GameStop Removing Deus Ex: Human Revolution OnLive Coupons

Oh boy. According to this report on Ars Technica, which you’ll find is backed up by a picture of an official GameStop memo and comments made by GameStop spokesperson Beth Sharum, the video game retailer has instructed its employees to “immediately remove and discard the OnLive coupon from all regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution”. Essentially, that means that GameStop customers will end up with an opened copy of the game that’s missing content that Square Enix and Eidos Montreal wanted them to have:

If you purchase your copy of Deus Ex: Human Revolution at a retail store, you’re supposed to receive a code that allows you to play the game for free using the online gaming service OnLive. It’s a neat giveaway, and it certainly gives gamers an incentive to try the service, but a leaked memo seems to show GameStop’s fear of digital delivery: employees are allegedly being asked to open every game and remove the coupon.

The e-mail came from Josh Ivanoff, a Field Operations Manager with GameStop. “Please immediately remove and discard the On Live [sic] coupon from all regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution,” the memo states. “Our desire is to not have this coupon go to any customers after this announcement.” Here’s a copy of the letter, with Mr. Ivanoff’s contact information removed.

We contacted Ivanoff on his business line and e-mail, and he refused to comment on the memo, instead asking us to take the issue up with public relations. GameStop spokesperson Beth Sharum confirmed the practice, telling Ars that “Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons.”

I haven’t tried OnLive yet personally, but a coupon for a free cloud-based copy of the game just might get me there. I doubt I’m alone in that thinking, which is exactly why I’d be very surprised if a lawsuit isn’t forthcoming.