Steam Updates Pricing Restrictions to Combat VPN-based Exploitation of Regional Pricing

[Th3pwn3r]

Games should be the same equivalent price in all regions. That kind of annoys me that it's so much cheaper in other areas.

I agree 100%. If people can't afford to pay the price in some regions then those people shouldn't spend money on games in my opinion.

 

[hat]

I agree 100%. If people can't afford to pay the price in some regions then those people shouldn't spend money on games in my opinion.

You do realize that a lot of regions around the world just don't have the same luxaries some other regions do, right? In the US you can work a minimum wage job and still afford a game once in a while. Try that on some other places in the world and you may not get so far. Telling someone in a poorer nation to pay the equivalent of $60 would be like telling you to pay $300...

 

[TheLostSwede]

Games should be the same equivalent price in all regions. That kind of annoys me that it's so much cheaper in other areas.

So people that earn a quarter of your income (or less) should pay as much as you do? Makes sense...

Minimum wage in Australia is currently $AUD 753 a week. The average Triple A Steam game costs $AUD 90, or ~12% of the minimum wage. Will they get all up in arms about this? Or will people here be told to suck it up and save for a few weeks if they really want the game?

Australia always seem to get a rotten deal.

For those interest in seeing the price difference between various countries.

https://steamdb.info/

 

[karozy]

The information is insufficient. This text seems more like an excuse. There is no data crunch or statistics for comparison. As an example, put Brazil with abusive prices and a minimum wage lower than this article.

don't rage because you can't abuse regional pricing anymore

 

[ZoneDymo]

This might not be a popular opinion, but I was born in such a country and, well, people who spent their time playing games still remain there, in poorly maintained blocks of flats. People with more reasonable priorities can now play games on their 3080Tis in their homes located in properly managed countries. Just sayin', maybe games aren't the most pressing life priority in such places. They are essentially a luxury good.

which is why they should be unreasonably expensive?
might as well up the prices in more well of countries as well, 150 dollar/euro per game, its not the most pressing life priority anyway.

heck screw that, why even make games at all if they dont want to actually sell them because nobody can afford it?

 

[londiste]

For those interest in seeing the price difference between various countries.

https://steamdb.info/

Horizon Zero Dawn: https://steamdb.info/app/1151640/
and compare it to something like this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country
Hell, Steam's Euro zone (or two of them) cover most of Europe but Europe is very different in wages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_minimum_wage

There really is no good solution to this. Publishers would be happy to charge their 50/60€$£ everywhere but if they want to sell at all and discourage piracy in areas with lower income, they need to be a little more flexible. The technical questions around this always have been, are and probably always will be controversial.

 

[hat]

There really is no good solution to this. Publishers would be happy to charge their 50/60€$£ everywhere but if they want to sell at all and discourage piracy in areas with lower income, they need to be a little more flexible. The technical questions around this always have been, are and probably always will be controversial.

Indeed. A cheap sale is better than no sale at all, especially for something like a game on a digital distribution platform that costs nothing to produce (once the game is already made, of course). I'd rather sell 10,000 copies of my game in Argentina at $10 a pop than sell 100 at $50 a pop.

 

[InVasMani]

F) Gabe with a Epic cherry hot steam iron terrorists win!

Illegal downloads will increase now.

I'll just buy other stuff or get my games from some Origin place instead low blow I know, but electronic arts sellouts it's in the game. Region pricing is exploitation.

 

[Assimilator]

ITT: sociopaths who are upset that people from less fortunate nations get to enjoy videogames. Why don't you move there so you can also enjoy cheap videogames... as well as all the negatives that come with living there, like crime and violence?

I was fortunate enough to be able to emigrate from a third-world country to a first-world one (an opportunity few people from third-world countries have) and the absolute last thing I complain about is paying more for videogames. Maybe because I appreciate all the benefits I get from being here, and also because I'm not a sociopath.

You know you can report a typo without being a dick about it.

@Raevenlord you have typo in your title.

I'm sorry that you think it's unreasonable to be just a little upset that somebody with the title of "News Editor" is unable or unwilling to post news articles with the most basic of spelling errors in their titles. Especially when literally every browser has a built-in spellchecker, there's no excuse for anyone to make spelling errors - let alone somebody with the title of "Editor".

But f**k me for having standards, right?

 

[Baum]

it's funny how a portable virtual good like a software needs price hiking in some contries..

would be nice to see 35usd for the world and maybe 20dollar/15dollar for developing countries.

If you live in the second world, word hard to raise or wait. Complaining and price fixing to gain the maximum coverage and highes ammount of TOTAL MONEY is just greed from the developer who is based in a sigle land....

stop regional pricing it is just unfair in software world, as no one garanties fixed percentage price to the actual income.



Why do i get the game for higher price in rich country if i am lower income than average? riight unfair

 

[Caring1]

it's funny how a portable virtual good like a software needs price hiking in some contries..

