Microsoft Increases Prices of Digital Xbox One Exclusives in UK

[Doclector]

Y'know, I was starting to think that the choice for next gen consoles was going to be difficult. Neither console blew me away, but neither one turned me off either. Xbox one seems to win the exclusives, but I just couldn't trust MS again after they tried the most absurd bullshit ever and for a good month or so running around trying to convince us they were doing us a favour.

I did wonder though, was I being paranoid? Maybe MS had learnt its lesson?

Well, thank you MS. Thank you for clarifying that you haven't learned, you just looked for other ways to screw your fans.

I ain't quite gonna run on back to sony just yet, but it's starting to look unlikely that I'll even consider the xbox one as an option.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

anyone know off the top of their head how this compares to Wii U and PS?

 

[Trishbot]

"Digital is the future!" they said. "It'll just be like Steam!" they said.

A part of me wishes Microsoft had stuck to their original plan... just to see how much worse this could get.

 

[Originality]

I'm sorry I'm not familiar with prices for such services in UK.
Where I live for a phone line with 24mbps ASDL internet connection with unlimited downloads I pay 40 euros per month.
TV doesn't require monthly fees.

Up to 20Mbps ADSL is £2 a month in UK. Up to 80Mbps fibre optic is £18-25 a month. 120Mbps cable is £28-38 a month.
Basic TV + Freeview channels cost a TV license (£145 a year) and then any extra channel services (such as Sky) require a separate subscription (usually requiring a satellite too). HD Sports channels cost from £6 a month, for instance.
Unlimited phone contracts start from £13 a month, although a pay-as-you-go plan with unlimited data can be found for £20 per 6 months (you only pay for calls and txts).

Such services are relatively cheap in the UK due to fierce competition. The price on games on the other hand (when compared to the US) divides many people I know between leaching discounts from my friends who work in game stores and outright piracy. The moment a hack for next gen consoles goes public, they'll pester me with calls (as happened in the last gen). Personally, I just wait for second hand deals.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

anyone know off the top of their head how this compares to Wii U and PS?

Well for some games PS3 is even worse (not sure about 4). For example Assassin's Creed 4 is £60 and GTA V is about the same. Wii U is overpriced too, and you lose the game if your console breaks. The only system that seems to get it decent is the PS Vita, but even then it's not worth it getting a game digitally.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Well, if people are ready to pay that amount of money, it can't be a problem. If they aren't, Microsoft will suffer the consequences.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

anyone know off the top of their head how this compares to Wii U and PS?

Well for some games PS3 is even worse (not sure about 4). For example Assassin's Creed 4 is £60 and GTA V is about the same. Wii U is overpriced too, and you lose the game if your console breaks. The only system that seems to get it decent is the PS Vita, but even then it's not worth it getting a game digitally.

damn it. whats up with these people, why can't they make digital distribution work. really disappointed by that, i'm looking to get a Wii U soon

 

[Zipa]

anyone know off the top of their head how this compares to Wii U and PS?

Well for some games PS3 is even worse (not sure about 4). For example Assassin's Creed 4 is £60 and GTA V is about the same. Wii U is overpriced too, and you lose the game if your console breaks. The only system that seems to get it decent is the PS Vita, but even then it's not worth it getting a game digitally.

PS4 is much the same, digital is generally more than physical.

Now if only there was some kind of highly successful digital only distribution platforms already that Sony and MS could copy...

 

[gamegod25]

The more Microsoft do, the more I am convinced that they are gearing up to abandon games consoles as a manufacturer, they simply don't have the guts to come out and say it, so they're trying desperately to manufacture a catastrophic failure scenario that will allow them to claim the industry moribund and walk away.

The reveal, the limited international launch, the price of it, the F2P nonsense in their flagship titles and now jacking up prices on what is already the most expensive of the new consoles, it's as if someone really doesn't want you to buy the Xbone.

As I said back during the initial reveal, this is MS throwing in the towel and saying they want to make Roku boxes instead. Part of me wants to believe that this is all intentional because it would explain the seemingly suicidal attitude they have shown thus far.

Or maybe like with Sony and the PS3 they let their hubris and greed fool them into thinking gamers would put up with this shit. Like Jim has said consumers will put up with shit but only to a point, cross that line and you will get burned...hard.

