Digital Ripoff - Why Are Digital Downloads Priced So Highly?

ScreenCritics Alpha Wolf explores why he thinks its a ripoff that digital games continue to be priced the same (or higher) than physical counterparts.

[annoyedgamer]

Because there is no competition in that market...

[freshslicepizza]

true. on the pc there are multiple storefronts and its easy to save even on new games yet to be released. console suppliers also rely on retailers who they have to work together with. they dont want to undercut their prices.

[LackTrue4K]

That is the way console "will never open" to Steam.

XboxOne has that deal with EA, but it's not the same. They get a cut, and the deals on EA's web site is never gana be as good. That's microsofts new card underhand, not DLC deals...

Don't be surprised if Sony approaches other company with similar deals.

[Cobra951]

EA's deal is not at all the same as Steam. EA has a paid service. A Steam account is free. You only get EA games from their service. Steam gets the PC games from nearly every dev. EA's service has a narrow scope. Steam is a broad storefront. These two aren't even in the same ballpark.

Digital prices are high on consoles because of the monopoly. There is no competition for any given game. That's not likely to change anytime soon. The only thing that can make a difference is for more of us to refuse to buy these games at such high prices. Drop the gouge; then we'll buy.

[agent4532]

Agreed, that is a horrible future but it can happen.

[badz149]

I don't know about other regions, but in Asia, PS+ members get 10%, sometimes up to 20% off for almost all new releases from all publishers

[toddybad]

And they still cost more than in the shops.

I bought horizon for £36 on disc on day one release. I actually got the game the day before. It would've cost me over £20 more via psn and i can't resell it digitally.

[CocoaBrother]

If I remember correctly, retailers will not stock your game if it is offered at a lower price digitally. Maintaining a common pricepoint pleases retailers and, of course, publishers.

I personally believe digital should be cheaper but I can somewhat understand; although I always buy physical if I can

[UltraNova]

Digital is a pure money making machine. They know that. When brick and mortar shops close, prices will either increase or remain the same as they where at release.

Just remeber what happend a few days back when he had a dev trying to explain to us why spiked his Nintendo switch game price by 10 bucks because the cartridge was expensive....did you read any other article on why digital games are not 5-10 dollars cheaper than in physical since there is no production unit, materials (disc, case, paper, ink) people working in the factory?

This story is total and utter joke in my eyes. A total ripoff.

People who support them are fools.

[agent4532]

But gamers can fight developers and force them to sell games cheaper via digital. Once retail shops close their physical game sales, think of all digital shops selling games cheap. In a digital world is easier to open and manage a digital storefront than a brick and mortar.

[agent4532]

True but how does Amazon is able to sell console games cheaper than retail.

[UltraNova]

They buy in bulk thus getting lower prices per unit. Plus they are the undisputed distribution giant allowing them to bargain better prices. No one can say no to Amazon really..

[FallenAngel1984]

Digital games have to be priced at the same cost of physical games at retailers or else those brick and mortar stores will not stock the consoles and handhelds

[freshslicepizza]

eventually they will all go under then, just like what's happening with gamestop. you have places like amazon who sell lots and are taking over distribution. all the information you need is online, i dont need a fanboy behind a counter telling me whay i need this or that.

it's unfortunate for employees but you either adapt or you're forgotten.

[onodle]

Nah stores and Physical copy will never go not for a good few years no doubt the till the end of my lifetime and beyond. Just look at vinyl records. I'm still holding out for 8 track to come back ;)

[agent4532]

Thank you so much, you nail it on the head

[FallenAngel1984]

That doesn't mean brick and mortar stores that sell physical videos games as a whole are going under

[agent4532]

We are talking stores that sell merchandise, clothes and food. Gamestop and EB games are the only retail stores going under.

[Prubar]

Wow I just signed on only to realize that most people here are already saying what I was going to say. Glad to see some common sense around here.

[yezz]

While there's still tons of overpriced stuff out there I think we've come a long way from those days when digital discounts for consoles were almost nonexistent and laughably small. Nowadays they're a lot closer to Steam with the amount of sales and prices.

[1908-PB]

not even close

[yezz]

Have you guys even seen how bad the discounts were on PS store just 4 or so years ago? I'm not saying the current ones are as good as Steam but they're a lot closer. They were mainly on games that were at least 3 years old and 5%-10%, ridiculous. Some holiday sales this year were actually couple euros better on ps store than on steam here and some games were about the same but yeah just keep on disagreeing..

It's funny how you can't have any conversation here, it's just full on disagrees because "f you", that's why.

