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.

[Shifterplay]

Nx Machina님이 먼저 게시:

♕Król Gąsior♕님이 먼저 게시:

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.

Golden shovel time!

This whole "your boss" argument is false simply because regional pricing exists for other countries and was created specifically to maximize profits for the company.
Countries like Russia or Brazil mostly benefit from it, as $70 costs only 1/3 of that price in these regions.

If people can't afford the game, they won't buy it, so it's a loss for the publisher, who could make a profit if people bought the product even for a fraction of the USD price.

Polish players are asking for a fair prices not a discount. Would be great if 70USD game costed around 200PLN but even 1:1 would be acceptable, when in reality its over 10$ on top of 70$ price.

So this dude is just arguing for the sake of arguing knowing nothing of the subject.

[Lithurge]

Nx Machina님이 먼저 게시:

♕Król Gąsior♕님이 먼저 게시:

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.

Retailers drop prices all the time without cutting wages. That's a ridiculous analogy.

[kony]

Well, as a fellow Pole I can just say that before I was buying games solely on Steam, but since this change I've switched to GOG whenever possible (unless the game isn't there or the publisher set fair price for Poland).

That's a lost income for Valve, but it seems that either they don't care about this specific market or they calculated that the lost income from lost purchases is lower than gained from overpricing products.

I don't complain much though, as I said, for most games there are other stores so I buy for unfair price only once in a while.

[Sui]

kony님이 먼저 게시:

Well, as a fellow Pole I can just say that before I was buying games solely on Steam, but since this change I've switched to GOG whenever possible (unless the game isn't there or the publisher set fair price for Poland).

That's a lost income for Valve, but it seems that either they don't care about this specific market or they calculated that the lost income from lost purchases is lower than gained from overpricing products.

I don't complain much though, as I said, for most games there are other stores so I buy for unfair price only once in a while.

GOG prices are also often affected by Steam suggested pricing as seen by a recent example of Nightdive just not giving a ♥♥♥♥ and setting all of them the same. GOG is not your friend - they do not care.

Anyhow - outrageous to have prices by now 13% more than in € zone and then having narrow-minded idiots from privileged countries, who didn't took a brunt of the price of dealing with Ukrainian refugees (which caused the massive drop in PLN value when the suggested pricing was last set - because we needed to somehow provide them shelter!) claiming we should just abandon our local currency.

[Simplex]

Wolfpig님이 먼저 게시:

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.

Very astute prediction!

[Simplex]

Wolfpig님이 먼저 게시:

♕Król Gąsior♕님이 먼저 게시:

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.

Good prediction. October whooshed past, Valve recommended prices for PLN still make the games second most expensive in the world.

[HikariLight]

What part of Steam doesnt set the prices do you not understand?
Steam can suggest prices, but in the end the Developers/Publishers are the ones who have control over the price.
If you think the price needs altered for your region, go complain to the Developers/Publishers.
Steam CANNOT alter prices for things they do not own.

Just because Steam suggests one price does not mean the devs are required to use it.

[Simplex]

Not this guy again. Steam suggests regional prices by default (Steam actually pre-fills values in the currency fields with their suggestions, not leaving them empty), so if the developer leaves it at a default setting, the price is effectively set by steam. Steam makes it as easy and effortless as possible to keep using their suggestions.
Moreover, steam falsely tells the developers that it's a well researched, smart suggestion and will be adjusted often (has not been done since October 2022). Many devs, especially smaler ones take it in good faith and trust Steam, or use it as an excuse to keep the price. People who don't understand that this system is bad and keep defending Valve are braindead and should be ashamed.

https://i.imgur.com/A3WYecG.png
This response is Steam's fault - if steam did not suggest prices that kind of response would not be possible.

[Artemida]

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

What part of Steam doesnt set the prices do you not understand?

What part of no one is asking Steam to tell the devs how to set the prices do YOU not understand?

Steam already offers a recommended price for each store region. People are asking Valve to update those suggested prices. That is all.

IF Valve updates those recommended prices, developers on Steam will still have full control over their own prices.

