GameStop to offer in-store game rentals with new PowerPass subscription

GameStop is officially launching an in-store rental service that turns its stagnant stock of used games into a rental library and a potential new source of income.

The company is calling the program PowerPass and, starting on November 19, it will let members of the store’s Power-Up Rewards program rent an unlimited number of games across its six-month-long subscription term for a $60 up-front fee.

If the program takes off, GameStop may be able to combat its declining physical games sales by turning its backstock of used titles into a robust rental library, competing with the likes of Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now, and Redbox in the rental market at the same time.

Renters will only be able to have one used game checked out at a time, however, but can exchange games as many times as they want during each six-month long subscription. At the end of that period, they’ll be able to pick one last game to hold on to for good as well.

The program itself looks to be a more permanent version of something GameStop has been testing out in select markets over the past year or so. Just recently, the GameStop-owned EB Games chain launched a Swap ’n’ Play program in South Australia that let players rent games in a similar manner, but for roughly $16 a month.

Before that, GameStop ran a summer-long promotion that charged players in select US cities $50 to rent and exchange used game rentals across a set three month period. However, unlike the company's previous foray into rentals, the PowerPass looks to be more than a three-month-long limited promotion.