The video game retailer GameStop recently suspended their used game rental service called PowerPass because of problems within their infrastructure.
According to Kotaku, the retail chain instructed their employees to take down all the signage involving the PowerPass program and store it in their backrooms. At the time, it was not clear why GameStop decided to freeze the rental service but two employees speculated that it was done because the antiquated computers could not handle the program's processing needs.
GameStop later released this statement, "We have elected to temporarily pause the roll out of the new PowerPass subscription service, based on a few program limitations we have identified. We feel this is the right thing to do for now to ensure we are able to provide our guests an exceptional service."
Industry insiders felt that the explanation of "program limitations" was somewhat vague wherein the limitations could be a number of things aside from old computers like PowerPass's price, the games the customer could keep after the program expired, its duration, or something else. Nevertheless, the $60 subscription program to unlimited titles was supposed to allow subscribers to rent a game, and then return it. They could rent as many titles as they would like over a 6-month period. After the program expired, they could select one of the games that they rented and keep it for themselves.
GameStop's entry into the game-rental market came about due to fledgling sales of physical games. The chain wanted to encourage gamers to buy titles from retail stores instead of digital ones. PowerPass was supposed to spearhead this movement but unfortunately did not go ahead as planned. It remains to be seen what actually caused GameStop to stop the program.
Stay tuned for updates on whether or not GameStop will reinstate PowerPass or if there will be any possible changes to the program.
