I've read on several sites that it'll be 249€ in Europe which is $366. How the hell do they justify that? That is 50% more expensive and makes no sense at all.

Hasn't europe been more then the US on all console prices or am I crazy?

Only thing I can tell you is to vote with your money man.

It's always like that...

I've read on several sites that it'll be 249€ in Europe which is $366.

@mnzy said:

I've read on several sites that it'll be 249€ in Europe which is $366. How the hell do they justify that? That is 50% more expensive and makes no sense at all.

It's a long running system when it comes to video games in Europe, it's a very elegant and logical system I've come to call 'We get screwed'.

they don't have to, its this way with everything. just don´t buy the damn thing and hope they stop with the bullshit.

Wow that's fucked up. I like how, if this is true, their pricing system for Europe was "keep the numbers the same but change the dollars to pounds at a one for one ratio"

Its been this way for like - ever, and it sucks

Ok so like with PSP I will import form Japan.  Companies love getting money from us Europeans too much.

Here in the UK I hope it is like the 3DS pricing. Where retailers started at £230 and it gradually went down to under £200.

When the PS3 launched in Norway it cost  $1,100.

I live in a small random country in Europe, and I can't imagine them selling it here for anything less than 600$

Sony Vita: $249/$299 with €1 = $1 and Y100 = $1.

So they actually costs to international customers:

$310/$375 in Japan &

$365/$440 in Europe.

UK speculation for £235 is $385 for the wifi only low end. Even if we cut back that VAT (UK sales tax added to all retail prices on the price tag) and convert that's still $320 so more than the 3G version of the US release, after removing the taxation differences.

My understanding is all US games retail at $60 which is currently £44 when converted with VAT to the UK and the publishers have repeatedly found that £45 doesn't work as a retail price for games when you're looking beyond the hardcore first-adopters in the initial year of hardware release (over here). So why do the consumers not wise up to hardware gouging? Is the UK just a nation of hardcore gamers who buy lots of games and so end up ahead or are we just used to paying over the odds for hardware, resisting the razorblade financial model somewhat?

For context a new AAA release will be £30-35 on consoles (£18-25 with a few £30 outliers on PC, for example my current Skyrim pre-order is £22 on the PC) and when you drop the sales tax and convert that's $41-48 ($25-35 for PC) when it comes out in the UK. The SRP is £35 and maybe even £40 but on the streets and online the retailers can't get away without giving some discounts. In the very first year of a console's lifetime the SRP is £45-50 and some retailers will charge full whack but they prices quickly erode back to that £30-35 sweet spot.

Sales prices for games regularly drop to the £10-15 or £15-20 zone within a few months (maybe a year for really strong titles) of release so that's around the $15/20/27 price (once you cut off sales tax).

I suspect the attach ratio in the UK (it isn't pan-European that games are sold cheap) is higher than the global average.

This is the same reason why I rarely ever buy games on Steam. It's fucking stupid.

to correct my earlier statement, ps2 was 1250 guilders, ps3 was 700 €  that is $1014.16

@Shivoa: it's actually a lot simpler than all of that. The core rule of something is only worth what people will pay for it. They charge £40 for new games because people will pay £40. I know i will, have, and probably will continue to do so.

@mnzy said:

I've read on several sites that it'll be 249€ in Europe which is $366.

And that's the cheap model. The $300 3G model will cost £300, which is $439.  I hope it's completely region-free like the PS3 and the PSP so I can import, because I sure as hell ain't paying that much.

This is not really news, a new console game in Sweden is $110. And I bought the 360 when it was new for $500.

If it's going to be $1=10SEK as it usually is here in Sweden that would mean about $400 for the base model since the dollar isn't worth much more than 6SEK right now. That's just the way it is. At least we don't have to pay thousands of dollars for a broken leg as you would in the US and we get free school launches and textbooks and free collage/university. In the grand scheme of things while food and merchandise is cheaper in the US we pay less for other stuff in Europe so it balances out.

@Heltom92: doubt it since this is the recommended price from sony

Try being a European fan of Atlus. It's impossible

Pretty much all electronics are more expensive in Europe than they are in the USA. But then again, in Ireland at least, our minimum wage is a little over $11.20 (down from around $12.70 since February this year), compared to around $7.25 (give or take depending on which state you're in) in the USA, so that probably evens things out a bit, particularly considering the age groups that buy games. Also everything that dagas mentioned above factors into the balance.

Well the 3DS started retailing in the UK for £230 but I was looking at Game's website yesterday and they were selling black 3DS's for £160. We can only hope the same thing happens to the PSV.

Well, in Australia new games retail from $89 to $109, despite the AUS $ being higher in value currently than the US one.

Local retailers don't seem to justify that... that said, i always now import. Why would i want to pay $109 for LA Noire when i can get it for $60 with a $20 bonus amazon credit (which basically pays for the shipping)

Import import import!

i bought ps3 new for 600 euro

I remember the days of PS2 being 2000$ in here. And the best part is now after great economic growth average income is 1000$ - all the taxes so it goes down to 850$. Its effed up for country like Poland cuz we have to pay EU prices for stuff while getting pay closer to China than Europe. And that damn 23% tax kills everthing.

@KillswitchNL83: It's a great site. Been a member in their Steam group for a long time. These days I rarely buy anything on Steam unless it's on sale or if it's <€10. I just use G2play or D2D.

Yes, it sucks. Part of it can be explained by taxes, but a lot of it is just because they can.

I don't know why this surprises you though since it's pretty much standard operating practice for tech companies. If I ever buy one I'll probably import it. Even with added import tax (and there's a good chance you don't even have to pay it) it's well cheaper. And I import most games anyway if they regionlock the thing.

I always felt bad that Europe gets the raw end of the deal when it comes to prices. CUT THEM SOME SLACK!

The difference to the past is the exchange rate, though. It's barely been that high if I'm correct. This is not how currencies work, gaming companies!

If I were still living over there- I'd import a US Vita and pirate everything. Seriously.

vote with your money

I've read on several sites that it'll be 249€ in Europe which is $366. How the hell do they justify that? That is 50% more expensive and makes no sense at all.

Was sickened when I saw the price of it, definitly not gonna pay 250 euros for it. Shame as it is a nice looking piece of kit.

Thats one expensive drink.  
 

"And we're proud to announce that last year, we sold more than FIVE consoles in Europe".

how much was a nintendo wii over there? im courious lol , id be mad to pay 300 for that or 1000 for a ps3 lol it seams europe gets screwed more then ever , but hey we do to in the usa ,, join the club , we may have cheap prices but we get screwe in other areas for example , japan got fzero climax we did not japan got a n64dd we did not , and every time i hear of a japan exclusive color --- blue /red ps3 any one , i get really mad , i wanted a different color ps3 since god knows when and we never recieve any other then white or black or some off grey ,,

in my opinion no matter what system japan gets the better end of the stick!