Support NeoGAF

[Rhazer Fusion]

Another reason why I will NEVER understand why people fully embrace or desire an all digital generation. Having an all digital console is giving way too much control to the companies and leaves consumers with less options for more money. Digital prices have and will most likely always be more than physical and I feel there is no reason they should just as expensive.

 

[RoadHazard]

A new first party game can be 900 SEK digitally here in Sweden, which is about $108. Fuck that lol. That's why I'm still physical, usually those prices are 100-200 SEK lower. Which makes no sense, but that's how it is. Or maybe it does make sense, because people who are all digital don't have a choice if they want to play the game.

 

[chonga]

If you take the tax-less price and look at the exchange rate from a few months back the conversion does add up to be near the US$70 mark. And during some periods it is actually lower than US$70.

Really this is a matter of how changing exchange rates are handled. Companies always make them work in their favour.

 

[Sander Cohen]

Another reason why I will NEVER understand why people fully embrace or desire an all digital generation. Having an all digital console is giving way too much control to the companies and leaves consumers with less options for more money. Digital prices have and will most likely always be more than physical and I feel there is no reason they should just as expensive.

Convenience and laziness.

 

[JimboJones]

Digital consoles should come with a bottle of lube.

 

[Jimmyisback]

125 dollars. That's crazy. Hell fucking no. Not even 60 dollars.

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

Make media product for children, charge $95 dollars.

 

[Justin9mm]

this game will be 20 bucks pretty fast OP
don't stress it

if you wait longer free with PS+
platformers drop FAST and DEEP

I dunno, this didn't happen with Crash 4 in Aus, its only $10 less now then what I paid for it on release day last year.

Also R+C Rift Apart is a PS5 'only' exclusive.. I think it will hold its price for a long while.

 

[Justin9mm]

Another reason why I will NEVER understand why people fully embrace or desire an all digital generation. Having an all digital console is giving way too much control to the companies and leaves consumers with less options for more money. Digital prices have and will most likely always be more than physical and I feel there is no reason they should just as expensive.

EXACTLY!!!

It's not just about price but the as you mentioned but giving control to companies and providing consumers with no other options, it's very anti consumer. I hear arguments all the time like 'I don't care about the digital price' or 'I only buy digital anyway.'

If price is not a concern, people should be buying disc anyway to support a pro consumer market. This is just a small step for Sony and Xbox to make digital the norm so next gen when there may only be a digital only option, they can increase prices to whatever they want in the console space and you have no choice.

People never see the bigger picture..

Edit: I for one only buy new release games physical, if its a re-playable game I like, I buy it digital when it goes cheaper and sell off the disc. If its just a single player story game for example, I just on sell when finished and recoup about 75% of what I paid. If I don't like the game straight away I can sell it and get back 90% of what I paid.

The only other time I buy digital games are on the cheap cheap sales that I have wanted but never got around to playing.

I love digtial and the convenience but no way am I paying $125 AUD when I can buy it in the shop for $89. I don't have any money troubles but its just stupidity.

 

[Spukc]

I dunno, this didn't happen with Crash 4 in Aus, its only $10 less now then what I paid for it on release day last year.

Also R+C Rift Apart is a PS5 'only' exclusive.. I think it will hold its price for a long while.

Nah i got souls for 40

 

[Justin9mm]

Nah i got souls for 40

That's a different genre and demographic.. I guarantee this won't drop significantly for a while. It will be like $79-$89 at the lowest in the store just like Sackboy.

 

[ozz ex machina]

This price translates the price it is on disc in the UK...£70.

Am I missing something here?

 

[BaneIsPain]

I have same practice for pc gaming, wait for sale unless the game i really want. Be smart with limited money. Waiting game is the way.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

Sony puts games on sale really quick.

 

[Nitty_Grimes]

This price translates the price it is on disc in the UK...£70.

Am I missing something here?

Cheapest I’ve seen disc in UK is £62. Not arguing your point just saying.

 

[Spukc]

That's a different genre and demographic.. I guarantee this won't drop significantly for a while. It will be like $79-$89 at the lowest in the store just like Sackboy.

Sackboy is 35 fyi

 

[phil_t98]

For the players

Beat me to it lol

 

[Keihart]

This prices...some people will buy it anyway, but Sony better be prepared for consumers expectations, because buying games that more expensive than their peers is gonna come with higher expectations and probable remorse if not meet consistently. Making a penny today to lose a dollar tomorrow, i keep thinking that management has gone pretty of the rails in the last two or more years, something definitely it's going on inside PlayStation.

 

[harmny]

Beat me to it lol

for the payers

 

[mrmeh]

I have a Xbox but I really liked the look of Ratchet...that's allot of money, I would have trouble justifying this at that price.

