GameStop has confirmed that it will begin selling its own branded Android-based tablet in its stores sometime in 2012. Gamesindustry.biz (free registration required) reports that the tablet will be considered a "GameStop certified gaming platform" and will have a number of games pre-installed on the device. At some point the GameStop tablet will also be able to stream console games via the retailer"s upcoming online service that started beta testing a few weeks ago.
According to the article, the company already has an Android tablet in mind but didn"t name a specific company or product. Tests on the tablet have only started a couple of weeks ago. The tablet will also come with its own dedicated controller that will be used for playing console game that are streamed to the tablet. GameStop"s president Tony Bartel said, "It"s hard to imagine how to stream a game - let"s say Modern Warfare 3 - onto a tablet and then play it with your finger." He added, " ... I think we"re seeing developer interest in developing immersive games that use the controller as well, but our first foray is to really be working with developers to create an install base of devices with the controller to allow them to develop immersive games."
The news on GameStop"s upcoming tablet comes as the company is now officially confirming what we reported last week; the retailer is now accepting older iOS devices like iPods, iPhones and iPads for trade ins in order to obtain store credit. The company has yet to confirm rumors that it will begin selling new iPhones and iPads in its stores in the future.