Looks like $1 = €1 after all

[Fazer2]

Previously we had a price x $ + 22% VAT.
Currently we have a price x € with VAT already included.

So it means 1,22 $ = 1 €

THIS IS SO WRONG, VALVE. I sincerely hope you will fix this mess.

[catofong]

Looks like Valve thinks their European customers are complete morons, and fun to rip off. Or then this is some weird experiment from their part. You won't be seeing my money anymore Valve. And maybe good anyway, I'll just get a smaller shock the day Steam finally closes and all my games are lost forever.

Boycott Steam.

[Nomadski]

This topic is hilarious. You are bashing Valve because other publishers on Steam didn't updated the prices yet.

Valve already fixed them... Valve Complete Pack:

EUR: 89,99€
USA: 99,99$ * 1.2 (VAT) * 0.75 (USDtoEUR) = 89.99€

SAME PRICE?!!?!11!? FECK U VALVE!!!1!!11

Just wait for the other publishers to fix their prices... they will fix them if you don't buy.

Some people are paying upwards of 51% MORE for a non physical download.

Some people are paying in Euros who are NOT EVEN IN THE EC. Polish or Swedish people for example are having their price passed through exchange rates twice for instance, again upping the price.

In the UK I can purchase Far Cry 2 for £17.99 (Play.co.uk) whereas on Steam it is £32.99.

Steam was touted as cutting the middle men out and keeping prices low as the publishers werent screwing us. Now its Valve screwing us.

The European (inc UK) market for Steam is going to die a death at this rate, people do vote with their wallets y'know.

Anyway, go back to sticking your head in the sand, nothing to see here.

[LordCiego]

Previously we had a price x $ + 22% VAT.
Currently we have a price x € with VAT already included.


In my country it was x $ + 16% VAT so current prices are even more expensive in my country that in yours.

[LaDeX]

Steam prices were higher on some games even before this but now they are really high.
GTA 4 for example was 49,99$. 22% VAT and conversion to euros gives us 46,35€. Now it costs 49,99€. I bought it from local retailer and paid only 39€. That's 11€ less and I got the box, dvd, manual and map/poster. Plus I can play the game when Steam or internet connection is down.
Older games (cs:s etc) were usually 2-10€ cheaper in steam. Now they cost the same as in store or more.

Not like this Valve...

[Kaiser Soze]

Well, In spain is 16% VAT.

so in spain they are making $1.16= 1 €

Let me check google...
1€ = $1.452.
thats..25% of overprice.
And no Valve, change 50$ for 45€ is not even close to the real change rate you should have done. Talking about L4D, for instance, because TF2 for instance is 20€, while in stores in Spain is between 10-20€ depending on the time you want to spend searching.

I used to buy in steam because it was cheaper than stores, so I compensate the lack of manuals and boxes for money.

now its over. At best steam is equal to retail stores. and usually is even more expensive for a worse product.

Here it is a more than 30 steam games owner that will not buy anything except a few indie and cheap games, but only after I would have check that I couldn't buy them in $ to the original developers.

I will just use steam as game (not store) platform. and also for advertisement of products that I will buy elsewhere.

[MortalC]

This topic is hilarious. You are bashing Valve because other publishers on Steam didn't updated the prices yet.

Valve already fixed them... Valve Complete Pack:

EUR: 89,99€
USA: 99,99$ * 1.2 (VAT) * 0.75 (USDtoEUR) = 89.99€

SAME PRICE?!!?!11!? FECK U VALVE!!!1!!11

Just wait for the other publishers to fix their prices... they will fix them if you don't buy.

Wtf are you talking about Valve haven’t updated their prices (http://store.steampowered.com/publisher/Valve/), they are exactly the same as before for 90% of the games… and the ones they did update are also more expensive then before.. so go away

[sartek]

i'm 100% that valve will correct the prices.

if not i'll not "**** valve" "**** steam" because their great games.

when you say nasty words please remember the weekend offers, like tf2 for $9.99.

and remember how much money you spend on d****s, c*******e, d***s and such

i'm not saying that i'm sponsoring this, but i understand this if it's related to the economic crisis, look how many companies are in BIG trouble!

i dont want to loose valve!

[MrPlus]

No more dollars ? No more buy.

[FredWP]

i'm 100% that valve will correct the prices.

if not i'll not "**** valve" "**** steam" because their great games.

when you say nasty words please remember the weekend offers, like tf2 for $9.99.

and remember how much money you spend on d****s, c*******e, d***s and such

i'm not saying that i'm sponsoring this, but i understand this if it's related to the economic crisis, look how many companies are in BIG trouble!

i dont want to loose valve!

