Regional pricing refresh

[♕Król Gąsior♕]

Hi, I want to rise a topic about regional pricing that was introduced in October 2022. Valve stated that it will be revised on yearly basis but, as we can see in some regions, clearly this is not happening. I would be talking mostly about polish market but the topic is open for other countries as well :)
The prices stopped when our currency was in much worse state than now (October 2022 USD to PLN was 5 PLN while now it is around 4). This leads to situation where, if developers are using suggested Valve exchange rate, games in Poland are amongst the most expensive (or the most expensive) in EU market (a very good example is fresh release of Hades 2, which is only more expensive in Switzerland, EU average is almost 10% cheaper). If we will take into consideration our average salary and compare it with other countries that are in the top section of pricing (Switzerland or EU average) it looks even worse (polish average salary is ~1300 EUR, EU average is around ~2500 EUR [correct me if I’m wrong but I couldn’t find exact data for 2024 for whole EU sector]).
As a conclusion - it would be great to highlight this issue, open a conversation about it and maybe (hope so) someone will do something about this issue and make corrections to it.

Regional price comparisons are based on steamdb data.

[Wolfpig]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Hi, I want to rise a topic about regional pricing that was introduced in October 2022. Valve stated that it will be revised on yearly basis but, as we can see in some regions, clearly this is not happening.

if the last time it was changed/price correct In October 2022, they either did not saw a reason to change it last year October, and the next time they check will probably October this year then.

[♕Król Gąsior♕]

Originally posted by Wolfpig:

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Hi, I want to rise a topic about regional pricing that was introduced in October 2022. Valve stated that it will be revised on yearly basis but, as we can see in some regions, clearly this is not happening.

if the last time it was changed/price correct In October 2022, they either did not saw a reason to change it last year October, and the next time they check will probably October this year then.

Back in October 2023 the exchange currency was 1 USD = 4.18 PLN. This is a massive change from 5 PLN in October 2022 and still a big difference between steam exchange (1 USD = 4.5 PLN).

[._.]

Also take a look at VRising for example.
Also the second most expensive in the entire world
Main pain - AAA releases. e.g. Call of duty MW3. It costs 349,00zł. which is now about ~87$ or 81 eur
Meanwile it costs 70$ in USA & 70eur
Certainly Poland not leaving better than USA or e.g. Germany or France :)
This is ridiculous

2 games ~= 180$
But all the world pays 140$

It's better to have store in U.S. dollars than pay 20$ more just because u have ur currency in the store...

[Nx Machina]

Developers, publishers set the price for their products.

[nullable]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Originally posted by Wolfpig:

if the last time it was changed/price correct In October 2022, they either did not saw a reason to change it last year October, and the next time they check will probably October this year then.

Back in October 2023 the exchange currency was 1 USD = 4.18 PLN. This is a massive change from 5 PLN in October 2022 and still a big difference between steam exchange (1 USD = 4.5 PLN).

Just FYI, while Valve could update the suggested price for Poland for new products. That wouldn't affect games that already have prices set. After the developer/publisher sets a price (even if they go with the recommended price) it's up to the developer/publisher to manage prices, price changes, adjust for conversion rates. Recommended regional price changes won't affect existing products without intervention from the publisher/developer.

So if you have issues with the prices of specific games, take it up with the publisher. Publishers set the prices, not Valve.

[♕Król Gąsior♕]

Originally posted by nullable:

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Back in October 2023 the exchange currency was 1 USD = 4.18 PLN. This is a massive change from 5 PLN in October 2022 and still a big difference between steam exchange (1 USD = 4.5 PLN).

Just FYI, while Valve could update the suggested price for Poland for new products. That wouldn't affect games that already have prices set. After the developer/publisher sets a price (even if they go with the recommended price) it's up to the developer/publisher to manage prices, price changes, adjust for conversion rates. Recommended regional price changes won't affect existing products without intervention from the publisher/developer.

So if you have issues with the prices of specific games, take it up with the publisher. Publishers set the prices, not Valve.

I agree with that 100% that prices at the end belong to the developers, but in most cases as we can clearly see the developers are going to use valve automatic system. We cannot blame them for this if they want to maintain their title on so many markets at the same time. But my perspective is that we, as a customers, should pursuit in both directions - the developers for already released games and valve that is helping the developers to sell their games.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Join the others in the Suggestions thread...