[1908-PB]

Show source first then try to prove facts

[yezz]

Don't really know how to show old sales but I do remember that Sherlock holmes Devils daughter, Doom, Dishonored 2 and Far cry primal have been 14,95, 14,95, 34,95 and 19,95 on PS store, I've never seen them that low on Steam. Last weekend, Wildlands was on sale for 49,95 even though it's a new game, lower than Steam. Multiple games like Witcher 3 GOTY edition Fallout 4 and AC Syndicate have usually been the same price when on sale.

Steam is still clearly better and maybe these are just regional things but the point is that "not even close" is bs.

[Razzer]

Cuz digital is competing with physical. And physical inventory has money tied up. The cost of real inventory competes with digital. Accounting....shit.

[JackTheLiz]

Also, convenience.

[SolidDuck]

Convenience.

[VersusDMC]

With physical you can lend/resale and avoid downloading. And Amazon preorder sales are really good. But if you lose it or damage it you will need to buy a new copy.
With digital you save sales tax ( on psn for me at least), erase and redownload as many times as you want, no disk switching, you can also share accounts with one close friend(on ps4) and share libraries.

Just buy physical if the benefits of digital aren't worth it.

[TheColbertinator]

There is no competition on the console stores.

Dishonored 2 on PC had gmg,origin and amazon all fighting for my money. On Live,there is only one price with one supplier.

[Takwin]

They have to start accounting for Amazon and Best Buy and GreenManGaming giving 20% off all the time.

Digital must be CHEAPER than physical. Not a lot, but at least a few bucks.

So, since we all pay $47.99 for physical, why not $44.99 for digital.

[DarXter]

Because they can and people buy it?

For me it's a convenience thing, and I usually buy stuff on digital sales.

[Ziege_UK]

I've had to pay up to £25 more, just for the convenience of not having to put a disc in to play the game before. I'd happily pay a little more but that's just too much.

[FyBy]

At first....I wnat games to be cheaper, BUT: Its easy why its same price....because its reatil price. It doesnt matter which format you buy. Only fact, that you have physically something in your hands makes you think, that digital copies should be cheaper. Some people think that possibility to resell physical copies should make also difference in price. But its not like that. I think physical copies still exists only because lot of people dont want to buy digitally. Maybe also because its better for your son or daughter to have physical box under the Christmass tree and not only digital code or piece of paper. I understand that. But what makes me think about that:
1)On PC, there hapilly exists Steam, Origin, Gog and people like them (so is it some type of nostalgy, when you could only put cartridge in game console and turn it on the reason to own physical copies?)
2)Price difference for Nintendo games on cartridges (I understand cartridges are more expensive than blurays, but anyway...cartridges are here long time with nintendo so why make them more expensive now in total retail price?)

Also there are collectors editions and they are nice for some people. I understand that. But what I noticed severeal years ago, that lot of physical copies dont have nice manual or map within anymore. Theyre stripped down to disc, leaflet with code to some club and leaflet with advertise.

What do you think?

[JOHN_DOH]

On PC, digital is better because there are multiple stores to buy games from. So they have to compete on prices. Also physical PC games are not able to be resold. They come with a code and its tied to your computer.

[FyBy]

So why many pc gamers are ok with digital store unlike console players (at least it seems to me pc players tend more to digital purchase). Is it because lot of pc players are used to piracy? So its more natural for them to download game instead of own a box?

According to prices...yes you can get lot of games cheap on pc. But believe me on console stores there are always sales. Not so frequent as on steam, but they are there. On the other hand its true, that console games are generally more expensive.

[KillBill]

"Why Are Digital Downloads Priced So Highly?" - why did you use highly instead of high???

[Cobra951]

"Priced" is a verb here (and can also be used as an adjective, which would not change what follows). As such, it can't be modified by an adjective ("high"). It needs an adverb ("highly"). Sorry for the grammar lesson, but you asked.

[KillBill]

http://the-difference-betwe...

Psst... high can be an adverb too.

[FlameWater]

Crazy idea everyone, buy the game when you can afford it or when the price goes down.

[Taero]

...Parity with physical storefronts who sell the consoles. Done.

[agent4532]

If online sales of games were cheaper nobody would buy the retail version of say game unless it offered a figurine, pip boy , etc. That would be nice but console gamers are so loyal to corporations, preventing it from happening. Without retail stores selling games, games would be cheaper, family plan would become a reality, more deals and steals, lower game development costs, etc. The problem is besides corporate loyalism (ask any console gamer if Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo were to leave the gaming industry what would happen? Their answer is chaos) they are resistant towards an all digital future which baffles me.

We are coming to a point that a corporation for gaming is no longer needed. Only game developers are needed, thanks to kickstarter and fig. Really, the only way these console manufacturers can survive is through game digital services not consoles 😋