Tired of just selling games, GameStop is now publishing them directly

(credit: Flickr / stan)

Video game mega-retailer GameStop is continuing to branch out from running 6,900 worldwide stores and into directly publishing games itself. The company revealed today that it will serve as the publisher for Song of the Deep, a new 2D underwater action-adventure game from Ratchet & Clank and Resistance developer Insomniac.

While GameStop and Insomniac both say this isn't a "traditional" publishing relationship, the deal does mean that GameStop will be the only place to buy disc-based copies of the game (which will also be available for direct download on PC, PS4, and Xbox One when it launches this spring). And while Insomniac says it will have full creative control over the title, GameStop will own the intellectual property, presumably maintaining control of the series if it becomes a franchise. GamesStop will also presumably retain most of the profits from the game's merchandising plans, which already include a children's book and a Funko vinyl doll.

"We've all noticed a resurgence of indie titles over the years, and what's awesome about that is that the smaller titles tend to take more creative risks and deliver something that's very different than, say, the AAA, more realistic titles," Insomniac Games President Ted Price said at an event announcing the game (as reported by IGN). "When [GameStop executive] Mark [Stanley] and I were talking about how the market's evolving and looking ahead and bringing more to players, we started connecting on that particular topic, and we were serendipitously working on a pitch for Song of the Deep, and sparks ignited."

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