Independent Game Shops Told They Won't Get Red Dead Redemption 2 Until November

In the lead-up to Red Dead Redemption 2’s October 26 release, Zach Gieg spent over $3,300 adorning his small, local chain of Pennsylvania video game stores with billboards, flyers, posters, and other displays touting the the highly-anticipated Western adventure game that his customers began preordering two years ago. It was at the store’s own expense, but Gieg figured that the advertising dollars would surely convert to sales of the upcoming game. But a couple of weeks ago, Gieg says, his distributor had some bad news: he wouldn’t be getting the game on time for its release. Across the country, other local game stores were hearing the same thing.

[gangsta_red]

That's kind of dirty doing in small mom and pop stores. And the only reason behind it may be because they don't want the street date broken? I call BS on that.

[PhantomS42]

Makes sense. Mom and Pop shops always have a habit of releasing the game earlier than the street date. It really hurts the honest M&P shops but a couple bad apples spoil the bunch. When was the last time a major title didn't have a massive leak because of small shops?

[Gh05t]

Pretending you are right and for the sake of argument: Then tell the stores ahead of time that they will not get the games early... if that is the reasoning behind it then they would have known this in advance and the ONLY people hurt by this are the business owners.

[PhantomS42]

@gh05t

But that is still on the individual store for not securing the orders before they start marketing it.

[Spike20XX]

I have to side with you on this one, there was this one retailer in Mexico, that was always selling physical copies of games 1 week before release date, every single time.

[Thomaticus]

Retailers have broken street dates before.

[mark134uk]

i get mine early from lgs, he charges £5 extra on the game, only way he can stay open tbh

he cant compete with tesco and game

[subtenko]

yea I know of places that did that. They broke the street dates.

Guess you're right, if someone does something bad it does affect everyone in a way. Makes sense

[Skull521]

Digital guarantees everyone who wants a copy can get one. I already have my copy downloaded, and I get to play it on 10/25.

If you want a physical disc you should pay them upfront to manufacture one of them for you.

[rainslacker]

Mom and pop buy from distributors, so more likely they're shipping them to the retailers that can buy direct, like Amazon or game stop.

That being said, there is no reason why they couldn't have printed.more copies earlier. It's not like the demand for this game suddenly became higher than expected, and I would guess that they're hoping to sell more digital copies this way.

[parris]

This is exactly it, they are creating a shortage to force digital.

[JackBNimble]

Maybe they just want to see how the game sells. No publisher wants to over project stock if it doesn't sell as well as expected.

You may be right about wanting to sell more digital copies, but even if that's true I doubt that is the only reason for this.

[rainslacker]

@Jack

R* games tend to sell for the long term. Even GTA is still charting. This game has a lot of hype, and a lot of preorders. There is absolutely no reason why they should underproject the sales of this game to not print enough copies that we're getting reports of delays from even the big retailers, and no distributors getting it for other retailers. Even people that have preorders may have their orders delayed....so they didn't even bother to make enough to cover what they knew they could sell. R* aren't amateurs. They know how to figure out how many are going to sell beyond the preorders, and how many of an initial stock they're going to have.

Nintendo had a case with one of the Fire Emblem games where they couldn't get the stock imported for some reason, and they saw digital sales rise significantly, and after that, they had a couple other high profile games for the 3DS also having a lack of product at retail, despite there being no issue with importing.

Publishers know that if something has enough demand, there will be enough people that are willing to buy digital instead, and that means they make a few extra dollars on the sale. They also know that those that want or have to hold out for physical, will still buy the game when it becomes available, and they'll still be selling that game at the same price a 2-3 weeks later.

I might think differently if this wasn't a high profile, very highly anticipated game, but a game like this will easily sell plenty, and there was no chance they'd be burdened with overstock they couldn't sell, unless the game is really bad and bombs in reviews, and I doubt they really feel that's going to happen.

