Walmart Used Games Credit To Start Again: Could DRM Make It Irrelevant?

The Walmart used games policy is coming back at the end of this month, allowing gamers to trade in the games they don’t want in exchange for store credit. However, with the new push that Microsoft (and possibly Sony) has been doing toward making consoles disc-free, the era of the used game could be almost over, making trade-ins a thing of the past.

With the end of the game disc possibly coming to consoles, DRM will be the new rule as Microsoft pushes the Xbox One back in the direction they announced in early 2013. Back then, they had announced that the console would eventually go the same route as Steam, eliminating the disc altogether in favor of downloading new games and digitally “lending” them to friends and family under certain restrictions. While “borrowing” digital games, they can decide if they want to buy the game at full price and make it theirs, or let the game become unplayable eventually.

This was Microsoft’s vision of “The future,” and they still intend to make it happen eventually. It is unknown when Sony might do the same, but we will bet it’s inevitable.

When games become digital, DRM policies will make systems like the Walmart used games store credit policy irrelevant. It could also make it so gamers on a tighter budget will have to wait until the game they want goes on sale, because the DRM will make it impossible to get a used game discount.

The way the Walmart used games policy will work is that you bring in your used games, and an employee will look them over and determine the value according to their condition and packaging. The amount they give you will be less than you might get from Craigslist or other methods, but it’s the convenience that makes it worth your time. The money will be given on a gift card so you can only spend it in the store.

Wal-Mart wants your used video games http://t.co/6B64XK6p9X

— Dan Good (@Dgood73) March 18, 2014

The games traded in will later be sold as “certified pre-owned” and with a discount. Of course, this will only work as long as video games remain in disc format.

How long do you think the Walmart used games store credit policy will last as digital game DRM becomes more and more accepted?