Why do i get the game for higher price in rich country if i am lower income than average? riight unfair

This has all been explained if you care to read the thread.
Also if your wage is below the average that's your issue, you want those that worked harder to be where they are to subsidise you?

 

[Chomiq]

Illegal downloads will increase now.

Bullsh*t.

Shady store fronts are constantly exploiting regional pricing policies.

 

[$ReaPeR$]

What a load of bs. The price should be the same for everyone. Anything else is just stealing.

This has all been explained if you care to read the thread.
Also if your wage is below the average that's your issue, you want those that worked harder to be where they are to subsidise you?

Yeah.. "his issue" because we all started from the same place with the same abilities..

 

[Splinterdog]

I live in Argentina and I used to think that regional pricing was unfair until I saw the differences.
As @windwhirl points out, the Argentine economy is a basket case and that's putting it mildly. That isn't to say that the country is entitled to lower prices because of its mishandling of the economy with inflation and poverty at somewhere near 50% and a debt of US$300bn, but these lower prices are very welcome indeed. On the other hand, Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 is only a few dollars (equivalent) cheaper in Argentina, so it's not exactly across the board.
As for VPNs, these have been used on Steam for years, but as usual, the few ruin it for the many.

 

[windwhirl]

What a load of bs. The price should be the same for everyone. Anything else is just stealing.

Two things:

1-Price is decided by the game publisher, not Valve, so there is no "stealing" involved. The game publisher considers that at a certain price point they might get the best possible revenue in a certain region, while also keeping presence in that market (otherwise, someone else will move in and take their place) and cutting down on piracy, specially in markets like my own, where it's nearly impossible to enforce genuine software. If you don't believe me, ask Microsoft how they're doing trying to make people buy genuine Windows licenses...

2-You're not forced to buy anything. If you think the price is too much for you, don't buy the game or wait until it's on sale.

That isn't to say that the country is entitled to lower prices because of its mishandling of the economy

On that note, I'd agree. Although I definitely don't feel like taking responsibility for the government and the State in general being the dumpster fire that they are.

 

[Deleted member 177333]

yeah crazy a country where people make a 10th of what you make for the same work would also have their games etc be cheaper....

The value of a video game shouldn't change based on where it's sold. It's still the same game. Maybe they're just asking too much in countries like ours. If a game is only worth say a $20 equivalent in a country overseas, it shouldn't be worth $60 or $100 here in the U.S. It's the same game, and I was a poor college kid once, too. I'm not saying some poor folks should have to pony up $100, but I AM suggesting that maybe these companies are charging us too much money over here.

Illegal downloads will increase now.

With stuff like this happening, no doubt about it. And I don't blame people who go that route, either, especially college kids who don't have much money.

Taking in mind that every game has a budget and is expected to return a profit I'd say that if what you propose turned real games would be cheaper for rich countries and not affordable for poor ones because they still need to generate the same revenue. That would make the prices to bounce back because no one would be buying them in poorer countries and you'd end up with a price tag higher than the current one now. If you think that it would adjust to the lowest common denominator you are delusional.

Then again, they are that cheap in poor countries and players still make a greater effort to buy them than you.

You're making the assumption that I'm saying games should be more expensive somewhere else. I'm not - I'm saying they should be the same price. Maybe game companies are asking for way too much $ for games over here. And looking at the salaries of people like Bobby Kotick and Randy Pitchford, I don't think that's an unreasonable statement to make.

So people that earn a quarter of your income (or less) should pay as much as you do? Makes sense...

I never said that - I said the game should be the same equivalent price, I didn't say that poor people should pay $60. But ever think that maybe western folks paying $60-100 is TOO much?

I agree 100%. If people can't afford to pay the price in some regions then those people shouldn't spend money on games in my opinion.

Ya, I just think it's only right to sell items at a fair price across the board and not adjust the price for some people based on where they live.

Some folks act like we don't have poor people in the U.S. - let me assure you, we do. But they're still required to pay $60 while an equally poor person in South America only has to pay $10? Not even remotely fair. I just think it comes down to companies charging TOO MUCH money in countries like the U.S.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

You do realize that a lot of regions around the world just don't have the same luxaries some other regions do, right? In the US you can work a minimum wage job and still afford a game once in a while. Try that on some other places in the world and you may not get so far. Telling someone in a poorer nation to pay the equivalent of $60 would be like telling you to pay $300...

You miss the point by a mile. If you're poor buying games at any price it will not help you out of poverty.

I grew up poor and was poor until I was in my mid 20s. When I was 19 I had $100 to my name in savings bonds that I was given at birth, I used those bonds to start paying rent, not buy video games. I worked for $3.00 an hour before with no insurance or benefits. Now I make six figures a year, have insurance and benefits(two pensions).Guess what though? When I was poor I wasn't buying anything other than food and clothes that were needs. I worked hard to get out of poverty and I worked hard to keep my daughter from growing up poor too. I wasn't handed things, I've worked most of my life doing hard labor until I got into a good trade. So yeah, when I say what I said you can think I'm an asshole, I don't care, I just know better. If you think a $50 game is expensive use that money for necessities or save it, it's not that difficult of a concept to understand.