[sprinterboy]

Kinda funny games mentioned it might be due to security with smaller shops after the gta stabbing

[Cueil]

like walking out of walmart into their dark ass parking lot is any safer

[jznrpg]

It is mom and pop shops that generally break the street date . But Best Buy isn’t going to fill all of their preorders so maybe there is a legitimate reason to it.? I wouldn’t buy digital instead I would just wait but it could be they want more digital purchases? Who knows

[rainslacker]

I didn't preorder, so I'll probably just wait until a time I can buy it whenever I might happen to be in the store and feel like it. I might have brought it sooner, but I'm not going to go to extra effort for it. I have plenty to play in the mean time.

But I'm not super excited for the game. Just one of those things that I know I'll want to play, and will probably enjoy.

[annoyedgamer]

Sounds like Gamestop and R* has some dirty dealings.

[2pacalypsenow]

$ talks

[2pacalypsenow]

That’s dumb

[xRacer74x]

Wait till you see the digital release be earlier than physical releases. Its going to happen so its inevitable.

[TheColbertinator]

Already began. Origin Access Premier sold FIFA 19 11 days early through their subscription. Next up will be BFV.

[2pacalypsenow]

They already do this with movie releases. Digital releases 2 weeks before the Blu Ray.

[JackBNimble]

Well I have RDR2 predownloaded, it would be sweet if it unlocked early but the clock says for Friday 12:00am est

[Cueil]

at least it's EST not PST... I hate when they use west coast time

[chiefJohn117]

It's already starting. EA access release games 2 weeks early. However it's 24 hours worth of game time.

[P_Bomb]

Garbage if it’s about corporations wanting more control over their distribution chains ie. small mom and pop shops.

I call shenigans on supply. Especially since digital is more prevalent now than it was during GTAV or anything TakeTwo’s published before. Never had an issue buying a big AAA videogame then. This ain’t a niche title.

What’s the point of preordering if it’s delayed a week at local business X, but corporate chain Y has it right across the street? I preordered from a local mom and pop. $10 off credit + have a long weekend off from work. Made sense. But if they don’t get it, I’m sure as sh** not gonna wait a week to buy it right when I have to go back to work!

[CaptainObvious878]

I'm in a smiliar boat. I preordered it ages ago, used up annual leave to get work off for the whole weekend plus the next week.

If I don't get it on release day and have to wait a week, completely wasting my annual leave, I'm going to loose it.

I can easily wait a week for the game, it's my precious wasted leave that's going to infuriate me, and then having to go back to work when I finally get the game...

*George Costanza* WE ARE LIVING... IN A SOCIETY!! :)

[fiveby9]

I gotta sympathize with you that it would suck to not get the game on time especially if you coordinated time off work to coincide with the release. That stinks. And I love the Costanza reference. :) I pre-ordered through BestBuy for in store pickup. My email still shows for 26 Oct pickup. Finger crossed....

[Kostche]

can they do anything about this?

[jznrpg]

I don’t see what they could do? You can’t force someone to sell you their product. They could sue but it wouldn’t result in anything but lawyer fees .

[Gh05t]

Not really, when you rely on a distributor you are usually at their mercy, there arent many available so you cant really switch and the production company wont deal with tiny orders so you cant go to them direct. Not to mention losing bulk discounted prices.*

*This is from personal experience in a different industry than gaming.

[rainslacker]

I guess they could refuse to sell the game at all. But I doubt they'll have all the indie stores everywhere boycott it. And ultimately, it won't matter to R*, because people will just go somewhere else. Plus, I think this is constructed shortages from R* to push digital sales, as other games with shortages have sold more at digital until they became more readily available at retail....usually after the high selling launch window passes.

They could say they won't sell R* games in the future, but R* doesn't release that many games, and they'd still be in the same place as with the first instance.

@Ghost

It's pretty much the same in the gaming business. I checked my distributor, and the game isn't available for pre-order for me to get to early on day one. Even the ship date, which is usually a few days before release in most cases, is not stipulated. This means they don't actually have any to sell, and the three distributors I'm set up with are all pretty much the same. This likely means they don't have a firm date on when they'll get copies, because that's how it appears when they're out of stock on games, and don't have a firm date on when they'll get more in.

Since the game releases next week, I should be able to order it now, for shipping immediately.