Global economic crisis means everyone. Right now European citizens pay a lot more than US citizens, so you can count that idea out.

[DasMatze]

Seems like I never gonna buy anything again at steam. THX a lot Valve, for this great christmas present!

[bebrazz]

(Lithuania)
49,99 US$ = 120,63 LTL
49,99 € = 173,22 LTL

nice valve

[FidelCastrol]

Do they even monitor what's going on here ?

[jan1024188]

♥♥♥♥ you Valve, Never buying on steam again! Just lost another valued customer, spending $100/mo for games! (I do buy games to friends as well, but now I cannot, since I have no euros).

[leto42]

Dear Valve, you have lost another european customer today. Nothing more to tell, Steam is no longer "cheaper" than a normal retailer for europeans, so why using Steam ?

[bymytouch]

Part of the problem is 90% of the countries complaining here are part of the euro. so as the euro gets stronger, your going to be paying more in theory. and if your country hasn't switched full to the euro yet, and your in Europe, and your currency is less then the euro then ur gonna get shafted even more.

I do not expect valve to keep adjusting the European currency
every week to suit inflation or euro exchange,

It's times like this i'm so happy that being British doesn't mean i'm stuck in the Euro currency ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. our whole country nearly came to a stand still when our government even thought about turning Euro!

Im sure guys that valve, will in time, add your countries currency..
whoever thought of the euro was a complete ♥♥♥♥in idiot and for the countries
that thought what a good idea will pay out there ♥♥♥ as there econemy gets worse. the euro will fail

[TZer0]

Do they even monitor what's going on here ?

I hope so.

[Sgt.Kokken]

I'm sure that valve is does know the difference between $ and £, but its Christmas and they need to sell some games, because of the economical crisis (I guess).
My guess is that prices wont be regulated before January, but still..... Valve, Europeans are also under economical crisis and we don't have more money that you do. :rolleyes:

I have been member of steam since the day you launched the service and I can't get rid of the feeling being screwed in some way. :mad:

Please correct the pricing or face the fact that many Europeans will abandon steam or the steamstore...

Merry Christmas.... and take a happy new year with ya... now when I think of it

Regards

A slightly unsatisfied non-American steam customer
(Denmark)

[FredWP]

I'm sure that valve is does know the difference between $ and £, but its Christmas and they need to sell some games, because of the economical crisis (I guess).
My guess is that prices wont be regulated before January, but still..... Valve, Europeans are also under economical crisis and we don't have more money that you do. :rolleyes:

...

Global economic crisis means everyone. Right now European citizens pay a lot more than US citizens, so you can count that idea out.

10char10char

[Vinas]

Or you could use paypal... :D

[G4tsu.P]

I wasn't buying game anymore except on steam, now there's no more exception... Counter Strike is enough for me. You [Steam] chose that dirty way like the others, so die with the others ********.

[KubanitoS]

I live in Hungary. It is a small and poor country, most of the foreign people usually don't even know what Hungary is, not to mention americans and maybe Valve too. This 1$=1€ is NONSENSE.

We have Hungarian Forint for money. Currently 1 Dollar = 183 HUF, and 1 Euro = 270 HUF. Not to mention the 20% VAT we have here...

Okay, lets say I want to buy COD5 using Steam, it is 49.99€ + 10€ for VAT. That is 60€ = 16.200 HUF. If the price was in dollar: 60$ = 10.980 HUF

Here is a hungarian RETAIL link: http://cdgalaxis.hu/PC/15873/call-of-duty-5-world-at-war.html

As you can see the retail version is 33% cheaper than Steam and I get a nice box with manual and the game physically.

I am absolutely sure Steam and Valve will loose a lot of buyers not only in Hungary, but in a lot of countries in Europe.

[Vinas]

Can you use paypal in your local currency?

[KrixBOI]

GTA4 in Norway

399NOK (Retail)
$49,99 = 331,22NOK (What I paid on steam before)
49,99€ = 478,02NOK
If I bought GTA4 today: $72,14

Either give me the pice in NOK or
give me my $ back, i'm not using €:
http://store.steampowered.com/news/2110/

[cassimk]

too bad that i'm not going to buy on steam store anymore... too bad...

[Pitel]

What's the point of using PayPal (which I do, anyway)? I can choose currency to pay when I use PP?