There's been lots of fanboy joy at the lower priced Digital Edition but for me It's a trap and offers the worst value of any of the systems ...Sony are going to dick you. Series S would be poor as well if not for Game Pass.

If you have the disk PS5 just be patient, hopefully after release there will be bargains around.

 

[Justin9mm]

Sackboy is 35 fyi

Where from? You realise we are talking about AUD prices?

 

[Spukc]

Where from? You realise we are talking about AUD prices?

35 euro's so europe

 

[Sony4theWin]

The next generation tax is definitely making it difficult to consider purchasing games without them hitting bargain bin prices first.

 

[Esppiral]

You wanted a 500€ 400€ console here you have the return.

 

[Topher]

Why is this suddenly a new problem? Games have always been ridiculously expensive in Australia. A typical game that costs $60 in the US costs $100 in AU. So why is it a surprise that a $70 USD will cost $125 AUD?

This isn't a Sony problem or even a gaming problem. This is an Australia problem.

 

[blastprocessor]

I no longer want to purchase games soon after they release and review well.

It's even worse when (cross gen) game have that "next gen" tax added on.

I know this game is PS5 only.

 

[Outrunner]

Gotta pay for quality, if the games were garbage they would be given for free on a subscription.

 

[kuncol02]

Why is this suddenly a new problem? Games have always been ridiculously expensive in Australia. A typical game that costs $60 in the US costs $100 in AU. So why is it a surprise that a $70 USD will cost $125 AUD?

This isn't a Sony problem or even a gaming problem. This is an Australia problem.

Because price jump is twice as big as in US basically everywhere in the world?

 

[Mr. Nobody]

Why did you pre-order it in the first place? Its a digital item that never goes out of stock. Also, like mentioned earlier, just like any game, there will always be a sale. This is not a Nintendo property we are talking about here. This game will be on a sale in few months after release.

 

[Mr. Nobody]

Also, I was lucky enough to purchase a PS5 disc edition last year in the first place but I still won't buy a disc based game. If the digital version is not on sale, I just won't buy it. The FOMO just effect does not apply to me. And if it does apply to you, keep paying the price. The saying "Vote with your Wallet" is not just a catchphrase.

A person who keeps paying high prices for entertainment but complains afterwards is not helping their case. You just validated Sony's position.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Convenience and laziness.

100% correct answer.

Turns out the convenience of saving a few seconds swapping discs outweighed all of the following combined. Gamers hate EB for high prices and used games at only $5 cheaper than New, and offering $18 for a game they resell for $50. Yet have no problem buying digital copies at high prices you can never sell back. Figure that one out.

- Discs go on sale more, including pre-order deals
- You can trade in discs
- You can lend/borrow discs
- Can't get digitally locked out (unless the dev shuts down MP servers so all gamers are shut out)
- Games all need installing now. Installing from a disc should be more reliable/faster than counting on Sony/MS online store
- Anything to do with collectability
- Don't need it connected to the internet for offline/SP play (remember how big this was in 2013?)
- "I don't want my credit card saved in my profile"

 

[plip.plop]

But I’m to fat eating cheetos to get off the couch and swap discs man.

 

[D.Final]

Lol
The price is just to hight

 

[Justin9mm]

35 euro's so europe

This thread was about Australian Price, I'm talking Australian prices. So unless your in Australia and talking about Australian version and market, my comments are not applicable to you.

 

[Justin9mm]

Why is this suddenly a new problem? Games have always been ridiculously expensive in Australia. A typical game that costs $60 in the US costs $100 in AU. So why is it a surprise that a $70 USD will cost $125 AUD?

This isn't a Sony problem or even a gaming problem. This is an Australia problem.

Because the price has gone up in US also has it not? Isn't $70 USD also a bit high?

 

[Topher]

Because the price has gone up in US also has it not? Isn't $70 USD also a bit high?

It is a $10 bump. I'm surprised the $60 price point has lasted as long as it has, frankly. 15 years is a long time for prices to stay exactly the same.

 

[driqe]

Gotta pay for quality, if the games were garbage they would be given for free on a subscription.

rip yakuza

 

[Justin9mm]

It is a $10 bump. I'm surprised the $60 price point has lasted as long as it has, frankly. 15 years is a long time for prices to stay exactly the same.

Well the way I look at it, game prices were already too high 15 years ago.

And if we did not have all the crap like micro transactions knowing all the profits they make off that, cutting content to sell as DLC etc. And if most of the games weren't actually shit.. Then maybe ppl wouldn't complain so much.

