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GameStop Pulling Deus Ex: Human Revolution PC Off Shelves [UPDATED]

Retailer's response to today's backlash seems to be sending everything back.

An internal GameStop email with corporate instructions forwarded by an employee this afternoon.
An internal GameStop email with corporate instructions forwarded by an employee this afternoon.

UPDATE: Square Enix has issued an official statement regarding today's events, basically apologizing to GameStop for not informing the retailer about the coupon in advance of the game's release.

“As part of Deus Ex: Human Revolution’s boxed offering on PC, Square Enix included a third party coupon," said the company in a statement. "GameStop was not made aware of this inclusion and Square Enix respects the right of GameStop to have final say over the contents of products it sells and to adjust them where they see fit in accordance with their policies."

"Square Enix invites gamers who want to purchase the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution without additional coupons to buy the game at any one of over 4000 GameStop stores in North America," continued the statement, "or purchase a digital download copy online from www.gamestop.com. “

ORIGINAL STORY: GameStop dominated the conversation today, based on reports the retailer was opening copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution on PC, removing the coupon for a copy of the game through OnLive, sealing the games back up and selling them as "new."

Perhaps for a variety of reasons, possibly ranging from conversations between GameStop and Square Enix to backlash from basically the entire Internet, the company is now pulling all copies off store shelves.

A GameStop employee forwarded me an email (as seen above) sent to every store, announcing the move.

"At this time please pull all Regular PC editions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and place them in your backroom. These will be recalled at a later date.
As GameStop is developing a streaming service in our Spawn Labs Cloud Computing Division, the coupon that was included is for a competing service. We are returning all copies of the PC regular edition to the vendor in agreement with Square Enix.
Any unfulfilled reserves of the Regular PC Edition should be taken care of with the inventory set aside in your backroom.
Please honor any returns with a receipt."

GameStop issued a similar public comment about its original reasoning for opening the games.

"We pulled the coupons because, like all retailers, we prefer not to promote our competitors and their competing offerings and services in our stores," said a company spokesperson. "Unfortunately, the coupon was packed without our prior knowledge."

Both Square Enix and OnLive declined to comment on the matter.

thirteenyahson Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.

gg gamestop

MrGtDon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.

The lesson to be learned: BUY EVERYTHING FROM AMAZON ALL THE TIME.

Or Best Buy. Or Fry's. Or Target. Or even K-Mart. Just not fucking Gamestop.

l4wd0gon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.

I really hate GameStop.

Vaancoron Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.

L to the Ame, LAME!

wewantstheringon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:48 p.m.

Or Steam...

HawkxSxon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:48 p.m.

STEAM

Altersparckon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:48 p.m.
What's most surprising is that Gamestops still give shelf space to PC games.
CaLeon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:49 p.m.

I sincerely hope this company crashes and burns.

Hot_Karlon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:49 p.m.
This is what they should've done in the first place. 
 
Or you know, shutting the hell up and selling the game, but not allowing for such "practices" (i.e. including a coupon for a "competitive system" that wasn't designated beforehand) in the future.
thirteenyahson Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:49 p.m.

@MrGtD said:

The lesson to be learned: BUY EVERYTHING FROM AMAZON ALL THE TIME.

Or Best Buy. Or Fry's. Or Target. Or even K-Mart. Just not fucking Gamestop.

amazon amazon amazon amazon. free release date delivery and like $10-$20 credit when you pre-order games is why I give them my business.

Seedofpoweron Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:50 p.m.

@MrGtD said:

The lesson to be learned: BUY EVERYTHING FROM AMAZON ALL THE TIME.

Or Best Buy. Or Fry's. Or Target. Or even K-Mart. Just not fucking Gamestop.

Or if you are going to buy a PC game just use Steam.

bretthancockon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:50 p.m.

"packed in without our knowledge". I think I speak for everyone with half a brain when I say go fuck yourselves Gamestop.

slowbirdon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:50 p.m.

America responds by pulling Gamestop from their list of places they will buy games. I hope so, anyway.

mfpantston Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:51 p.m.
Har Har gamestop.  Now stop with the stupid jokes.  Oh, you're serious. Damn
MrKlorox is online on Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:51 p.m.

Hah! Man, fuck those guys.

Skronk61 is online on Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:51 p.m.
Doesn't surprise me one bit. I used to work for the uk version GAME they don't care about customers at all, unless they're handing over their cash for used games.
SethPhotopouloson Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:52 p.m.
@Altersparck said:
What's most surprising is that Gamestops still give shelf space to PC games.
They are all just Warcraft too.
MikeydCTon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:52 p.m.
send your hate email to storeOperation2@gamestop.com lol
JohnPaulVannon Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:53 p.m.
What about buying used games, people? Don't we need Gamestop for that????
avidwriteron Aug. 24, 2011 at 4:53 p.m.
They want to go out of business don't they? They just keep shooting themselves in the foot, soon they won't have feet to stand on.

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