Key Takeaways
1. Price Increase in Brazil: The pre-order price for the Ghost of Yotei Standard Edition in Brazil has risen from R$349,90 to R$399,90, causing concern among gamers.
2. Concerns Over Uniform Pricing: Sony appears to be moving towards uniform pricing across regions, which could lead to higher prices for PS5 games globally.
3. Impact on Brazilian Gamers: The rising costs make gaming less accessible in Brazil, where the average salary is lower compared to the US and Europe.
4. Shift Towards Digital Gaming: As physical game discs become less common, Brazilian gamers may need to seek deals or rely on second-hand copies.
5. Global Trend of Higher Game Prices: The trend of $80 games is growing, with other companies like Nintendo and Microsoft also increasing their prices for first-party titles.
Gamers have just found out the pre-order prices for the Ghost of Yotei Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition. Most fans around the world weren’t caught off guard by these figures, except for those in Brazil. The PlayStation Blog had earlier stated that the Standard Edition would be priced at R$349,90, but it’s now R$399,90. When converted from Brazilian real, this new price is about 70 US dollars. This has raised worries that the cost of PS5 games might rise in other areas too.
Rising Prices for Upcoming Titles
Another upcoming first-party PS5 game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is also seeing a price hike. It seems like Sony could be moving away from regional pricing, aiming for uniform costs across different nations. However, this change doesn’t offer much reassurance to gamers in Brazil. The average salary in the country is significantly lower compared to the US or many European nations. With the increasing prices of PS5 games, gaming is becoming less accessible to Brazil’s large population of over 211 million.
Brazil’s Unique Position
Up until now, Brazil has managed to avoid the recent price hikes on PS5 consoles that have hit Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, PlayStation Plus subscriptions are pricier throughout Latin America. Following Xbox’s decision to raise the MSRP for its consoles and first-party titles, Sony might take similar actions in more regions.
Some retailers in Brazil are providing coupons for the physical version of Ghost of Yotei. Nevertheless, as digital gaming becomes more prevalent, physical discs are becoming less common. For the time being, Brazilian gamers might need to search for deals or wait for second-hand copies of the Ghost of Tsushima sequel to pop up.
The Global Shift Towards Higher Prices
The reality of $80 games is becoming a global trend. Nintendo has already established this with its $80 Mario Kart World title. Microsoft has also recently announced that its first-party games will be priced higher. It’s likely that PS5 games and consoles won’t stay free from tariffs and shifting economic circumstances for much longer.
Source:
Link
