G2A to give developers 10% cut on second-hand key sales after recent publisher dispute
Game key re-seller G2A will soon allow studios to apply for a sales royalty on products sold through the site.
Basically a place to for folks to sell unwanted game keys, many of G2A's re-sellers have been accused recently of using stolen credit card numbers to buy game keys, and then turn around and sell them for a profit.
To try and regain trust with game developers, G2A told Eurogamer it would provide studios access to its sales database. This will allow creatives to verify sales, volume and whether the keys were obtained legally.
"We want to reassure the development community that we monitor our marketplace extensively for any possible fraudulent activity," said a company representative. "In the small fraction of cases where fraud may be detected, we investigate and ban offending parties from further participation.
"We work with law enforcement globally to track fraud and we are committed to ensuring that the marketplace remains safe. Dozens of payment providers work with us globally because they have total confidence in our security process."
G2A said starting on July 29, development studios can also apply for up to 10% in royalties from key sales.
A funding option will also be added at checkout, allowing customers to contribute additional money to a studio.
"As a leader in the digital gaming marketplace, we recognize our responsibility to serve the greater good for the entire gaming industry," said the rep. "We need to move faster to introduce new benefits designed with developers in mind, and invite them to play an even bigger role."
G2A will start testing its marketplace and royalty initiative within the next two weeks.
These new policies are being implemented a week or so after Punch Club and SpeedRunners publisher tinyBuild found many sales through its online store were being charged back due to fraudulent credit card purchases.
tinyBuild boss Alex Nichiporchik said the G2A marketplace sold $450,000 worth of its games, calling the re-sell site's system "fundamentally flawed" while "facilitating a black market economy".
"I'd start seeing thousands of transactions, and our payment provider would shut us down within days," Nichiporchik said. "Moments later you'd see G2A being populated by cheap keys of games we had just sold on our shop."
After tinyBuild brought the situation to light, G2A gave the publisher three days to provide a list of suspected stolen keys. The re-sell site also took issue with the $450K figure, stating the publisher "referred only to the highest price point" of its games.
Eurogamer has covered the story extensively if you are interested in reading up on the situation.