GameStop offering PC digital downloads in-store

Retail giant GameStop announced today that it will begin selling digital PC games at its retail locations, starting with Deus Ex: Human Revolution. While it might seem counter-intuitive to sell downloads at a brick-and-mortar store (all the download times with none of the at-home convenience!), GameStop is aiming to make it pay off with some smart benefits.

The move seems like a natural extension of the company's other in-store downloadable pushes, including the ability to buy Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network games, downloadable content, and the expansion of its digital storefront and purchase of Impulse.

Pre-purchases of the digital Deus Ex: Human Revolution kickoff, for example, will come with digital versions of Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition and Invisible War, the Explosive Mission DLC pack for Human Revolution, double PowerUp Rewards points, and entry in the Augment Your Living Room sweepstakes. GameStop didn't promise that all of its in-store digital offerings will pack so many goodies, but it's starting off on the right foot.

Plus, if you're a tinfoil hat wearer who prefers to stay "off the grid" and goes without credit cards, this means you can purchase digital downloads using cash or trade-in credit. You know, for the computer that the government is definitely using to track you right now.

"This is a great illustration of how the digital distrubtion model and in-store experience really complement one another," said GameStop digital distribution manager Steve Nix. "We have seen great success selling DLC for console titles in our stores, so expanding on that model and helping customers discover digitally distributed PC games in stores is a natural fit."