Blockbuster challenges Gamefly with cheaper games-by-mail service @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on August 10, 2010

News: But is it too little too late?

Realizing the battle against Netflix was lost long ago, Blockbuster has set their sites on GameFly as they've launched they're own games-by-mail service today.

Rather than offering a separate game rental account, Blockbuster has folded movies and games into a single account. All told, the service includes the ability to choose from 95,000 movies/TV shows and 3,000 games (on the PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox and Xbox 360). Ironically, the only sixth-generation system fully playable on its successor system, the GameCube, is unrepresented in Blockbuster's service.

While GameFly offers a larger selection of games (over 7,000) and three additional platforms (GameCube, Game Boy Advance and DS), Blockbuster's service will be considerably cheaper.

GameFly's subscription plans include a one-game option for $15.95 a month and a two-game option for $22.95 a month. Blockbuster's offerings will include a single-disc plan for $8.99 a month, a two-disc plan for $13.99 a month and a three-disc plan for $16.99 a month. All of Blockbuster's plans will allow the subscriber to rent any combination of movies and games.

This means that over a full year, GameFly's two-game plan will cost you $275.40 while Blockbuster's three-disc plan will run you $203.88.

Blockbuster's website is currently unavailable due to the games-by-mail switchover.

We'll have more soon.