Not sure which is worse...MS intentionally trying to sabotage themselves or that they really are this clueless.

 

[AstaresPanda]

yet another reason to continue my console ban lol really thou £40 was really pushing it. now we got to £50 ?! really ? fuck you and your shitty consoles and games. PC gamer 4 life. Steam sales. Done. fucking £50

 

[dochmbi]

It doesn't make much sense, unless Microsoft and Sony have some sort of interest in keeping the retail industry healthy.

Common sense would say that they should sell the digital copies much cheaper and since all the retail overhead is gone, they would make more profit and at the same time completely undercut the retail market.

 

[Genocidicles]

But guys! The Xbone was going to be just like Steam! Honest!

 

[-Dragmire-]

"Pricing for select digital content in some markets has changed since launch."

Nice use of the passive voice here.

"The prices have changed."
"Who changed them and why?"
"Well, someone did. Surely the reasons for it are understandable."
"...?"

 

[Irridium]

But guys! The Xbone was going to be just like Steam! Honest!

And having digital content means they can charge less for games! Really!

 

[Arawn]

If MS wanted Xbox One to be all digital this is hardly a step in the right direction.

"Digital content pricing is subject to change and we may occasionally offer various deals or promotions," the spokesperson added. "Ultimately pricing and promotions will vary by region." No reason for the unannounced price increase was given. All Xbox One launch titles are $59.99 in the US.

That explanation makes some sense, but the logic isn't quite secure. Prices might vary on physical products by region, shipping, importing, taxes, etc. Sure I get that. But one would think digital products would only have to deal with exchange rates. That's the part I'm having trouble with. What is the basis for the increased price in one place over the other when it comes to digital products? It just seems stupid to charge more than their physical product. I extend this statement to Sony if they too are following this practice.

 

[smithy_2045]

PC gaming isn't any better off. Right now if I wanted to buy Civilization V on Steam, it would cost me $70USD. This is a game that's been out for over 3 years now, with 2 expansions each priced at an additional $50USD and a whole bunch of DLC.

You're comparing apples to oranges, as Civ V isn't available on console.

A good example would be Skyrim. Looking at the prices, they're actually comparable between X-Box Marketplace and Steam. Admittedly, I expected the base game to still be full price on X-Box, but it's $29.99 now (same as Steam).

The difference is, Steam has huge sales at least twice a year. I purchased Skyrim with all the DLC during the Summer sale for < $20 USD, and that includes community supported modding. The last I've touched my still-full-price copy of Skyrim for the 360 was to pull off my save games for conversion to PC format.

It's not apples to oranges, I compared new Xbox One exclusive titles to a 3 year old PC exclusive title. My point is regional pricing is an absolute prick that rips off Australians and Europeans with no regard for your platform of choice.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

How do they even justify the price increase on a digital copy of the game? What the hell is going on, did I somehow got transported to bizarro world where prices go up during a sale? Or is it a case where they hike up the price now, and during the real sale they'll go back to their former price?

 

[shintakie10]

The prices for new-gen games is disgusting: upwards of £50-£60 per game?

Pricing stuff at £40 was pushing it per game. If you wanna rip people off with game prices how about developers make something worth the buck.

Go fuck yourself consoles. Here's betting that in 10 years time for the next gen it'll be £70 per game.

"But if you can afford a new console, you can buy these games!" - I think most people would like not having to take out a mortgage to buy games.

PC gaming isn't any better off. Right now if I wanted to buy Civilization V on Steam, it would cost me $70USD. This is a game that's been out for over 3 years now, with 2 expansions each priced at an additional $50USD and a whole bunch of DLC.

Didnt you know that Valve is just as bad at fuckin over Australia as everyone else is? Try Amazon next time. Its only 20 bucks on Amazon for the digital download and Amazon UK has the physical disk for £7.47, though shippin to Australia would probably push that well beyond 20.

On topic. Totally not surprised. Everyone wants to embrace digital distribution so badly but are so petrified of terrifyin retail stores that they're not willin to go all in.

Its gettin pretty pathetic. They say digital distribution is the future all while turnin around to places like Gamestop and the like and promisin that they don't actually mean it.