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/4362372646216826112/

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

I agree with that 100% that prices at the end belong to the developers, but in most cases as we can clearly see the developers are going to use valve automatic system. We cannot blame them for this if they want to maintain their title on so many markets at the same time. But my perspective is that we, as a customers, should pursuit in both directions - the developers for already released games and valve that is helping the developers to sell their games.

If your boss decides to reduce your wage to help cut costs for the company would you agree?

[♕Król Gąsior♕]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

I agree with that 100% that prices at the end belong to the developers, but in most cases as we can clearly see the developers are going to use valve automatic system. We cannot blame them for this if they want to maintain their title on so many markets at the same time. But my perspective is that we, as a customers, should pursuit in both directions - the developers for already released games and valve that is helping the developers to sell their games.

If your boss decides to reduce your wage to help cut costs for the company would you agree?

This is not the same - we are clearly talking about fair exchange rate. If the game is prices at 30 EUR - let it be, fair price. But it should be 30 EUR equivalent everywhere. This leads to another concept which is solely regional pricing that is taking into consideration the power of currency. In that case you can buy the game much, much cheaper in Russia, China or India (the difference between polish prices and those 3 countries are between 55-65% cheaper).

[Wolfpig]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

This leads to another concept which is solely regional pricing that is taking into consideration the power of currency

Of course your currency is part of it.
If the government of your country would make something extrem dumb and the currency would crash, then the stores in your country would want more money too, and the companies producing/importing stuff would want more too.

And the suggested pricing valve gives out to developers/publishers are not neccessarily existent so that the User gets a fair price, but that the companies selling still earn money from it, especially if something happens what i wrote (see real live examples like turkey, argentina etc.)

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

This is not the same - we are clearly talking about fair exchange rate. If the game is prices at 30 EUR - let it be, fair price. But it should be 30 EUR equivalent everywhere. This leads to another concept which is solely regional pricing that is taking into consideration the power of currency. In that case you can buy the game much, much cheaper in Russia, China or India (the difference between polish prices and those 3 countries are between 55-65% cheaper).

It is the same as you would not take a wage cut yet expect developers, publishers to lose income.

Secondly if you want fair prices in the EU ask your government to switch to the Euro.

[♕Król Gąsior♕]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

This is not the same - we are clearly talking about fair exchange rate. If the game is prices at 30 EUR - let it be, fair price. But it should be 30 EUR equivalent everywhere. This leads to another concept which is solely regional pricing that is taking into consideration the power of currency. In that case you can buy the game much, much cheaper in Russia, China or India (the difference between polish prices and those 3 countries are between 55-65% cheaper).

It is the same as you would not take a wage cut, yet expect developers, publishers to lose income.

Secondly if you want a fair prices in the EU ask your government to switch to the Euro.

Well, using your way of thinking the developers are loosing massive profits in Russia, Ukraine and many more countries. There is one more thing - less sold products = less profit.

[Wolfpig]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Well, using your way of thinking the developers are loosing massive profits in Russia, Ukraine and many more countries.

They do.
That they sell stuff for less then they could in those countries was mainly done to prevent piracy, not because of the earnings from the sales.

[nullable]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

There is one more thing - less sold products = less profit.

Well... that's a bit simplistic. One $60 license is more profit than ten $5 licenses, so no fewer products sold doesn't necessarily mean less profit.

Although I'm sure you can argue that thirteen $5 licenses would be more profit. But at a certain point you need to start using real data to arrive at conclusions, you can't just rely on favorable assumptions to prove your point. And ultimately it's not a very strong argument because one can always argue prices should be less to drive more sales, because more sales equals more profit and clearly there's some weaknesses in that simplistic argument.

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by ♕Król Gąsior♕:

Well, using your way of thinking the developers are loosing massive profits in Russia, Ukraine and many more countries. There is one more thing - less sold products = less profit.

Developers, publishers set the prices therefore it must be profitable for them.

Secondly: If your boss decides to reduce your wage to help cut costs for the company would you agree? The answer is no, you would not agree.

And finally: If you want fair prices in the EU ask your government to switch to the Euro because your argument is you pay more than other EU countries and switching to the Euro solves your problem.

As a sidenote looking at your PC specs you do not seem to have an issue with money.