[MortalC]

i'm 100% that valve will correct the prices.

if not i'll not "**** valve" "**** steam" because their great games.

when you say nasty words please remember the weekend offers, like tf2 for $9.99.

and remember how much money you spend on d****s, c*******e, d***s and such

i'm not saying that i'm sponsoring this, but i understand this if it's related to the economic crisis, look how many companies are in BIG trouble!

i dont want to loose valve!

You’re the smart one aren’t you? So Europe should pay extra while everyone else gets off the hock? You do know that Europe got hit just as everyone else right? When you’re in a financial crises that means a lot of people gets less money, when people gets less money you lower the prices to reflect the market so that people continue to buy you’re products. If people stop buying you’re products or go to other stores you will be out of business rather fast…

[KubanitoS]

Can you use paypal in your local currency?

Nah, Paypal doesn't know either what Hungary is. :P It makes hungarian currency to Euro, using worse changing numbers, so the game will probably be more expensive.

[Crembo]

Lol.. Great way of ruining Steam! :D Just awesome. I rather pay a little bit more and get the physical box then pay this price and get only digital.

Well, no more buys from Steam for me :)

[Greedo90]

When you go to the checkout price in € says VAT is included, while using $ VAT was not included but added right before payment.

[Yaskael]

Well, I'll just go and use a proxy to circumvent this change and VAT and then laugh at Valve, or then I'll just stop buying games altogether. With these prices, Valve is not getting mine or my clanmates money.

[kka-team-hills]

Steam Spiele Kauf ist vergangenheit
Vielen Danke Valve ab sofort gibt es keinen Grund mehr für mich ein Spiel über Steam zu kaufen.

Der Vorteil den ich bis jetzt hatte ist dahin, Spiele bei Steam waren immer Günstiger als im Laden, jetzt sind sie Teurer bzw überteuert und haben weiterhin den nachteil das man kein Handbuch und keine DVD hat und das man das Spiel nicht wieder Verkaufen kann.

Thx Valve für die mithilfe meiner Entscheidung bei euch keine Spiele mehr zu kaufen.

War klar das wir Europäer mal wieder die gearschten sind.

Danke Valve
Ich hoffe das jetzt alle in Europa euch meiden werden, und sich wieder Spiele im Laden kaufen.

Hab mich so auf HL2:EP3 gefreut welches ich mir wieder über Steam kaufen wollte, was ich jetzt sein lassen werde.

Hm ob sich das für euch Rechnet die Preiserhöhung hier, und den nicht verkauf über Steam?

Tja wird wohl EA hinter stecken.

Danke Valve

Cu Valve Rip Steam als Kaufplattform.

Cu Hills (ehemaliger Steam Games käufer)

[stranded]

Crembo
I rather pay a little bit more and get the physical box then pay this price and get only digital.

No you wouldn't, because boxed games are currently CHEAPER than on Steam.

Greedo90
When you go to the checkout price in € says VAT is included, while using $ VAT was not included but added right before payment.

Which still makes USD+VAT cheaper than EURO without VAT.

[Greedo90]

When you go to the checkout price in € says VAT is included, while using $ VAT was not included but added right before payment.

Using the rate at the moment $ compared € with VAT included is nearly the same... So only reason the dollar price seems cheaper, is because the "on the shelf" price doesnt include VAT. But It will be added.

[Shaeil]

Lol.. Great way of ruining Steam! :D Just awesome. I rather pay a little bit more and get the physical box then pay this price and get only digital.

Well, no more buys from Steam for me :)

And as it now stands, don't you mean you pay little less and get the physical box? ;)

[Greedo90]

Crembo


No you wouldn't, because boxed games are currently CHEAPER than on Steam.

Greedo90


Which still makes USD+VAT cheaper than EURO without VAT.

Yes but only a little were talking about just about 1€ so no biggie.

[stranded]

Steam Spiele Kauf ist vergangenheit
Vielen Danke Valve ab sofort gibt es keinen Grund mehr für mich ein Spiel über Steam zu kaufen.

Der Vorteil den ich bis jetzt hatte ist dahin, Spiele bei Steam waren immer Günstiger als im Laden, jetzt sind sie Teurer bzw überteuert und haben weiterhin den nachteil das man kein Handbuch und keine DVD hat und das man das Spiel nicht wieder Verkaufen kann.

Thx Valve für die mithilfe meiner Entscheidung bei euch keine Spiele mehr zu kaufen.

War klar das wir Europäer mal wieder die gearschten sind.

