Bethesda May Be Cracking Down On 2nd Hand Game Sellers
Bethesda May Be Cracking Down On 2nd Hand Game Sellers
It has been a growing concern for many years now that developers might be looking to shut down the rather massive market of 2nd-hand game sales. I mean, there are not many of us who haven’t toddled into our local gaming store with 2-3 2nd-hand games hoping to get at least £10 off the hottest title.
As far as retailers go, they love them! Buy low, sell high! It’s the mantra of big business! It seems though that Bethesda might genuinely be putting the hammer down on re-sellers as in a report via Polygon, private users have been reporting receiving legal threats from the company.
Amazon Re-Seller
An Amazon reseller reported how when he attempted to sell his boxed (and never opened (which may have been the real issue)) copy of The Evil Within 2, he received a letter from Bethesda basically ordering him to remove the item. Based on the rather generic tone of the letter as well as a ‘telephone number’ to call, it would appear that this number has gone out to several people.
In the better Bethesda simply said that as he was not an ‘authorised reseller’ what he was doing was ‘unlawful’. The letter states: “Unless you remove all Bethesda products, from your storefront, stop selling any and all Bethesda products immediately and identify all sources of Bethesda products you are selling, we intend to file a lawsuit against you.”
A Bad Move By Bethesda
This heavy-handed approach is certain out of the blue and if they continue this, it could backfire massively. In terms of developers, Bethesda is one of the few that actually has a really decent relationship with the community. If they start threatening legal action to people simply looking to cash in on their old or unplayed games though, it’s going to go down like a lead balloon. It’s a move that doesn’t make much sense to me!
What do you think? Is this merely a misunderstanding? Should they just leave this issue well enough alone? In addition, do you think this might be extending to retailers in the near future? – Let us know in the comments!
I’d just tell em,go do one!
We don’t all live in a rich mans world where, we buy a £250 console and then can afford £50-60 for a game some us poorer people have to wait up to a year to pick up a game at a fraction of the cost. Then the sequel comes then a prequel then a pre-sequel prequel then comes game of the year then box sets before you know it another console comes out.
I have to say I’m with them in this it will certainly stop people bulk buying special/collectors editions and selling them way above the original price as if they weren’t expensive enough some people sell for more then double the price there a business themselves and how ever they decide to go forward with this it won’t stop me buying and enjoying there games .
Maybe if you did some fact checking you’d realise the issue wasn’t reselling. It was reselling the item as “new”, when although sealed, he was not a verified seller of Bethesda games. So it was false advertising.
If he has marked the item as pre-owned Bethesda wouldn’t weren’t bothered. The have to deal with a game when it goes wrong. So didn’t want false sales affecting their customer base.
That was only part of the issue and it was noted in the article so…
Absolutely disgusting policy, in essence they are saying they dont want poorer people playing their games. As it is those that cant afford to pay between £60 to £100 for a full game but can stretch to buying second hand. Bethesda should be ashamed !!!