GameStop is trying to make video game rentals cool again.
The retail chain just introduced a program called PowerPass, which asks players for $60 and lets them play as many pre-owned games as they want within a six-month period, as if a Netflix for physical video games. Neat.
GameStop Unveils Unlimited PowerPass Rental Service
Those who'll subscribe to PowerPass will be able to select from GameStop's own library of pre-owned games, take it home, play it, then go back and swap it for something else when they're finished. Again, there's basically no limit to how many games a customer can play — they just need to squeeze in as many titles as they can in half a year.
That said, players are only limited to one game rental at a time, presumably because GameStop wants to prevent customers from hoarding games, as not doing so would probably leave other PowerPass subscribers with only a few titles to choose from. This is kind of a bummer, sure, but it's just fair.
It's quite a tempting deal, but there's one thing that makes it even better: When the six months are over, PowerPass players get to choose one pre-owned game they want to keep forever. That certainly makes the $60 fee seem more reasonable, even though all the games are pre-owned. No problem, though: some pre-owned titles are just as good as new ones.
Some caveats to keep in mind, however: The PowerPass gimmick is only available to PowerUp Rewards members, presumably so the game they get can be tracked, as Kotaku points out. For the uninitiated, PowerUp Rewards has three tiers, two of which carry an annual fee. They come with their own set of perks for GameStop customers, some of which are discounts, a Game Informer magazine subscription, and more.
Game selection is limited to whatever players see on a physical shelf inside GameStop at any given time, not from the store's online catalog. Despite those, however, GameStop will let players take any pre-owned game: there won't be any restrictions or titles that won't be included. Once they're pre-owned, it officially becomes part of the PowerPass library.
GameStop PowerPass Launch
GameStop's PowerPass program starts Nov. 19, which is perfect for players who are on a tight video game budget, especially with so many excellent games slated to come out in November and beyond. This could be the program GameStop needs to stay longer in the business, especially after announcing earlier this year that 150 of its stores will be closed.
Thoughts about GameStop's PowerPass program? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
