Blockbuster might be staging a comeback — and it should

polygon.com:

Blockbuster, the brick-and-mortar video retail chain that was once home to me and my teenage friends almost every weeknight and weekend, got famously put out of business in the mid-2000s thanks to the rise of Netflix and other streaming giants. But a cryptic message on Blockbuster.com has sparked rumors that the ill-fated video store might be staging a comeback. Either that, or it’s an early April Fool’s gag. But you know what? Let’s hope it’s a comeback.

Here’s the message currently displayed on Blockbuster’s website: “We are working on rewinding your movie.” According to 10tv.com, the message has been there since last November, although it’s only recently been discovered, and it’s not yet clear what the message means.

Technically, of course, Blockbuster did not die. Although most of its stores have closed, Blockbuster as an entity still technically exists, having been purchased by Dish Network in 2011. There’s also a Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon that proudly markets itself as “the last Blockbuster.” The mostly-defunct brand also has a cutesy Twitter account; a couple of weeks ago, it posted, “New business idea: We’re going to come back as a bank and use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.” (That probably isn’t what the Blockbuster website update refers to, but it’s possible.)

In 2023, it may sound absurd for Blockbuster to stage a comeback. But it should, and here’s why: Video game rentals. Although movies, TV, music, and even books have made the leap to digital subscription platforms with (relative) ease, video games haven’t been quite so lucky. Sure, Xbox Game Pass is great, and it’s only a matter of time before internet access becomes widespread enough that cloud gaming becomes a viable