Video game retail giant GameStop has been opening up brand new PC game boxes of the critically-acclaimed shooter Deus Ex: Human Revolution and removing packed-in $50 coupons granting free copies of the game to users of the OnLive cloud gaming service.
Why? Because Gamestop, which has its own digital distribution platform, didn't wan't to help promote the competition. A letter sent out to GameStop employees instructing them to "immediately remove and discard the OnLive coupon from all the regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution" has been widely circulated, and GameStop has since officially confirmed the practice.
"Regarding the Deus Ex OnLive Codes: GameStop's policy is that we do not promote competitive services without a formal partnership," GameStop says on its Facebook page. "Square Enix packed a competitor's coupon within the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons."
GameStop lamely tried to paper over by trying to assure customers that while they're breaking the seal on your new game box, your game itself should be fine. They issued a statement to customers and the public, saying "While the new products may be opened, we fully guarantee the condition of the discs to be new. If you find this to not be the case, please contact the store where the game was purchased and they will further assist."
Nice try, Gamestop. What you're conveniently ignoring is that you are committing THEFT. You are stealing something worth $50-- something which each customer has bought and paid for and you are cheating them out of.
Depending on how many of these units have had the coupons removed, Gamestop's actions could constitute grand larceny. It's possible that Gamestop has now realized that, since they are trying to save face by now refusing to sell the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution altogether.
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