GameStop is refusing to carry any copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution for the PC, amidst revelations that the title had come packed with a free code of the game for the online gaming service OnLive.
A manager at the retailer had issued an order to all stores to open copies of the game to remove the aforementioned free code, as GameStop considers OnLive to be a competitor to its own service, the “Spawn Labs Cloud Gaming Division.”
Source: Ars Technica
The retailer argues that the game’s publisher, Square Enix packed the coupon into the game without GameStop’s prior knowledge. Proponents of the retailer would also argue that they have every right to check what goes inside of their product before selling it to the public.
Despite the uproar this caused for a brief few hours yesterday, GameStop has since responded by pulling the PC version of the game from its shelves. According to a leaked e-mail, the store is issuing a recall for the product in agreement with Square Enix.
Source: reddit
Square Enix has since come forward to admit their wrongdoing and is defending GameStop’s decision. It goes without saying that the retailer currently holds a lot of leverage over publishers.
There’s little doubt that GameStop is scrambling to get its online service up to par with those of its competitors, because it won’t be long before brick and mortar stores become a thing of the past.
