The digital offering of the full “Star Wars” saga is so new — unveiled Tuesday but not available for download until Friday — that some online retailers have not yet listed the six-episode epic on their websites.
Walmart’s Vudu digital media delivery service, which the superstore launched in 2010, was the only outlet to break slightly from the pack, at least initially. It posted a “limited-time offer” of $89.99 for the six-movie bundle, with individual episodes going for $19.99.
Others that have put the series up for sale are free to cut their own deals with consumers, though most have adopted a fairly uniform pricing structure — just under $100 for all six installments of the space odyssey and just under $20 per “Star Wars” episode.
Xbox Video listed the collection — from “The Phantom Menace” through “Return of the Jedi” — for $99.99 and individual episodes for $19.99 each. M-GO, a joint venture of DreamWorks Animation and Technicolor, sells the same package for slightly less, $89.99, and individual films for pennies less, $19.77 apiece.
Others offering the films include Google Play, Amazon, iTunes, PlayStation Store and Verizon FiOS. Most of those systems allow consumers to watch the films on their smartphones, tablets, computers and properly-equipped TVs.
Each of the retailers offered additional incentives in attempt to draw customers. Xbox’s incentives included access to a free-play video pinball “Star Wars” game. M-GO said it would partner with fansite The Star Wars Underworld to conduct a Twitter chat on Wednesday evening linked to the digital release. All of the online packages include video extras — such as deleted scenes and interviews with George Lucas and other franchise creators.
While this week’s release provides another revenue stream for the intergalactic extravaganza, it also gins up excitement for the Christmas Day release of the seventh “Star Wars” installment — “The Force Awakens.”
Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox announced the new digital release on Monday.
