GOG Addresses Regional Pricing Controversy, Promises Fairness For All

[Andy Chalk]

GOG Addresses Regional Pricing Controversy, Promises Fairness For All

GOG promises that regional pricing of its classic game catalog will be fair to gamers in all markets.

GOG announced last week [http://www.gog.com/news/announcement_big_preorders_launch_day_releases_coming] that the coming release of three new games on its site would also bring with it regional pricing for those games, something it has thus far successfully resisted. It claimed that pricing decisions on new releases are out of its hands, and "regional pricing is becoming the standard around the globe" anyway.

"We're doing this because we believe that there's no better way to accomplish our overall goals for DRM-Free gaming and GOG.com," it said. "We need more games, devs, and publishers on board to make DRM-Free gaming something that's standard for all of the gaming world!"

Good intentions or not, the news went over about as well as you'd expect. Regional pricing generally works out rather poorly for people who don't live in North America, who are often forced to pay higher prices even when they're buying from the same digital distributors. The uproar was bad enough that Rambourg put up a lengthy blog post earlier today explaining GOG's position and promising that it will do everything in its power to keep the pricing fair.

The big problem facing GOG is that it's already wrapped up a significant part of the classic game catalog that's legally available, and while there are still big names to bring under the tent, future growth is going to depend on newer releases. But unlike the older stuff that's just sitting around collecting dust, GOG doesn't have much say over the pricing policies of new games.

"Top-tier developers and publishers usually have contractual obligations with their retail partners that oblige them to offer the game at the same price digitally and in retail," he wrote. "This will change over time (as digital sales should overtake retail sales in the near future), but as of today, this is still a problem our industry is facing because retail is a big chunk of revenue and there's nothing GOG.com can do to change that. We need to charge the recommended retail price for the boxed copies of the games in order for developers (or publishers) to either not get sued or at least get their games visible on shelves. You may recall that our sister company CD Projekt RED got sued for that in the past and we don't want our partners to suffer from that too."

GOG's classic game catalog will also be subject to regional pricing, but at points that ensure a level of parity. $5.99 games are currently expected to go for £3.49, €4.49, 199 RUB and $AU 6.49, while $9.99 games will cost £5.99, €7.49, 349 RUB and $AU 10.99 in their respective regions. And in cases where countries are "really being screwed by regional pricing" on new releases, he said GOG would do its best to convince publishers to offer something unique to those regions to make up for it.

Rambourg said GOG's initial announcement was "vague" because the policies aren't yet set in stone, so it's possible that the specifics or the pricing could change. Regardless of how it ultimately work out, he said the site will continue to push for DRM-free game releases, "attractive offers" on new games for users in the U.K., Europe and Australia, and fair local pricing on classic games across the board. He also invited users to post questions in the forum and said that he would do his best to answer them all tomorrow (February 26).

Source: GOG [http://www.gog.com/news/letter_from_the_md_about_regional_pricing]


Permalink

 

[Hadesshade]

As much as I do not like the shocking regional pricing that has occurred in my place of residence (I'm looking at you, Adobe, Apple and Microsoft), it's good to see that these levels of price are more along the lines of the exchange rates.
Also, although I don't know the validity of the reason, it's good to hear an excuse that's not a few lines of wormy spin that boil down to "We know we get away with it, so we will keep doing it."

 

[Tiamat666]

I always liked that I was billed in $ for GOG purchases. Normally game prices in Germany are translated from $ to ? 1 : 1, when on average it should be 1 : 0.75, so in Germany games cost 33% more than they do in the US.

 

[CriticalMiss]

GOG's classic game catalog will also be subject to regional pricing

Wait, I thought that this was only going to be for the new games that they said needed to be priced regionally not everything in their catalogue. Weirdly enough they have priced it so that games in the UK will be cheaper than the US price ($5.99 is currently £3.59) and exactly right for the $9.99 -> $5.99 ones. That must be a typo right? They can't actually be pricing things *gasp* fairly! Unless you're in the Eurozone in which case you're still paying more than the conversion rate Even Australia is getting a better price than you guys.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I do not see how lowering here and there and riaseing here and there is going to help budget you need more hands just to keep up with prices so its loss/loss IMO.

 

[1337mokro]

So the problem is that GOG is doing what every other store is doing... whilst still doing exactly what it has always been doing.

This people, is actual entitlement. Take note escapist and other games journalist. When you complain about a store, whose policy up until now had been to sell games using only the US$ price, allowing new titles that are not just indie developed titles, to price themselves according to regions, you are an entitled person.

The store owes you nothing and in fact would benefit you by staying in business, however to compete with other stores it requires new games, which publishers will not allow because of ONE of their rules. Your game is still DRM free and all that will change is that you pay the exact same price as everyone else in your country.

If you don't want to be an entitled person complain DIRECTLY to the ones responsible, namely the publishers about being money grubbing leeches, EA here's looking at you 60$ for a PC game. Don't complain to a store about the product they are selling when not only will they still continue doing what they have been doing so far for their existing catalogue AND part of the future catalogue, but their growth from selling new games like these might actually comeback to aid you when they gain some leverage with publishers due to a large customer base.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Before you say regional pricing bad, you should see the reason behind them and in many cases, many, it's international trade/tax laws. Why does GoG have to follow it? because china isn't the only country that can block access to sites on the national level.

