GameStop Germany launches download store

Retailer GameStop has launched its own digital distribution service, known as Direct Play, in Germany.

Thanks to a partnership with the French download platform Metaboli, the chain now offers digital copies of over 700 PC games.

This comes hot on the heels of GameStop's acquisition of browser game portal Kongregate in the US, following CEO J. Paul Raines' public declaration that the retailer must move into the online distribution space.

The Metaboli tech behind Direct Play acts as a streaming service rather than downloading entire titles up front. In theory, the earliest sections of games can be played within minutes of purchase, while further data is downloaded silently in the background.

Metaboli has a number of similarly high-profile German partners for its white label download service, including Computec Media and retailer Saturn - which calls its digital store Gamer Unlimited.