Danke Valve
Ich hoffe das jetzt alle in Europa euch meiden werden, und sich wieder Spiele im Laden kaufen.

Hab mich so auf HL2:EP3 gefreut welches ich mir wieder über Steam kaufen wollte, was ich jetzt sein lassen werde.

Hm ob sich das für euch Rechnet die Preiserhöhung hier, und den nicht verkauf über Steam?

Tja wird wohl EA hinter stecken.

Danke Valve

Cu Valve Rip Steam als Kaufplattform.

Cu Hills (ehemaliger Steam Games käufer)

English:
Steam games purchase is past
Thanks to Valve from now, there is no more reason for me a game via Steam to buy.

The advantage I had until now is asking for Steam games were always Cheaper than in the shop, now they are Expensive or overpriced and still have the disadvantage that there is no manual and no DVD, and the one the game can not re-sell.

Thx Valve for using my decision with you no more games to buy.

It was clear that once again we Europeans are the gearschten.

Thank you Valve
I hope that now everyone in Europe will shun you, and again in the games shop.

I did so on HL2: EP3 which pleased me again via Steam wanted to buy what I will now leave.

Hm whether it is for you Excluding the increase here, and not sell via Steam?

Well EA is probably stuck behind.

Thank you Valve

Cu Rip Steam as ValveKing purchase platform.

Copper Hills (former buyer Steam Games)

[fakiyo]

I'm a huge fan of Valvegames, but I won't buy anything for those prices.
I will still buy them for the cheapest price I can get (import retail), but I already heard a lot of voices that seem to go illegal now, which is imo a shame for you.

Valve, don't get like EA and shove your customers away. I would reset the prices to usual asap. We all want you to get money for your great games, but fooling your customers is NOT the way.

Goodbye Steamstore, and hi importversions which get me a retail box, original and shipment for over 30% cheaper than steamstore.

[futari]

I was thinking of buying the ID super pack among other games, but with the euro pricing I will have to hold it off indefinitely~
euro is not the same as dollar, I'm fine with this change though if the USA changes it's official currency to the euro 0_0

[Ghz]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase.

[Greedo90]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase. Exactly what I have been saying to everybody... :D

[bb10]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were

That's exactly the problem. They shouldn't be, € =/= $ and the tax doesn't make up for that difference.

[Crembo]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase.

What? Since when 1$ equals 1€?

[stranded]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase.

USD with VAT is 15%-30% cheaper than EURO without VAT

Get it now genius?

[Shadout]

I really like Steam, and have bought the majority of my games here for some years, but this is going to change it.
I can pretty much accept paying the same price for a download as for retail, because I prefer the downloaded version (so much easier imo), but paying a very high premium just to use Steam is too much to make it acceptable anymore.

Beside, Euro isnt my local currency anyway.

[KubanitoS]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase.

Valve will survive this ♥♥♥♥ because of ppl like you... Think and count before writing ♥♥♥♥. No offense ofc.

[Crembo]

I really like Steam, and have bought the majority of my games here for some years, but this is going to change it.
I can pretty much accept paying the same price for a download as for retail, because I prefer the downloaded version (so much easier imo), but paying a very high premium just to use Steam is too much to make it acceptable anymore.

Beside, Euro isnt my local currency anyway.

Same. Euro is not my local currency either.

[Pitel]

Not so true about VAT included. Last game I purchased was Audiosurf, for 10 USD. When I look at my bank account, it was 243 CZK. But, when I use Google to convert 10 EUR to CZK, its 264 CZK, and it doesn't include transaction and conversion fee from my bank!

[DrBreen]

I hope valve loses sales, they deserve it because of this.

And i obviously see it coming

[RuySan]

Um, what are you guys talking about? The prices are the same as they always were, its just now they are displayed in your local currency (very convenient imo) and the hidden tax is now visibly added to the store price, instead of being displayed when you click purchase.

no they're not, ♥♥♥♥.

[Ghz]

Maybe the euro has been screwed but the pound is ok? I can only see the £ prices, but they are perfectly fine. Infact, L4D is now cheaper than when I bought it on the dollar.

[TZer0]

I feel that if VALVe actually considers what they are doing.. and reduce the prices back to normal or down to UK-levels.. people will be rushing to buy everything they want.

[Crembo]

...Nobody is talking about pounds. We're talking about euros. We know that for the UK everything is fine. But you know , UK is no the only country in Europe. >_>

[Pygmalion]

Yeah, last thing i bought was L4D.
Won´t be buying games over steam until valve gets their currency calculations right. Well i honestly don´t care, either way. Its their choice what prices they ask, and its my choice where i buy my stuff. So no change really. Couldn´t care less about the whole deal...

