GameStop taps into Android tablets

retail video game store GameStop has begun selling Android tablets at 1 600 of its locations, states the Los Angeles Times.

The shift in strategy comes as more people look to their smartphones and tablets for gaming rather than handheld or standalone consoles.

PC World says the retailer announced a variety of tablets running on Google's mobile OS are on sale from manufacturers such as Acer, Asus and Toshiba.

There aren't as many games and apps for Android tablets as there are for the iPad, so GameStop will preload each tablet with several free games, including Sonic CD, Riptide, a free issue of GameStop's gaming mag, Game Informer, and the Kongregate Arcade gaming app that GameStop acquired.

GameStop is also making an increased push for digital markets, and introduced its GameStop Mobile service for smartphones earlier this year, writes Tech Radar.

The company is also rumoured to have its own streaming game service in the works to rival Onlive, which would run on Android tablets using a Bluetooth controller.