GameStop has launched a full video game publishing division called Game Trust. Some see this move as a way for GameStop to improve its bottom line, as the companies that create video games shift from physical discs to downloadable digital releases. Anyone who has ever shopped at GameStop knows that the company relies on its sales of physical discs of new and used games.
GameSpot posted on their blog about Game Trust. The new publishing division has already signed new games from independent studies, including Ready at Dawn (maker of The Order: 1886), Tequila Works (maker of Deadline and Rime), and Frozenbyte (maker of Trine).
GameStop hopes to “revolutionize” the publishing process with it’s new GameTrust program. https://t.co/BVsQoEoYO8 pic.twitter.com/EVkghi7zZs
— GameSpot (@gamespot) April 19, 2016
In March of this year, GameStop announced that it was working with Insomniac, the company that made Ratchet and Clank, on a new game. That new game is called Song of the Deep, and will be coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on July 12, 2016. MCV reports that Game Trust is in discussion with 20 other developers.
The GameStop Corp. verified Twitter account (@gamestopcorp) posted some information about Game Trust. They describe it as: “a new way for indie devs to create and introduce IP to a broad gaming audience and for gamers to discover new video games.”
GameTrust is not part of the creative process but will focus on discovering creative and fun games from innovative independent developers.
— GameStop Corp. (@gamestopcorp) April 18, 2016
The above tweet is a succinct example of how Game Trust is different from many other game publishing divisions. It isn’t creating brand new video games on its own. Instead, it is acting more like a games label. The indie developers who work with Game Trust will retain full rights to their properties, and GameStop has no involvement in the creative side of the game’s development.