[Ghz]

In that case, I lol @ you (europeans).

[dammskog]

In that case, I lol @ you (europeans).

well, when being laughed at by some raterd there is no need to feel offended...

[RuySan]

i just checked, and 1£=1.06€

If they had to simplify something, it would have been more logical to put the "same" princes between UK and Europe. But no! that would have been fair prices and having respect for the consumer.

Just for the record, Civ IV Complete is 13€ at Play.com and 50€ at Steam.

[PeterGriffin278]

That's no more Steam for me.

I admit it: I mostly bought from Steam because of the low USD.

In general I prefer to own the hardcopy of the game, but the low prices compensated for that.
They also compensated for the lack of support (Top Spin 2 still doesn't work) and, even more important, the missing possibility to sell used games.
Besides that, a lot of the games on Steam are cheaper at my local game store now.

Well, goodbye Steam.

[Maledictus010]

No european games sites seem to have picked this up yet (eurogamer.net being a popular and big one) so i've submitted this situation as a news submission to eurogamer, seemed important enough. Let's hope this helps the cause.

[Pygmalion]

i just checked, and 1£=1.06€

If they had to simplify something, it would have been more logical to put the "same" princes between UK and Europe. But no! that would have been fair prices and having respect for the consumer.

Just for the record, Civ IV Complete is 13€ at Play.com and 50€ at Steam.

Hahahhaha, awesome.

[_ID_]

It was good now the party is over.

So long...

[Akiha]

Yes but only a little were talking about just about 1€ so no biggie.
It is not "just about 1€".

Valve complete pack (~adjusted price, but not enough):
-US price: 99,99 USD, with 25% VAT: 85,56€
-EU price: 89,99 EUR
Difference: 4,43€ (+5,2%)

Grand Theft Auto IV:
-US price: 49,99 USD, with 25% VAT: 42.77€
-EU price: 49,99 EUR
Difference: 7,22€ (+16,8%)

World of Goo:
-US price: 19,99 USD, with 25% VAT: 17,11€
-EU price: 19,99 EUR
Difference: 2,88€ (+16,8%)

i-Fluid:
-US price: 9,99 USD, with 25% VAT: 8,54€
-EU price: 9,99 EUR
Difference: 1,45€ (+16,8%)

Only instance where the difference is "just 1€" is a game that costs like <5 USD/EUR, and there isn't a whole lot of those. These differences are bigger for most people since not all countries have 25% VAT, some have lower, thus much higher difference against Steam.

[Sir_Parkinglot]

I cant belive this ♥♥♥♥! Suddenly all games are almost 50% more expensive.. i guess i will have to go back to buying games retail until they fix this:mad:

[sakkoman]

When i read this i cried a bit inside of my self, FOOLISH move, the best thing about steam was cheap games, good anti piracy systeam, good download speed and awsome community, this was a nail in the toe for you guys, this almost dubbled the prices in the stores with today's currency so I will not buy these overpriced games anymore, hope you will listen to your fanbase and the people that makes steam the great thing it is

Sakarias

[Simplex]

If you have a friend in the States who has steam, ask him to buy you the game as a gift and then give him money back by paypal. Unless Valve blocks this somehow.
I also wonder how exactly does steam detects what prices you eligible for - I have a friend from USA who lives in my country (in Europe) and has his American credit card here. I wonder which currency he would be able to use if he set up an account while begin physically in Europe.

[Red Von Hammer]

My buddy`s account was stolen, by the time steam got it back, the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ that stole it had made sure that he hacked online in every damn game on my buddys account, making almost all his games unplayable. And Valve said they couldnt do anything about it because they had nothing to do with the anti cheating things. COMPLETE BULL♥♥♥♥!
Hackers everywhere on steam are regularily stealing other folks account but steam aint doing ♥♥♥♥ about that (The same ♥♥♥♥er that tried to steal my account, has been trying to contact me several times, AFTER I warned steam about him, so I guess that makes him wanted amongst steams ranks, BUT NOT MY BUDDY???)

That plus I could never buy Medieval 2 from steam (edit:) Just because I live in Norway..

I also was checking for CoDWaW on steam on release day, but NOOO, it gets released on steam 1 week after I got the hard copy in the mail but at almost 2 times the price... way to go...

And now this scam??

