Valve has released a new version of its regional pricing tool, which suggests higher prices for video games almost everywhere outside the United States, according to a report by GamesRadar+.
Steam supports the purchase and sale of games in 39 different currencies throughout the globe, and Valve provides a regional pricing suggestion tool that proposes rates for other locations depending on a developer's selected base USD price.
The New Pricing Standard Is Not Mandatory
Developers are free to ignore Valve's pricing advice and set their own prices for their games, but the Steam pricing tool makes it easy for them to quickly and easily convert their prices into dozens of currencies they may not be acquainted with.
The last time Valve updated its regional pricing recommendations was quite some time ago. However, in a recent developer-focused documentation update, the company stated that it was committing to refresh these price suggestions on a much more regularly scheduled basis in order to keep pace with economic changes over time.
Some Games May Cost More; Others May Not
The first of these "refreshes" has just been released, and games will likely increase in price in most regions outside the US if developers opt to adjust their pricing to reflect the new recommendations. For instance, suggested retail prices in euros are growing by 18%, while in Chinese yuan, they are increasing by 21%.
Because of the complexities of international economics, Valve does not base its price suggestions only on currency conversion rates, which may not reflect the actual purchasing power of consumers in a given location.
In light of the new guidelines, a $60 game in USD would cost $30 in Brazil. Considering the average wage in Brazil is just a quarter of the average pay in the US, that rise of 32% may seem like a steal.
In areas experiencing economic instability, the shifts are more striking. The suggested retail price of a US $60 game in Argentina has increased from 650 to 3800 Argentine pesos (ARS), a rise of 485%. Even with approximately 500% inflation over the last several years, the suggested price would only be around US $24. Note that Argentina has had the worst inflation in the world.
Steam Players Show Mixed Opinions
The reaction of the players to the new prices has been divided.
Some people are upset that costs are going up at all, but many Argentine gamers are glad that the new suggested pricing is not higher, according to a thread posted on a gaming subreddit.
Despite this, at least one meme has surfaced saying goodbye to Steam and greeting Game Pass hello. This only suggests that some users are considering switching to the Game Pass platform.
SteamDB has compiled a list of the new pricing. It is unclear how many publishers will follow Valve's new advice, but if you've been contemplating a Steam purchase, do it soon.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Trisha Kae Andrada
