Redbox and Amazon have been offering consumers streaming online games and movies for awhile now, and GameStop recently got into the action as well. EA Games, the developer of some of the best selling game titles in the world, just premiered “Origin,” an online game downloading service that has been in the works for months. Selling video games to retail stores takes a substantial chunk out of the company’s profits. Online game downloads offer consumers the products that they want instantly while EA gets to keep expenses low.
In fact, online gaming and online game downloads are expected to increase to approximately $18 billion in total sales this year. EA Games is going to capitalize on this market by releasing “online only” version of some games. In addition to a wide selection of new titles, gamers will also be able to keep track of all over their purchases for all of their consoles.
Some consumers like the way a physical game title feels in their hands, but EA games can get around this by offering pre-orders for in-store games. Now that EA Games is offering “Origins,” digital download sales are expected to ramp up. When new games premier, more fans are expected to pre-order their titles rather than stand in long lines. This is bad needs for video game retail franchises, but they have already responded by offering their own online digital download stores. EA Games will see exactly how its newest service is received when the company sells “Star Wars: The Old Republic” later this year.
