Walmart has walked back their statement and isn't halting video game sales after all apparently - please threadmark, etc.
Since the posting of this story, Walmart has claimed they were confused over our request for comment, effectively reverting their statement on a policy around the ban of any game sales (temporary or otherwise).
During this investigation IGN reached out multiple times to ask whether Walmart was halting the sale of video games from its stores. We asked Walmart to clarify yesterday's reports regarding video game ads and signage, and then added, "There are additional reports on Twitter that say certain stores are taking down video game sales completely. Is there any truth to these reports?"
Walmart followed up in reply with the statement that you see in the original story. In the statement Walmart said, "We've taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and it does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment."
IGN requested further clarification around the sale of video games specifically, to which Walmart replied, "Our statement stands company wide."
Shortly after the posting of this story, we were contacted by a Walmart representative who apologized for what was apparently a miscommunication on their behalf. We have since clarified with the aforementioned Walmart representative that the company has "not given any directive to remove video games from the shelves."
IGN apologizes for any confusion or alarm this may have raised. We are similarly pissed.
Original story continues...
Since the posting of this story, Walmart has claimed they were confused over our request for comment, effectively reverting their statement on a policy around the ban of any game sales (temporary or otherwise).
During this investigation IGN reached out multiple times to ask whether Walmart was halting the sale of video games from its stores. We asked Walmart to clarify yesterday's reports regarding video game ads and signage, and then added, "There are additional reports on Twitter that say certain stores are taking down video game sales completely. Is there any truth to these reports?"
Walmart followed up in reply with the statement that you see in the original story. In the statement Walmart said, "We've taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and it does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment."
IGN requested further clarification around the sale of video games specifically, to which Walmart replied, "Our statement stands company wide."
Shortly after the posting of this story, we were contacted by a Walmart representative who apologized for what was apparently a miscommunication on their behalf. We have since clarified with the aforementioned Walmart representative that the company has "not given any directive to remove video games from the shelves."
IGN apologizes for any confusion or alarm this may have raised. We are similarly pissed.
Original story continues...