Still doesn't explain why Aus and New Zealand get shafted on occasion.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Why blame GoG.. this is a factor of the publisher's decision and international trade laws. Gog has 2 choices; go along with it..or say no we don't want you're product on our shelves take it to our competitor.

Before you say regional pricing bad, you should see the reason behind them and in many cases, many, it's international trade/tax laws. Why does GoG have to follow it? because china isn't the only country that can block access to sites on the national level.

gotta agree with this, and the forums over at GoG are exploding, I read vehemently saying they will do everything they can to NOT support GoG and even go out of there way to NOT recommend them anymore and to download their library and then deactivate their account...I mean the fuck, you aren't required to buy the game, at all, it's 3 games out of the big ass library and they are NEW games where GoG is the small middle man, they can either choose not to sell it (and lose out on profits to competitors) or do what they are doing. I mean fuck, they are getting 3 new games drm free...that is a huge step in itself at the moment (sadly.)

 

[JarinArenos]

It's DRM free... so what's the legality of buying and downloading through a NA proxy, either digital or just an online acquaintance? It's not like the software itself is region-locked.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

So like Steam before it, I will only be purchasing games if they are on sale. Go Australia.

 

[Amaror]

So the problem is that GOG is doing what every other store is doing... whilst still doing exactly what it has always been doing.

This people, is actual entitlement. Take note escapist and other games journalist. When you complain about a store, whose policy up until now had been to sell games using only the US$ price, allowing new titles that are not just indie developed titles, to price themselves according to regions, you are an entitled person.

The store owes you nothing and in fact would benefit you by staying in business, however to compete with other stores it requires new games, which publishers will not allow because of ONE of their rules. Your game is still DRM free and all that will change is that you pay the exact same price as everyone else in your country.

If you don't want to be an entitled person complain DIRECTLY to the ones responsible, namely the publishers about being money grubbing leeches, EA here's looking at you 60$ for a PC game. Don't complain to a store about the product they are selling when not only will they still continue doing what they have been doing so far for their existing catalogue AND part of the future catalogue, but their growth from selling new games like these might actually comeback to aid you when they gain some leverage with publishers due to a large customer base.

I am just going to reply with the post i made in the other thread here on this issue.

Personally i just can't accept that they abandoned their principles. It's something i just don't have any respect for. I don't personally care about non - intrusive Drm, so the only reason i ever bought at GoG was, because they seemed like a good company. There are plenty of online shops offering steam keys, that are way cheaper than Gog and Steam itself offers way more convenience and Service than Gog. But i bought from Gog because they seemed like a company that has principles, holds true to this principles and does everything they can to treat their customers with respect.
And they just proved that that isn't true. So that's why i won't buy from GoG anymore.

 

[Geisterkarle]

Because I live in Germany, many things are more expensive than in the original country (Tiamat666 already said it). But because I understand English nearly perfectly I often look at the "originals". Just a few months back there was " special offer" from amazon.de for "The Big bang Theory - Season 1-6" for 59EUR. I looked at amazon.co.uk and there it was available (in English) for around 38EUR (including shipping!). You know what my move was...

So I'm interested to see, which titles are getting different pricing. Especially because I'm waiting for "Witcher 3" ...
On the other hand I'm still hoping that they won't pull the second "region based feature": Different release times! (wasn't it Australia, where you sometimes have to wait 3+ more month to get your hands on some games?)

 

[Kathinka]

in before everyone and their dog uses keystores, friends in the CIS area or proxies to buy from gog russia in the future

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Personally i just can't accept that they abandoned their principles. It's something i just don't have any respect for. I don't personally care about non - intrusive Drm, so the only reason i ever bought at GoG was, because they seemed like a good company. There are plenty of online shops offering steam keys, that are way cheaper than Gog and Steam itself offers way more convenience and Service than Gog. But i bought from Gog because they seemed like a company that has principles, holds true to this principles and does everything they can to treat their customers with respect.
And they just proved that that isn't true. So that's why i won't buy from GoG anymore.

Principles don't pay the bills

On a serious note; were any of their principles regarding regional pricing? I always thought DRM was their thing. They can't battle all the industries woes at once and stay in business.

 

[JayRPG]

I think the part that makes me worried is "...at recommended retail price...".

Aussies get shafted all the fucking time because of RRP.

The problem is that nothing in Australia, especially games and electronics, is sold at RRP in actual retail stores.

The RRP of the Samsung Galaxy S4 on release was $899, on release day Australia's largest telco (telstra) had them at a price of $872, JB HiFi ticket price was $824 etc etc

The only place in Australia that charges anywhere near the RRP on games is EBgames and forgive me if I don't want to pay $90-110 for a digital copy of a game just because the company that makes the game says that the RRP is $90-110.

Concordantly, the worst thing over all about RRP is that it never goddamn changes, the RRP for the Galaxy S4 is still $899 right at this very second, even though they can be purchased in retail for as low as $669; This is why 4 year old Call of Duty titles are still $89 on steam, because they never change the RRP.