GameStop: More than 600,000 Gamers Showing Strong Demand for PS4

North American video game specialist GameStop has revealed that more than 600,000 members of its Power Up Rewards programme have signed up to its ‘First to Know’ list for the PlayStation 4. The initiative offers availability updates, purchase options, and details about Sony’s next generation system, and, according to company president Tony Bartel, evidences the strong demand for the machine.

"With only a glance at the PS4, gamers are excited and eager to know more," he said. "Within just a few weeks, more than 600,000 people have signed up, showing strong demand for this new console."

GameStop failed to provide any pre-order data, but Bartel’s comments echo those from GAME in the UK. "We moved really quickly to get our PS4 pre-orders up and live and we saw a huge amount of excitement right from the word 'go',” said category director Rebecca Knight in an interview last week.

Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton was similarly bullish about the impending console’s prospects. "The level of enthusiasm we're seeing from GameStop customers demonstrates how the promise of PS4 is resonating with gamers, and we're looking forward to unveiling more about the new platform in the coming months,” he said in a statement.

The PS4 is set to release in at least one region later this year. Its first trailer topped the YouTube advertising billboard for the month of February, beating out a slew of high-profile Super Bowl commercials in the process. Things are looking up, folks.