Muramasa getting no love from UK retailers

Many retailers are choosing not to stock Muramasa: The Demon Blade because of its target audience

We all know that Rising Star’s Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a good game, but it seems retailers in the UK don’t care for quality preferring to stock games that are first party, a sequel or have a huge advertising budget. This trend is becoming worse and worse says Martin Defries from Rising Star.

"Here in the UK, the game will NOT be available to buy in the majority of video game retail outlets. Evidently this is not because of game quality, not because it is delayed or late and not because of absence of pre awareness public relations. It is because retail is becoming increasingly choosy and actively reducing the variety that is offered to consumers – if it is not first-party, a sequel or supported by a multi-million pound advertising spend, they are just not interested."

Defries also points out that the same retailers who won’t stock the game will accept it for trade in, however for half the price. He also asks that if we gamers want originality and innovation in games, how can these games be given a chance when they aren’t getting any exposure in stores? Where to from here? Defries says online only may have to be the only way for these types of games in the future.

We’re happy to report that Muramasa: The Demon Blade is not getting shunned on release, with the game making its way here from December 3rd. Although with Namco Bandai publishing it here, we do hope they give stores enough stock – and actually release it when they say they will.

Source: MCVUK