R* probably changed any allotment that these distributors had, because all of them work on a first order, first ship basis, with no favorites played for bigger orders. One has a forum, and there are a lot of people upset about it, that did have pre-orders in place for months, or for around a year, and the distro hasn't made any comment other than they won't have the stock to send, but gave no reason on why they won't have stock. So it's not that they're sending it out to preferred customers, but that R* isn't sending it to them.

@jznrpg

Way too many things that aren't typical here that makes me think this is a manufactured shortage, and while they aren't required to ship these games, if they're doing it for reasons to try and control a market, like force digital, then there is a chance that they can be slapped with an anti-competitive claim by the government here in the US. Not sure about other countries. They'd have to really prove that the shortages were valid, but things aren't adding up. Generally it's not allowed to remove distribution channels to favor other channels. It's considered against consumer interest.

[Kostche]

thanks all for the replies, its shame little guys get punked yet again by big business

[thatguyhayat]

This is going to result in people going for the digital instead. Hmmmm

[Miacosa]

Crazy that the guy admits to making pirate RDR2 merchandise, sketchy.

[sprinterboy]

Gamers can stamp there feet and go out kicking and screaming but digital is going to be the number 1 sales numbers within 5 yrs wether you/we like it or not.

[Jinger]

I'm already all digital, and have RDR2 preloaded and ready. No waiting for mom and pop shops or waiting at midnight for this guy

[sprinterboy]

Same buddy, going by our disagrees there gonna go kicking and screaming.
They forget 75% of the gaming market are casuals who DON'T come to gaming sites like THESE, who DON'T care about gaming collections and backwards combatability.
Casuals play nothing but fifa or cod as examples, or move onto the nxt best thing ie fortnite without any hesitation of wanting to keep there copy (normally scratched to fuck) or play it again or trade it in for £3. They just move onto what there friends are playing or what the latest craze game is at the time.

[rainslacker]

That's great. Guess we should all celebrate that R* is probably making a manufactured shortage to try and get more money out of us in the meantime? They make a few extra bucks per copy sold by going digital, hooray for digital and people who want physical having to wait it out.

Who cares if digital is the future? if this is what R* is doing, then it's actually illegal in the US, and most other civilized societies. It's considered anti-competitive.

Have fun in 5 years, I prefer to look at the present, and not allow companies to force a market because they want control, and will exercise my right to express what it is I want, and spend money on what it is I want. I will kick and scream, and if digital becomes the only way to buy games, then I'll just stop buying games unless they institute some sort of real ownership of those digital purchases, but even then, since I'm a collector who likes a physical collection, I'll buy a lot less games.

I won't believe that this shortage isn't manufactured unless R* can come out and give a good reason why they somehow greatly miscalculated the demand that this game would have....despite the high pre-orders, despite the fact their games have long legs in the market, despite that this game is probably one of the most hyped of the generation, despite all this, with the current shortages being reported, we're talking about them miscalculating by millions of copies. That's an extreme number to be off by.

I'll apologize if they have a good reason, but not until then.

[sprinterboy]

I agree with the BS creating shortages buddy, plus I agree with options are good.
But come on you have to admit the human species hates change for some reason (not just in gaming). Baby's being born today will be like WTF uncle you bought games that came in a box.
Digital prices will come down in price in the near future as I believe 5/10yrs from now we won't need the console (maybe just a little box) which sony/ms/Nintendo will provide for free then everything will be streamed. Once the console manufacturers can cut out the retailer 100% the prices will be great for digital Imo.
Hell even some digital prices are great now if your not day 1 buyer ie I'm getting "strange brigade" today for £29.99 bargain, I may even go for the deluxe which includes the season pass for £44.99.
Digital atm is like £5 more for new games which yes should be cheaper and yes should have some trade in option on the psn store (ps5 imo) bc etc. These things will all come and 10yrs from now well all be wondering what all the fuss was about.