I can now certainly understand several people`s sceptisism for buying digital products, if theres such a thing as uniting your customers and shove them away at the same time, these people certainly did... BIG TIME.

Truthfully, after my buddys account was stroked off of valves VAC (WACKY???) List, I was thinking I wasnt going to pay for another game on steam or from valve in general if they screwed the bulk of their customers again, I went back on that, but now after seeing this, I certainly took up on that vow again! Whether this is a mistake or intentional, I do not care, in either case, Valve has screwed up too much for me to trust my money in them yet again..

And with this, it will be the last Valve sees of my NOK`s.. I`m turning to play.com


Norway

RvH

[stranded]

See this one:

http://www.gamecyte.com/learn-math-with-steams-new-europe-prices

[Nero_]

This is why I voted to not join the EU (we did anyway) but luckily we kept our money and didn't switch to the Euro. I hate that Europe (expect UK) is seen as one country almost, but that's politics and doesn't belong here. Anyway, it won't change much here since I didn't buy many new big titles via Steam anyway but the prices are indeed worse.

[Clanrat]

I don't really see why they needed to beta this really, all they did was changing every $ to €

[FredWP]

This is why I voted to not join the EU (we did anyway) but luckily we kept our money and didn't switch to the Euro. I hate that Europe (expect UK) is seen as one country almost, but that's politics and doesn't belong here. Anyway, it won't change much here since I didn't buy many new big titles via Steam anyway but the prices are indeed worse.

All European countries (not all countries that use the currency) are forced to use this currency on Steam.

[hahahafr]

I would just say one thing : give us back the choice to choose between the local currency and the default dollars currency.
I don't ever understand why you did that unbelievable stupid thing.
Until you change the currency to the dollar, you won't get European purchase anymore.
Edit : I just realized how ♥♥♥♥ed we are. Thanks Valve Corp.

[gerwim]

Yup, I totally agree. This is just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Now, it's cheaper to buy retail games, and you have a disc aswell.. Farewell Steam, not going to buy any of the games anymore.

[Nebby]

I am still waiting for an official explanation for this huge rip-off but I think this will never happen.

[dammskog]

team fortress 2 old price with VAT 24,988 USD
team fortress 2 new europrice VAT included converted to USD 28,954 USD
difference 4 USD
even with their own games, which they could have adjusted, they are ripping us off

[Gaarulf]

Why do I have to pay twice as much as before?

Valve, stop being dumb - change back!

[gerwim]

VALVe just epic phails. Really, they are losing money now (if that's the reason they changed). I loved steam, really I did. But now, please it's the last thing I check for buying games.

THIS FOULISH ACTION HAS TO BE REVERSED! And that's not only my opinion. Which you should know by now already.

FAIL!

[Nero_]

All European countries (not all countries that use the currency) are forced to use this currency on Steam.

Yes I know, I see them in Euro even though my country doesn't use the Euro.

[Quick]

Well in my country now games are more expensive... I better would buy games with dollars not with euro... In my country 1 dollar cost = 0.50 (I will say cents) and 1 euro = 0.70 (cents) and I think that is big difference now...

Now I have to go buy some steam games in stores that will be cheaper for me...

[ZeroTheHero]

Valve, the IKEA of gaming.

Yesterday GTA4 = 49,99$ (roughly 35.02 €)
Today GTA4 = 49,99 €

You suck.

[2g4u|Fear]

WHAT THE ♥♥♥♥ ?!

VALVE IS ♥♥♥♥ING MOTHER♥♥♥♥ERS !! BAN THEM :D !!I CALL TO POLICE AND TELL EVERYTHING ! ♥♥♥♥ING BANDITS !

[Cyberpilot]

I live in Switzerland and we are not a part of europe, and have almost nothing to do with it apart from the fact that we refused to join it. We do not have the same currency, or politics. I dont see why you would force one currency over another apone your clients, its unfair. It is more costly for me to buy euros then to buy dollars, even if the prices were equal. Please fix this, or I might be forced to take my buisness elsewere.

[Kosire]

This is soo lame, let us choose what to pay as! And why the hell do danish people have to pay eith £ when we normally pay with DKK... Change back to $!

[hahahafr]

Discuss, Europeans only I guess

And imho, the first post isn't explicit enough. There isn't anything to discuss, we are ♥♥♥♥ed.
And what do the Europeans cash cows when they feel ♥♥♥♥ed ? They just go away, with their money.
Valve Corp. made here their biggest mistake.

