Microsoft said something interesting during the MIT Business in Games conference. The company said it does not want to upset retailers with its Games on Demand service.
As reported by Joystiq, Games on Demand Senior Business Manager Erik Yeager explains the company’s current policy for the service:
“We have a lot of strong partnerships with retailers. We really need them to do a lot for us. They’re the ones out there selling the consoles, selling the peripherals and, in this time, we’re trying to figure out how to fit that in to the whole digital landscape shift. We really strongly believe it’s important to have these retail partnerships and the ability to sell our console is the most critical thing for us. If you don’t sell the console, you can’t sell anything else.”
This is an interesting comment for Microsoft to make. Sony and Nintendo release some of its games digitally on the first day they are released out in retail stores. Microsoft have never adopted this strategy as games are made available a week or later after its retail release.
It also poses an interesting scenario about the Xbox 720 too. With all the rumors that the console might not have the ability to play used games, will they be willing to upset a retailer like Gamestop that sells lots of consoles and peripherals for them?