 

[low]

But i have to save every coin for the MSI 3090 Gaming X! I cant afford any high price AAA+ game for 60$!

Ok Ok ... gaming is luxury. You buy a 2000$ PC for fun and complain about prices of the games. Its from times when your daddy buys your fist computer and you have to get the new games by yourself. So you grow up with buying games over vpn. People buy games from steam for 60$ and complain a lot why other people can buy them cheaper and leagaly. I called the local customs and they told me its totaly legal to buy at example death stranding in argenina for 7$.

Then there is this kid next door. He has no money. He got his first computer from used parts and a cheap smartphone. He is playing games for free like fortnite and warzone. Now explain this kid he is too rich to buy games for 7$. He has to pay 60$! This is not 10% of his waage, this is 10% of almost nothing.

Then there is this rich man. No wife, just gaming. He buys almost every new game. He doesnt care about sales. He wants everything on steam and origin. He will never use any vpn.

And then there is me. Buying every game on vpn and not playing one second. Its more fun to learn a different language on different steam/origin/... shops and succsessfuly get a game for almost free.

 

[Splinterdog]

I called the local customs and they told me its totaly legal to buy at example death stranding in argenina for 7$.

Can you elaborate on which local customs, please?

 

[Raevenlord]

exPOITation

Imagine if spell checks were a thing oh wait.

I expect you to praise me for every word that doesn't have a spelling mistake. Thanks in advance.

Suck it up, Games aren't an essential item, they are a luxury people with excess income buy.

I personally think this is said by someone in a privileged position who doesn't have a shred of empathy towards those with much lesser opportunities than yourself. Yes, games aren't required for surviving. Excuse these people for earning much less than you and wanting to find some solace - in a freaking videogame - from economical situations they alone have no power to change, and for which most of them have no blame whatsoever other than a massive stroke of dumb luck for having been born in a country that's eons behind ours. But I understand. It's like, man, they're having fun, in a way that totally doesn't affect you at all, and they shouldn't.

You know you can report a typo without being a dick about it.

@Raevenlord you have typo in your title.

Thanks. Corrected.

Edit: added quotes and responses.

 

[TheUn4seen]

which is why they should be unreasonably expensive?
might as well up the prices in more well of countries as well, 150 dollar/euro per game, its not the most pressing life priority anyway.

heck screw that, why even make games at all if they dont want to actually sell them because nobody can afford it?

Well, prices in better countries are quite high in part because the publisher has to subsidize sales in poor regions to gain market penetration in them. In part hoping the sales will at least cover the cost and in part for purely marketing reasons (brand recognition). Personally I think it's unfair to require some customers to essentially pay for the others. Pulling up prices in poor regions could, in theory, decrease prices in more wealthy regions. In practice it will probably just increase reported sales margins and make investors happier.

 

[hat]

You miss the point by a mile. If you're poor buying games at any price it will not help you out of poverty.

I grew up poor and was poor until I was in my mid 20s. When I was 19 I had $100 to my name in savings bonds that I was given at birth, I used those bonds to start paying rent, not buy video games. I worked for $3.00 an hour before with no insurance or benefits. Now I make six figures a year, have insurance and benefits(two pensions).Guess what though? When I was poor I wasn't buying anything other than food and clothes that were needs. I worked hard to get out of poverty and I worked hard to keep my daughter from growing up poor too. I wasn't handed things, I've worked most of my life doing hard labor until I got into a good trade. So yeah, when I say what I said you can think I'm an asshole, I don't care, I just know better. If you think a $50 game is expensive use that money for necessities or save it, it's not that difficult of a concept to understand.

I already understand you're rather well off. And you deserve it, having worked hard for it, so congrats to you (really, I don't mean to sound sarcastic). However, you did that in the USA, which is already one of the richest countries in the world. The point I'm making, the point you seem to be missing, is that this is not so easily done in a poorer country where you would already be at a significant flat disadvantage compared to someone in the USA. And the proof already exists right before your eyes in this very thread: publishers know this, and this is why regional pricing exists. They lower the price of their product in poorer regions because they will make more money there when they offer their product at an accessible price.

 

[TechLurker]

I fail to see how this will stop middlemen (like "forum buddies" or "internet pals") from just buying the game on someone else's behalf, or buying "cheaper" off some ebay seller willing to gift the game over.

 

[windwhirl]

I fail to see how this will stop middlemen (like "forum buddies" or "internet pals") from just buying the game on someone else's behalf, or buying "cheaper" off some ebay seller willing to gift the game over.

Well, region-locked games are a thing. Valve could tell game publishers that they should lock games to the region they were bought or force-implement it themselves worldwide (if their contracts and the different laws involved allow it)

For the record, I do not like this idea at all.

 

[InVasMani]

Not everyone is rich or poor in any of these countries is the bottom line when it comes to this regional price fixing.