I will repeat: People are NOT asking Valve to force developers to change the prices. They are requesting Steam to update its price suggestions more regularly.

[MØRPHΞUZ]

For people in steam it's hard to use brain and at least reading. Steam pricing is outdated and should be updated, steam is lazy F and is not gonna repair it so we have to tell developers. I will not buy most games from steam till pricing is repaired, I prefer to buy keys on key sellers sites.

[rawWwRrr]

D☯M34KS님이 먼저 게시:

I will not buy most games from steam till pricing is repaired, I prefer to buy keys on key sellers sites.

And that's exactly what you're supposed to do. Vote with your wallet.

[HikariLight]

Artemida님이 먼저 게시:

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

What part of Steam doesnt set the prices do you not understand?

What part of no one is asking Steam to tell the devs how to set the prices do YOU not understand?

Steam already offers a recommended price for each store region. People are asking Valve to update those suggested prices. That is all.

IF Valve updates those recommended prices, developers on Steam will still have full control over their own prices.

I will repeat: People are NOT asking Valve to force developers to change the prices. They are requesting Steam to update its price suggestions more regularly.

And in the end changing the SUGGESTED prices changes NOTHING.
The devs set the prices, so the suggested prices are nothing more than a SUGGESTION.
If you dont like the price you pay, complaining about Steams SUGGESTED prices is not going to help you.

Here is the definition:
sug·ges·tion
noun
noun: suggestion; plural noun: suggestions

an idea or plan put forward for consideration.

This means the suggested prices mean nothing in the long run, so stop complaining about them and complain to the devs who set the final prices that you end up paying.

[Artemida]

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

And in the end changing the SUGGESTED prices changes NOTHING.

It DOES change SOMETHING. It changes the suggested prices. So exactly what is asked for.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

The devs set the prices, so the suggested prices are nothing more than a SUGGESTION.

Exactly! And we want NOTHING MORE than for Valve to change their suggested prices.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

If you dont like the price you pay, complaining about Steams SUGGESTED prices is not going to help you.

Updating Steam's suggested prices is all we are asking for. We are not asking Valve to change developers' prices. It is not your problem what is going to help us and what isn't.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

This means the suggested prices mean nothing in the long run, so stop complaining about them and complain to the devs who set the final prices that you end up paying.

This is nothing more than a SUGGESTION forum so stop complaining about us complaining because your opinion means nothing in the long run. You are not Valve, sweety.

[HikariLight]

Artemida님이 먼저 게시:

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

And in the end changing the SUGGESTED prices changes NOTHING.

It DOES change SOMETHING. It changes the suggested prices. So exactly what is asked for.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

The devs set the prices, so the suggested prices are nothing more than a SUGGESTION.

Exactly! And we want NOTHING MORE than for Valve to change their suggested prices.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

If you dont like the price you pay, complaining about Steams SUGGESTED prices is not going to help you.

Updating Steam's suggested prices is all we are asking for. We are not asking Valve to change developers' prices. It is not your problem what is going to help us and what isn't.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

This means the suggested prices mean nothing in the long run, so stop complaining about them and complain to the devs who set the final prices that you end up paying.

This is nothing more than a SUGGESTION forum so stop complaining about us complaining because your opinion means nothing in the long run. You are not Valve, sweety.

And in the end YOUR suggestion means nothing.
The suggested prices dont matter.
The devs can set lower or highter prices.
So updating them is a waste of time.
Also the Polish currency is not as strong as you think on the global market.

[Artemida]

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

And in the end YOUR suggestion means nothing.

And in the end YOUR answers in this thread mean nothing.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

The suggested prices dont matter.

Matters enough for people to ask for them to be updated.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

The devs can set lower or highter prices.

Valve can set their suggested prices lower or higher.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

So updating them is a waste of time.

Your writing here is a waste of your time. It is Valve's time, not yours. No one is asking for YOUR time.

HikariLight님이 먼저 게시:

Also the Polish currency is not as strong as you think on the global market.

Never said it was strong. If it is so weak then maybe it is time for Valve to update the suggested prices and make it more expensive for Poland, don't you think?
Also, your opinion is not as important as you think on this global forum.