Amazon.com To Sell More Sony Videogame Downloads
08 October 2009 - 8:28AM
Dow Jones News
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) plans to distribute 200
more videogame downloads for Sony Corp.'s (SNE) PlayStation
consoles.
The new agreement between the two longtime partners helps both
adjust to the growing popularity of downloading games from the
Internet, rather than buying videogame software stamped onto discs.
While online distribution is still a nascent market, videogame
makers see it as a growing part of their business.
The deal, announced Wednesday, calls for Amazon.com to sell
tokens redeemable at Sony's PlayStation Network, which is an online
bazaar stocked with games for PlayStation game consoles, and the
portable PSP. It marks the first time since the network opened in
2006 that another retailer, online or otherwise, has sold the
tokens.
For Amazon.com, the deal "expands our current library of
videogame downloads," Amazon.com Vice President Paul Ryder said in
a press release.
Sony, meanwhile, said it sees the partnerships as key to how its
retail partners already selling the PlayStation and other Sony game
products will take part in Sony's digital distribution plans.
The company continues to talk its other retailing partners about
the same kind of deal, said Peter Dille, a Sony senior vice
president who oversees the PlayStation Network. "We would have a
similar discussion with anyone else currently selling PlayStation
products," he said.
Amazon.com ended regular trading up 3.3% to $93.97; Sony added
up 1.6% to $28.09.
-By Ben Charny, Dow Jones Newswires; 415-765-8230;
ben.charny@dowjones.com