It's a sad, sad day for those who rent games before buying them, because US movie/video game rental chain Family Video is closing down for good.
The main cause isn't Netflix or Xbox Game Pass as some may expect (although they may be symptoms of a massive shift in how we enjoy media and the downfall of rental stores). What tipped them over the edge is the COVID-19 pandemic that caused a lack of movie releases and less foot traffic, according to the parent company's CEO Keith Hoogland, who spoke with CBS. It has "pushed [the company] to the end of an era," said the executive.
More than 250 stores throughout the United States are closing with liquidation sales on movies and video games; it might be a good way to fill up your backlog for 2021. However, we can't ignore the employees who will be out of work during this pandemic. We hope they will land on their feet.
Knowing that Blockbuster Video rolled credits just over a decade earlier, Family Video had a great run in the age of digital streaming. At one point, the company had over 10,000 employees with a peak of 800 locations recommending the latest movies and games to their consumers.
With fewer companies pivoting towards game rentals, it seems to be a thing of the past. Xbox has been providing their first-party library to Game Pass subscribers on day one and has a competitive back catalog of titles. For example, this month they'll be adding Injustice 2, eFootball PES 2021, and Torchlight 3 to the service. Subscribers also have access to the EA Play library that offers triple-A games like Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order and provides lengthy trials of their EA's new releases. You can even get two free months of anime from Funimation with Xbox Game Pass.
Meanwhile, PlayStation Now lets players stream PS2, PS3, and PS4 games to their PC, PS4, or PS5. They're getting close to the value that Xbox is offering. Days Gone, Resident Evil VII, and more world class titles are available to stream or download. This month, it is adding the BioShock Collection and The Crew 2.
Source: CBS