet, but we do know who the developers are. They are:

Tequila Works, developers of Deadlight and upcoming PS4 title Rime (recently dropped by Sony)
Ready at Dawn, best known for its God of War titles on PSP and The Order: 1886
Frozenbyte, developers of the Trine series and upcoming PC and PS4 game Shadwen

GameStop stressed in their announcement that they are "not part of the creative process." They're simply providing retail space and distribution for developers. That said, it's still interesting, because it shows that GameStop is looking to expand their footprint. In the face of a market that is increasingly going digital, it's not surprising to see the largest purveyor of physical used games looking to find other reliable sources of income for their business.



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[totheendofsin]

I guess Gamestop decided to pick up Rime (unless they decided to work on a different game but I feel Rime is a safe bet here) good news as I'm looking forward to that game

 

[OreoDoublestuff]

Hm, trying to have control over both production and distribution, where have i seen that before? Oh, look, they've helpfully labeled themselves as a game trust.

In all seriousness, i'm curious to see how they handle the developers they work with. i'm hoping they don't force games they publish to do all the shady stuff that benefits their retail arm. i think they will eventually, but i'm hoping they don't.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Judging from them picking up the company responsible for the "lesser" God of War titles and a terrible game, I'd say they are picking developers without any Rime or reason.

 

[sonicneedslovetoo]

Who's willing to bet they're just going to pull a Xenoblade Chronicles(here in the US) the second any of the games become popular?

If you don't know here in the US they artificially kept the price of Xenoblade Chronicles really high(something like 60-90$ USED) by not printing any new copies and instead printing a second batch of """used""" copies and just charging 90$ for them.