Nearly 100 games are on the fast track for shelf space at thousands of 7-Eleven convenience store locations across the country.
The mammoth retail company announced today that 3,000 of its 8,200 stores in North America now stock used video games in a new section called the “Gamers Factory,” and around 100 new stores are planned to add the section every week through at least the end of the year.
7-Eleven began dabbling in the video game market at the end of 2008, with select locations partaking in the retail firestorms of games like God of War III and Madden 2010. Over the last year, more franchise owners have started stocking video games, and late last year the company began setting up shelf space for budget games at a few hundred stores.
Now the aim is to bring gaming shelf space to virtually all of its stores as 7-Eleven tries to brand itself as the “Most Convenient Destination” for video games. With most stores open 24 hours a day, it will be the only nearby location for many gamers to get a late-night fix.
The new expansion of video games includes used PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, and PSP games at less than $20. 7-Eleven gets its product from used game company Game Trading Technologies.
“7-Eleven’s franchisees have been very receptive to our program—they understand the unique opportunity that value-priced video games offer their customers,” said Todd Hays, president and CEO of Game Trading Technologies. “We have seen demand for these games increase from both the consumer and the retailer, creating a new marketplace that allows us to offer excellent value.”
7-Eleven is expected to continue to sell big-name new titles at launch as well.
