Wal-Mart begins to sell used video games

Wal-Mart has now started selling used video games for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS and Sony PlayStation 3 gaming consoles.

The announcement isn’t entirely surprising, as the wheels were set in motion months ago.

In May, Wal-Mart introduced “Video Game Buyback” kiosks in select stores, allowing owners to return their games in exchange for store credit.  Wal-Mart has collected the used games and is now selling them online — used games are available for 15% to 30% less than the retail price tag of new video games, according to online reports.

Even though it’s possible to purchase used games online and at specialty video game shops, large brick and mortar retailers usually avoid selling used games.

Image courtesy of Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart launched a new site, which can be seen here, to highlight its used game offerings.

Why the sudden interest in used video games?

Wal-Mart is attempting to cash in despite the fact that video games sales have struggled greatly over the past six months.  In August, video game sales were 16% lower than they were in August 2008, as consumers have proven they are unwilling to purchase new video games that are unappealing.

I’m looking to see how other retailers handle used games — especially if the video game industry continues to struggle heading into the 2009 holiday shopping season.  Some within the video game industry are optimistic that game sales will pick up before 2010, but several hit game titles will need to be released to help dramatically increase sales.

GameStop, the No. 1 game retailer in the United States, said 70% of trade-in products are used for new game purchases.  Normally, all other stores do not offer in-store credit for games and movies that are traded in — and it doesn’t seem Wal-Mart will try to follow in GameStop’s foot steps.