GameStop has announced that it will be offering its store managers access to both next-generation consoles the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 for free when they each debut in November.
The retail chain confirmed the news to PCMag but declined to comment on whether or not Sony and Microsoft would be footing the bill for these consoles or if GameStop itself had made the purchases.
As if this offering wasn't enough of a perk, the PS4 manager's bundle deal with come with seven games including: "Killzone: Shadowfall," "NBA 2K14," Madden," "FIFA 14," "Need for Speed: Rivals" and "Battlefield 4." At the moment there is no word if Microsoft will follow suit and offer any games upon its launch as well.
GameStop made the announcement to all general managers on Tuesday during a GameStop Expo in Las Vegas. At this show, the company also announced it would be selling an exclusive 250 GB PlayStation 3 model in blue for $250 starting on October 8. The PlayStation 4 is due out in North America on November 15. Meanwhile Microsoft has yet to announce an exact release date for its next-generation console, the Xbox One other than that it will arrive sometime in November and give people time to pick them up for the holiday season. Whenever the company decides to release the console, GameStop general managers will receive a free one in order to keep themselves the most educated on the games and console.
It is a good move by GameStop, which prides itself on making sure its employees are savvy in all things gaming in order to field any questions customers might have. A gaming retails must cater to the top-tier industry questions as well as basic questions mothers might have for their game savvy children while doing some holiday shopping. By giving general managers a chance to educate themselves on this year's big ticket item for free, the company is likely looking at this as an invest in their customer service reputation rather than loss of money giving them a perk (although it is a nice result).