[CoffeeCup]

Goodbye Steam.
It was good while it lasted but 1 EURO is NOT 1 Dollar.
Looks like its back to aquiring the cheaper games by other means again.
Im not gonna pay store prices for games on steam, thats defeats the whole meaning of digital delivery.

[2g4u|Fear]

Look at my Country i live in Poland
And for me for example game costs 50 $ it`s ok that for me about 150 zł , but in euro 50 is about 220 zł !!!! :|

[AccessGranted]

For everyone new to this thread:

Steam Community Group against Valve's new price politics for Europe:

1€ ≠ 1$ (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/1e1us)

Open for everyone. Please join.

[CoffeeCup]

SAY NO TO THE EURO ON STEAM (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/EuroNOTHANKS)

I have created a group that oposes this latest decision by Valve.
Please join it if you want to show valve that you disagree!

Its open to everyone, please join.

[WILDCORE]

Like I said in the beta thread:

If that prices are true, I buy elsewhere.

Retail is still an option and maybe the upcoming GfW LIVE Shop does a better Job in Europe.

[Adradis]

CoffeeCup: You broke the link.

Here is the fixed link (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/1e1us)

[The_Apeking]

I don't understand why everyone is blaming VALVe for this.First, they don't get money from the sold games of other companies, they just get paid for offering them on Steam, so they don't really get that much money more.Second, it probably wasn't their decision, since they only control the pricing of their own games.Third, I guess this isn't a surprise since so many want equal pricing on Steam, now after a months of cheap prices because of the weak USD and paying way less than other countries everyone is crying because now they are supposed to pay more.

[2g4u|Fear]

I wish i can shoot Valve Headshot
Go away with yours stupid expensive game`s

[CoffeeCup]

CoffeeCup: You broke the link.

Here is the fixed link (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/1e1us)

cheers.
...

[azraeel101]

Welp, there go my future Steam purchases. Funny thing is, I actually stopped pirating games because of the convenience Steam gave me. This convenience is not worth THAT much, though.

Yea, me too, I used to pirate everything but then I started buying from steam (since retail here doesn't distribute anything but the AAA games) and I didn't pirate a game since. Now I own around 50 games on steam.. Well, looks like I'll start buying retail (I'll order from UK) since it's way cheaper there.
I'll only buy from steam when there are big deals like 50% or 75% off.

[faugusztin]

Left 4 Dead. Using exchange rates from http://www.ecb.int/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/index.en.html :
UK (http://store.steampowered.com/app/500/?cc=UK) : £26.99 x 1/0.95090 = 28.38€ including VAT
US (http://store.steampowered.com/app/500/?cc=US) : $49.99 + 19% VAT = $59.4881 x 1/1.4616 = 40.7€ including VAT
EU (http://store.steampowered.com/app/500/?cc=SK) : 44,99€ including VAT

So, why do UK have much more cheaper price than EU, on other side EU pays even more extra than US ? But maybe this is too complicated math for someone...

[RaYden]

This sux, no more buying stuff on steam ... the prices are terrible now with this $ to € "conversion"
I really hope valve tries to sort thing out

@The_Apeking yes they do, I'm pretty sure the producers did NOT agree to a change of price from ex: 30$ to 30€. This is valves sloppy/lazy work. Instead of making a convert function they simply hard transferred the currency's. I hope this stuff clears up soon.

[Kaiser Soze]

I don't understand why everyone is blaming VALVe for this.First, they don't get money from the sold games of other companies, they just get paid for offering them on Steam, so they don't really get that much money more.Second, it probably wasn't their decision, since they only control the pricing of their own games.Third, I guess this isn't a surprise since so many want equal pricing on Steam, now after a months of cheap prices because of the weak USD and paying way less than other countries everyone is crying because now they are supposed to pay more.

Last week, TF2 was $19.99 for me, that is like $23.18 with VAT (16% in Spain), since it was 16.56€ it was more or least fine (many stores in Spain have it at 20€, while a few have special offers at 10€). this week is 19.99€. Let me do the maths here..its like 20% more. I think is a good reason to be angry. Now it cost as much as in the more expensive shop in spain...but with no manuals or boxes. And this is not the exception, is the general rule with every game in steam

Also last time I checked TF2 is a Valve's game.

It seems Valve doens't want us to pay in euros, since many people will not. And since they do not allow us to pay in dollars it seems they do not want us to buy anything in steam.

