Redbox Expanding Game Rental Service In U.S.

Automated kiosk company Redbox said today it will expand its video game rental test program into more U.S. regions, offering game rentals for $2 a night alongside movie releases. Rental kiosks that hold video games will soon appear in markets in the West, Midwest and Atlantic coast, the company said in a press announcement. "The addition of video games to the popular Redbox kiosks is part of an ongoing test designed to gauge consumer interest in video game rentals," the company said. Redbox began testing video game rental in August, 2009. Participating Redbox kiosks will carry games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Redbox's new video game web page shows that relatively recent releases will be available, including Electronic Arts' Medal of Honor, Namco Bandai's Enslaved and 2K Sports' NBA 2K11. Redbox's further advancement into the video game sector gives gamers yet another option for renting outside of brick-and-mortar stores and rent-by-mail services. The introduction of the conveniently-placed kiosks has already provided tough competition for walk-in retail businesses like the bankrupt Blockbuster, which has struggled against declining foot traffic. Redbox Automated Retail is a subsidiary of Coinstar, and has over 24,000 locations worldwide, including many McDonald's restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and other high-traffic areas.