Target doesn't return games, they actually sell them for very cheap. I have gotten 3 month old games for about 5-8 bucks. One time I did a post on SEGANerds how they had Overkill for 2.50 cents or something crazy.
They just lower the price till they get rid of them. You should see the section, crazy amount of junk software.
As for 'blocking communication' with the publisher... they won't. They will just buy less copies of their next title. EA releases a lot of shit, retailers buy their shit by the bucket load... why? Not cuz all of it sells, but because they have those hit franchises that do well. Madden etc.
Its like Activision released that shitty FPS game with time warping. They sell 1 million to Target stores. Target is like "GIVE ME MY MONEY FAGET FACES" and their like "Nope". They won't go "FUCK U THEN WE WONT SELL CALL OF DUTY"
You think Target will refuse to sell the next Sonic or Sonic & Mario game? In your dreams.