Key reseller G2A looks to secure marketplace with front-end verification

Video game key reseller G2A has taken more steps to reform its controversial marketplace after developer TinyBuild alleged the company has cost it roughly $450,000 in fraudulent sales. 

Earlier this month the company said it would pay developers some royalties on third-party auctions, and has now added front-end verification for new sellers to protect against those looking to abuse the system. 

According to a G2A press release, the new verification steps include social media profile account verification, phone number verification, and the ability to sell no more than 10 products without further proof of ID. 

G2A says these are only the first of many new steps aimed at strengthening seller verification, with other measures such as PayPal, address, and credit card verification all in the pipeline. 

"G2A has an open door for feedback from the gaming community, developers, publishers and media," said G2A CEO, Bartosz Skwarczek.

"Following the announcement of the G2A Game Developer Support System in June 2016, it became clear that a further added value will be to extend G2A's front-end verification process for new sellers on our marketplace.”

In an attempt to demonstrate its willingness to work with developers, G2A also revealed it has been collaborating with Microsoft investigative analysts since June to successfully remove 550 game codes believed to have been purchased with stolen credit cards.

It's a similar case to the one that TinyBuild's Alex Nichiporchik says cost his studio almost half a million, with the CEO suggesting criminals purchased over 25,000 game keys using stolen credit card information, before selling them through G2A and letting the publisher deal with the chargebacks.