[Jinger]

Well, like music and movies eventually they'll have to cut back on physical releases to push digital. I mean the pc gaming market has been digital for a long time and I don't see people being upset by that. Seems likes it's only a thing with console owners. As far as "owning" it, you basically have it for as long as Sony, MS and Nintendo are still in business and running their service. If iTunes or Steam ever get shutdown I wonder what the outrage would be and how it would shape digital.

Honestly I'm thinking it's going to take a mass deletion like that until we start seeing some big important changes to how digital ownership works.

[rainslacker]

Again, that's all great, but why chastise those who prefer digital? if a person prefers physical, why should we just shut up and accept it? Why should we spend money to support a paradigm that doesn't support our needs?

That's backwards thinking, and if and when the day digital becomes the only option, I'll change how I purchase games then. In the mean time I, along with others, will more than happily provide ample voices to these publishers to tell them what it is we want, and when they lose out on all those who prefer physical and stop buying games, they can be reminded of how they didn't pay attention.

And digital prices will not come down. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that if you give publishers the control over the pricing, and remove pretty much any and all competition from the market, that they will do the right thing by the customers, and pass the savings onto the customer. They make maybe an extra few dollars on a digital copy after store front cuts are taken. They aren't going to lose more because they think WE deserve it. Prices are going up, not down, and too many people wrongly assume that things like Steam sales, or other digital store fronts taking marginal profits from selling digital keys, somehow equates to digital being cheaper, when it never is for newly releaesed games, and digital games are typically more expensive longer than physical despite there being no real reason for that.

@Jinger

They won't have to scale back physical releases, but I do agree, even with sprinter, that they will push digital more, and will actively scale back on physical releases. There is really nothing that makes physical releases a bad deal for them considering how cheap it is to produce physical. The distribution can be costly, but that's a marginal line item for a big publisher.

I'm not contentious over the eventuality, just the fact we should just accept it. I also don't really agree with most of the time frames given of 5-10 years, but that's another matter.

Not really going to get into a tit for tat over potential scenarios which may strip away one's ownership. I know you know, and I know you know I know, the pros and cons of both physical and digital, and I accept that we both have different personal preferences.

[CaptainObvious878]

You're a useful idiot if you think prices are going to go down when digital becomes the monopoly. And that's putting it nicely.

Just take 2 seconds and think about it. Wtf do you think is going to happen on consoles if digital is the only way to buy? I mean it, just contemplate that question for 2 seconds.

It's not going to be like on PC. That's an open market still with multiple platforms to buy from. On consoles, there is only 1 market place, just one.

So I ask again, wtf do you think is going to happen when there is only 1 place to buy a game from? Do you think it's going to go down? Or is it going to go up and stay up for it's entire life without any sales because publishers have absolutely no incentive to do otherwise?

Please wise the F up because I love this amazing hobby and I don't want to see people like you ruin it.

[sprinterboy]

I'm not naive dude, so shut the F up, prices will come down and get your tin hat off. Ms, Sony and nintendo will be competing for third party games to be bought off there system, ie fifa 22 on xbox store £29.99, fifa 22 on playstation store £27.99 or cod on playstation £27.99 and £24.99 and a exclusive zombie map with xbox etc.
So please wise up, think about it for 2 seconds you useless idiot.
Have a nice Sunday.
Edit: plus all 3 console companies will have psn/live/nin store trade in, selling and buying digital games with psn/live friends nxt gen, so you can still trade you games.

[CaptainObvious878]

Wow....

Go read up on basic economics.

[neutralgamer1992]

there is no excuse for this sort of shortage in today's gaming landscape

[Elda]

Folks that don't plan on getting RDR2 on release date such as myself have that option to buy it at a small retailer when they're ready to buy otherwise most folks will be buying at a main store (Gamestop,Target,Walmart,Amazo n) when the game is released day one.

[Findingcrybabies]

dirty, but also not entirely agreeing with him about everyone not willing to wait a week. After falling into to GTAO trap of how unfinished and broken it was I will just be waiting to get the GOTY edition for $40 at some point. It won't kill me to wait and at least I'll be able to enjoy the game when I get it instead of losing 3 characters and waiting on patches endlessly while I play other games anyways.

[subtenko]

Digital download, play the game when its 12AM on PSN