Game publishers always downplay this and complain about how much it costs them to make a game but if they weren't already laughing all the way to the bank, they wouldn't still be churning out the shit like EA does for example.

 

[bitbydeath]

Why is this suddenly a new problem? Games have always been ridiculously expensive in Australia. A typical game that costs $60 in the US costs $100 in AU. So why is it a surprise that a $70 USD will cost $125 AUD?

This isn't a Sony problem or even a gaming problem. This is an Australia problem.

$70-$80 is what it cost last-gen for a brand new first party digital game in Australia. Third parties often took the piss and had it around $100.

The surprise is the leap from $70 to $125

 

[TaylorSwiftFan]

$70-$80 is what it cost last-gen for a brand new first party digital game in Australia. Third parties often took the piss and had it around $100.

The surprise is the leap from $70 to $125

Nope. The MSRP was $99 last gen.

 

[The_Mike]

They usually go on sale like a month after release I got Demon souls for $99 from EB Games, as I priced matched Harvey Norman. And you get good trade in value if your level 2, it was $50 for trade in.

99 usd for Demon's Soul? Wtf that's expensive did you get a succubus included in the price?

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Isnt one reason for high AUS prices due to law that says gamers can refund games?

Anyone know what kind of return ratio gamers do in Aussie?

 

[Ryder]

99 usd for Demon's Soul? Wtf that's expensive did you get a succubus included in the price?

Australian. The new rep is $125 for PS5 games but if you buy physical disc they sell for $110 at stores

 

[The_Mike]

Australian. The new rep is $125 for PS5 games but if you buy physical disc they sell for $110 at stores

Holy shit that's expensive. Is Australian dollars worth less than American dollars or are the government just screwing you guys over?

 

[Ryder]

Isnt one reason for high AUS prices due to law that says gamers can refund games?

Anyone know what kind of return ratio gamers do in Aussie?

Maybe last year I bought resident evil 3 for $80, beat the game in 5 days and returned it for full price. You have 7 days to return for full price

But I don't do it often as I like to support the store and usually do trade in

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Maybe last year I bought resident evil 3 for $80, beat the game in 5 days and returned it for full price. You have 7 days to return for full price

But I don't do it often as I like to support the store and usually do trade in

Not sure when it ended but at one time EB Games gave refunds. It was a long time ago. In Canada, they had the policy on a shitty piece of paper nobody would ever notice at the front counter. I think it was 10 days. Most people probably didn't even know it existed.

 

[Ryder]

Holy shit that's expensive. Is Australian dollars worth less than American dollars or are the government just screwing you guys over?

Yes 1 usd is 1.30 aud. But we have 10% gst included in the price.

It's not that bad since we live isolated compared to everyone else so shopping is more expensive. And I'm not complaining about the prices as gaming is a cheap hobby compared to a lot of other stuff and entertainment. We also have a good standard of living as well. Minimum wage is like $20aud.

 

[Bryank75]

It's a tone-deaf move buy Jim Ryan, he seems to only have his eyes on profits....

I remember one of the slides from his presentation a few months back highlighted cutting costs and expenses, then this increase to 80 euro in most of the world and 70 dollars in USA. It looks very bad when you stand it against the buzz around Gamepass and it's purported value proposition.

The truth is that Jim is the wrong person to lead PlayStation, communication, events, announcements and strategy has all been very poor since he took over. The brand is so strong, it is just charging on despite his incompetence but he is doing it no favors.

Game prices should be varied.... with 70 being the absolute highest in all territories (70 local currency). Most games should be 55-60.
With remakes and smaller or niche games being 40-50.

Launching Returnal at 80 euro for instance is lining the game up for commercial failure, it's unfair to Housemarque and to customers who want to try to support a new IP.

Seems to be all about pushing prices up and penny-pinching with Ryan.... not a fan at all of his moves so far.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Another reason why I will NEVER understand why people fully embrace or desire an all digital generation. Having an all digital console is giving way too much control to the companies and leaves consumers with less options for more money. Digital prices have and will most likely always be more than physical and I feel there is no reason they should just as expensive.

I prefer digital since I dont like wasting physical space with the game cases. There is only so much space you got until you run out and its hard to manage as your collection grows.

 

[Topher]

$70-$80 is what it cost last-gen for a brand new first party digital game in Australia. Third parties often took the piss and had it around $100.

The surprise is the leap from $70 to $125

The Last of Us Part 2 regular retail price as $100. So was Death Stranding. So was Ghost of Tsushima.

The Last of Us Part 2 - PlayStation 4: Amazon.com.au: Video Games
Death Stranding - PlayStation 4: Amazon.com.au: Video Games
Ghost of Tsushima (PS4) | The Gamesmen