For years, Amazon has done an excellent job influencing your online purchases. Perhaps now they’ll also be influencing the games you find in their stores. Amazon has reportedly purchased Double Helix Games, developer of the wildly popular Killer Instinct. Many fans have grown concerned that the current games, both released and in-development, might be affected. However, Amazon has confirmed that the purchase will not change the progress of future games in development, nor will current games fail to be supported moving forward.
This will undoubtedly stir up rumors that Amazon is preparing to create and launch its own high-powered gaming console. Considering the fact that Amazon is massive and already controls a large portion of the online market, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they’re planning to compete with the larger players. Even more interesting will be the impact Gamestop and other video game retail stores will feel from Amazon entering the playing field. Retail stores have already felt the impact of cheap, downloadable services such as Steam, but this could be on a whole new level. If Amazon creates a console that changes the dynamics on the living room, it could be a real nightmare for some companies.
Currently, the mindset of “living room gaming” suggests that users purchase a title, often a hard copy, and play through the use of a disc. Amazon has the potential to change this mindset. Other than the fact that they’re massively influential, a new device focusing on downloading or streaming games could put companies like Gamestop in a particularly tough situation. Of course, there are likely many gamers who fear for the future of gaming as we know it, but the possibility of real change is there albeit likely not for some time.
Gamestop to turn into Blockbuster?
To the dismay of many, Blockbuster declared bankruptcy and closed their doors over the course of the past year. Many claimed it was Blockbuster’s unwillingness to change that ultimately shut down their operation. While their decisions certainly had an impact, it was streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu that did most of the damage. Once the incentive to actually get up and drive to the store was taken away, it was nearly impossible for them compete.
Gamestop could be looking at a similar future. Amazon could allow gamers the ability to stream gaming services directly to their television set, and considering how large the company is, they could even offer discounts on permanent purchases. While Gamestop still has a market selling used games, it’s hard to see them successfully profiting if they can’t get people in the door. Amazon already has many, many used games on their marketplace, and if users are already counting on Amazon for their gaming services, it’s possible that they could grab a larger share of the used game market.
What do you guys think because it’s you who matters. If Amazon offered a device that allowed you to stream gaming services to your television set, would you bother getting up and going to Gamestop in order to buy games? Of course, most new titles wouldn’t be available in the form of a Netflix-like dashboard, but older games that Gamestop relies on for revenue could be. What do you think?