[ALL] Playstation store pricing

[PP]

I was hoping this would be resolved with the PS4 but it looks like it hasn't changed.

1.) Why are digital games still 59.99? There is no incentive to buy a game at that price. You cannot re-sell it when you are done or anything.

2.) I can buy Theif at gamestop for $40 brand new and even lower at Amazon $37. This isn't some special sale.. this is everyday. As the game has been out a bit and got subpar reviews the retail pricing reflects it. Why doesn't the PSN store reflect this? The same way if you check out old games like NHL/FIFA and countless others being the full price almost a year later.

Why why why?... no but seriously. What gives?

 

[MrBill]

I think that is something everyone in the community is asking. For gamers to truly embrace digital game ownership, developers are going to have to get with the program on pricing. Nobody believes the cost to the company for providing a download is as much as it is to master a blu-ray and have millions of copies printed, put into a plastic box with an insert and then shipped to the retail outlet that then sells it to the customer. Personally, I think the discount for digital games on day one should be at least 15% off of retail for the boxed equivalent. That would make a game around $45 on day one and I think that is a price point that would drive more people to purchase digital versions over physical copies.

 

[EmpireWF]

Digital versions of games that are 6-months old or more maintaining their physical release date $60 price is illogical.

 

[Virix]

Games cost more than ever (outside of indy games) to develop and are probably the cheapest they have ever been in relation to inflation. I think digital game sales will be a way to keep the cost at $60 despite the rising cost of developing. Lets face it, companies know people are used to paying $60, they wont ever decide to lower it.

 

[PP]

Right V, but what incentive do I have to purchase anything in the digital store when I go on amazon/gamestop and see it for sub $40. Do they think I am that lazy and won't go to the store?

 

[Virix]

I agree on the games that have dropped at retail. That said, Thief was $30 on PSN like 3 weeks after release. I think eventually games will rise at retail and but remain $60 in the digital store.

 

[PepperNY]

Sony and Microsoft need to adopt the Steam model. I can understand a game being 49.99 or even 59.99 at launch but several months later not the case. Hell, Steam even offers 10% off retail for preordering most titles

 

[PP]

I agree on the games that have dropped at retail. That said, Thief was $30 on PSN like 3 weeks after release. I think eventually games will rise at retail and but remain $60 in the digital store.

Shows up as 59.99 for me in the PS4 PSN store.

 

[Virix]

It was only for a short time, but i was surprised they put it on sale so soon after release.

 

[tigstah]

I was hoping this would be resolved with the PS4 but it looks like it hasn't changed.

1.) Why are digital games still 59.99? There is no incentive to buy a game at that price. You cannot re-sell it when you are done or anything.

2.) I can buy Theif at gamestop for $40 brand new and even lower at Amazon $37. This isn't some special sale.. this is everyday. As the game has been out a bit and got subpar reviews the retail pricing reflects it. Why doesn't the PSN store reflect this? The same way if you check out old games like NHL/FIFA and countless others being the full price almost a year later.

Why why why?... no but seriously. What gives?

i always wondered why the digital versions were the same price as the physical disc. even if you preorder. heck i dont many games day one, but i probably would if there were cheaper digitally.

 

[PP]

i always wondered why the digital versions were the same price as the physical disc. even if you preorder. heck i dont many games day one, but i probably would if there were cheaper digitally.

It's not even the initial pricing that is the issue... but weeks/months after games are out they are still full price unless a sale is going on. I am guessing they don't want to alienate retailers?

 

[tigstah]

yeah, i dont think the last of us at this point should still be 60 bucks on psn.

 

[Twigg4075]

I think that is something everyone in the community is asking. For gamers to truly embrace digital game ownership, developers are going to have to get with the program on pricing. Nobody believes the cost to the company for providing a download is as much as it is to master a blu-ray and have millions of copies printed, put into a plastic box with an insert and then shipped to the retail outlet that then sells it to the customer. Personally, I think the discount for digital games on day one should be at least 15% off of retail for the boxed equivalent. That would make a game around $45 on day one and I think that is a price point that would drive more people to purchase digital versions over physical copies.

It's because they would be undercutting retailers. These companies can really only sell their consoles at retail so if they want to have good relationships with them they can't undercut them with the pricing of the games. It;s really dumb and they need to find a solution to this. Services like STEAM can get away with it because people can buy tons of differnt PCs and build their own from parts. Not to mention physical PC games are almsot non-existent at this point.

This proposition wasn't as bad on PS3. At least on PS3 if I bought a digital game I could download it on two consoles so bot my wife and I could play the game and I was getting two for the price of one. But on PS4, 360 and XBOne everything is locked down to one account so it sucks balls.

As far as prices not falling in line with retailers months and even years after release, that doesn't make any sense. Companies lower the MSRP of games all the time and constantly work with retailers to promote sales and lower prices on games. Why this can't also be mirrored on digital storefronts is baffling to me.

 

[jms493]

Steam took many many years to get to the state it is now. Must have patience.

The console market is still very much a B&M market.

 

[ryne candy]

On a podcast (forget which one) answering a listeners email said it was up to the developer not Sony/MS. I don't know the truth in that but might be why they haven't done it (yet) and B&M stores still have muscle in the gaming world.