E3 2013
We've heard of price hiking, but this is ridiculous. Electronic Arts has reportedly increased the price of its games in India by between 66 and 133 per cent, assumedly in an attempt to better match prices in other countries.
On average, video games in the Indian market cost around ₹999-1,499 (around £11-16), but EA's has broken the trend dramatically. Last year, its games were priced around the ₹2,999 mark (£33~), and prices for its games this year have proven to be eye-watering for Indian gamers. Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed will cost around ₹3,499 (£38~).
While it sounds like a bargain for someone in the UK, where RRPs are around the £50-60 mark, it's worth bearing in mind the cost of living and the value of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar. Where some apartments cost around ₹9,000 a month for rent, ₹3,499 for a video game sounds like more than just a luxury purchase.
"PC games are now out of the reach of many PC gamers in India, while many others are simply unwilling to pay that much for a PC game," reports Indian Video Gamer. "As Indian gamers, we’ve been conditioned to be okay with paying Rs 2,499 or Rs 2,799 for a console game, but be outraged at being asked to pay anything over Rs 999 for the same game on PC. So there’s understandably been quite an outrage from Indian gamers on finding out about EA’s new PC prices."
Via Dan Griliopoulos
On average, video games in the Indian market cost around ₹999-1,499 (around £11-16), but EA's has broken the trend dramatically. Last year, its games were priced around the ₹2,999 mark (£33~), and prices for its games this year have proven to be eye-watering for Indian gamers. Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed will cost around ₹3,499 (£38~).
While it sounds like a bargain for someone in the UK, where RRPs are around the £50-60 mark, it's worth bearing in mind the cost of living and the value of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar. Where some apartments cost around ₹9,000 a month for rent, ₹3,499 for a video game sounds like more than just a luxury purchase.
"PC games are now out of the reach of many PC gamers in India, while many others are simply unwilling to pay that much for a PC game," reports Indian Video Gamer. "As Indian gamers, we’ve been conditioned to be okay with paying Rs 2,499 or Rs 2,799 for a console game, but be outraged at being asked to pay anything over Rs 999 for the same game on PC. So there’s understandably been quite an outrage from Indian gamers on finding out about EA’s new PC prices."
Via Dan Griliopoulos
Companies:
Electronic Arts
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