GameStop Thought Buying Games Online Was A 'Passing Phase'
kotaku.com • • technology
Key Points:
- Former Stardock business developer Larry Kuperman revealed that GameStop once believed digital game distribution was a temporary trend, expecting physical stores to maintain dominance in the industry.
- GameStop acquired Stardock's digital store Impulse in 2011 but failed to invest seriously in it, underestimating the rise of digital platforms like Valve’s Steam.
- Impulse, launched in 2008 as a competitor to Steam, initially gained support from major publishers but was ultimately neglected by GameStop's management.
- By 2014, GameStop had shut down Impulse, effectively abandoning its digital storefront and leaving customers unable to access purchased games for over seven years.
- This misjudgment contributed to GameStop's current struggles, including store closures and a shift away from traditional video game sales toward other merchandise and meme-driven marketing.
