Blockbuster has announced it is adding video game rentals to its online Blockbuster Total Access movie rental service. The upgrade will require a $5 monthly increase and allow customers to rent games for the Nintendo Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, and Xbox.
Bob Barr, Blockbuster’s Vice President, noted the popularity of video game rentals at their store:
With this pilot program, we’re laying the groundwork for offering BLOCKBUSTER Total Access customers easy online access to the movies and games they want, through an integrated subscription offering. Plus, according to their plan, they’ll continue to be able to exchange their by-mail rentals both for free in-store movies as well as half-price in-store game rentals. A combination video game and movie online offering — with in-store exchange privileges — is a tremendous value and convenience offering not available through anyone other than Blockbuster.”
The service will only be available to select markets at first, but will expand to a wider audience in the second half of the year.
Customers who currently have the 3-movie plan will still be limited to only three items out at once. There will be a limit of one online game rental at a time. So, it looks like Blockbuster may make a little additional money by decreasing the pace of movie rentals.