Deciding to re-release a new Xbox One console with the Kinect motion sensing technology removed was a calculated decision on Microsoft’s part to help pull their struggling system out of its rut. Now, GameStop reveals it may have worked.
Through the grape vine, GameStop president Tony Bartel is starting to hear rumblings that reservations and positive feedback regarding the Xbox One is starting to trickle in from various chains around the country. In a recent financial call, he said, “I definitely think we’re already seeing in our stores with our reservation program as well as dialogue with PowerUp Rewards, there’s a stronger demand as a result of the price drop. The good news for us is… we’ll sell a lot more units.”
The redesign is scheduled to hit store shelves in June with a reduced price tag of $399.99 (to help it directly compete with its PlayStation 4 counterpart).
As for GameStop themselves, they too are having to deal with a bit of competition in the games market as of late (with Wal-Mart recently venturing into used games sales). During the call however, CEO Paul Raines was quick to point out that new competition doesn’t worry them, even from a retail giant like Wal-Mart. “…it’s not our first rodeo. We have not seen any impact from our competitors entering the used space…We have a deep knowledge of how execution looks at all of those competitors and we do not have any impact from them.” He said.
No word yet on exactly what kind of revenue Wal-Mart has generated from their trade-in program, but we’ll keep you posted as this info becomes available.