PS4 and next-Xbox releases this holiday to benefit GameStop the most - analyst

Analyst Michael Pachter has said he has "high hopes" that PS4 and the next Xbox console will "renew investor interest" in game publishers, and he expects retail outlets, specifically GameStop, to well in the process.

Speaking in an investor's note highlighted by GI International, Pachter expects Microsoft to launch it's next console in time for a battle royale between it and Sony during the holiday shopping extravaganza.

"We expect Microsoft to announce its console in the next few months, and at the latest at the E3 Expo in mid-June," he said. "Although we think that Microsoft aspires to position the next Xbox as the entertainment hub in the living room, suggesting a possible launch delay, we think that the company is intent upon gaining further market share next cycle. As such, we think that the company intends to launch alongside the PS4, and we expect gamers to have two next-generation consoles to choose from this fall.

"The biggest beneficiary of all this is GameStop. The company thrives in a product refresh cycle, and its used business typically spikes, as many gamers trade in old systems and software to generate currency so that they can buy new systems.

"There has been some speculation that the PS4 and the next Xbox will block used games, but Sony's studio head, Shuhei Yoshida, stated firmly that the PS4 will not block used games. We think that Microsoft would be foolhardy to do so if Sony does not, as we believe that gamers will favor the console that provides them the greatest number of options; in our view, should one manufacturer block used games and the other doesn't, the latter manufacturer would most likely gain more than 20% market share.

"Accordingly, we do not expect either console to block used games, and we expect GameStop shares to rally for the balance of the year."

Pachter expects stock in publishers to take an upswing, with Activision having the "most potential" of the lot.