GameStop CEO: "Platform owners could have cut us off a long time ago"

GameStop CEO Paul Raines has told Vox Games that it wouldn't be console manufacturer's best interest to shut it out over used game sales as the retailers relationship with customers is "deep and sticky enough" to warrant continued business.

"Platform owners could have cut us off a long time ago, but what happens is that GameStop has a relationship with the customer deep and sticky enough that it isn't in their best interests to do so,” he said, noting that the chain helps Microsoft and Sony turn a profit.

However, he is also aware that someday, both publishers could cut the middleman out when it comes to game releases, especially with the rise of digital - but it won't happen any time soon.

"Everyone thinks consumers are binary, all physical or all digital, but most are hybrids," he said. "You can't be in the business of trying to protect yourself only through technology, you've got to make less friction for the consumer."

With this in mind, GameStop already has plans in place for the future: Spawn Labs, which can stream console games directly consumer's homes. The service currently has six data centers across the US, and a nationwide private beta is expected before the end of the year.