For me this means: "Move your ♥♥♥ to another store and buy our games there, we do not want to sell them to you in out store." and I really got the message. Since you do not want dollars, say goodbye to my money, Valve. I will still look at your store for games I will buy anywhere else.

[evenprime]

In my country (Austria) Steam games were always a little bit more expensive than the cheapest retail offer of a boxed version (handbook, DVD, younameit).

But I always bought the Valve games via Steam, because I wanted to support the company "VALVE" directly instead of financing some retailers in my country.

This time is over, because now I'd feel like donating* 10 Euros or more, depends on the game, to Valve every time I'd buy a game through Steam.

*because Steam doesn't give me any added value that I couldn't get by just registering my CD-Key with my Steam-Account after my purchase

[V3gard]

Exuse me, but why dosent England have to pay euros, but say Norway has to??

[leizureman]

Well I had really gotten used to the idea of buying games on steam, my first game was the Orange Box. I bought TMU also, ok prices made it worth having to download it and all. Now: never ever until they change it back to equal prices! This is just freakin insane that they can think people will pay more on Steam than retail! I'm norwegian, i'm used to paying through the nose, but not like this.

They're gonna lose big time if they don't change it back to equal pricing!

[Bloodzone]

Ive payed 20 euro's for TF2 because of that stupid european currency button, what I didnt even knew the meaning of, so i payed almost twice as much.

The rest has already been said by everyone else, and now we dont even have an option to buy in dollars ?

Well, congratulations heres another angry customer who wont buy from Steam again untill they sort this thing out.
Enjoy my 20 euro's, youll need it.

[Quick]

Ive payed 20 euro's for TF2 because of that stupid european currency button, what I didnt even knew the meaning of, so i payed almost twice as much.

The rest has already been said by everyone else, and now we dont even have an option to buy in dollars ?

Well, congratulations heres another angry customer who wont buy from Steam again untill they sort this thing out.
Enjoy my 20 euro's, youll need it.



Yea, that is what I'm talking about... Now I rather will go buy some steam games in stores...

[Justin7]

I'm not skipping trough 24 pages, did Valve reply yet?

[Bloodzone]

Please note this to unaware customers all over forums on the internet, the more who know the sooner Valve can come to their senses.
Paying more for games delivered thruw the internet, without even holding the disc in my hands. the nerve

[faugusztin]

No response.

[GaryCXJk]

Well guys, I finally figured out what's wrong.

$1 is indeed not €1. It's more that $1.15 is €1.

What we've forgotten is the 15% VAT in the US that isn't included in the price. Since VAT is included in the European price, but it's not really clear what the rate is, we can't really calculate from here, but since we do know the US VAT, we can calculate it from there.

So, apparently, according to the Steam exchange rate:

$1.15 == €1

Sounds fair, right?

Right?

[faugusztin]

Well guys, I finally figured out what's wrong...

You didn't read my post, yeah ?

Left 4 Dead. Using exchange rates from http://www.ecb.int/stats/exchange/eu.../index.en.html :
UK : £26.99 x 1/0.95090 = 28.38€ including VAT
US : $49.99 + 19% VAT = $59.4881 x 1/1.4616 = 40.7€ including VAT
EU : 44,99€ including VAT

[RaYden]

I don't thing he bothered ...

[max_paint]

From now on I'm not buying anything from Steam.

I urge all of you to do so if we want to have a chance to see prices return to a more acceptable level.

max paint it black

[Hattori Hanzo]

You know what this mean for me? Back to piracy! Is not like i can't afford to pay more but i don't like being rapped by some greedy marketing people.

First i had my doubts about Valve with their ridiculous priced glorified mod, L4D, and now this ridiculous last move makes me put Valve with EA & the rest.

[Weird Russian]

I don't understand why everyone is blaming VALVe for this.First, they don't get money from the sold games of other companies, they just get paid for offering them on Steam, so they don't really get that much money more.Second, it probably wasn't their decision, since they only control the pricing of their own games. Third, I guess this isn't a surprise since so many want equal pricing on Steam, now after a months of cheap prices because of the weak USD and paying way less than other countries everyone is crying because now they are supposed to pay more.

Look... we didn't pay any less than US citizens did in the last months. The pricing WAS equal before this changes, that's the thing everyone is so worked up about! We paid the same amount of money, just in OUR currency. Now we still have to use our currency, but we have to pay MORE. See the difference?

It was fair before, to us and to the US customers, because we got the same treatment, but it's not fair anymore for everyone who has to pay with the € because the exchange rate is ignored and the prices are made up by who knows what kind of decisions and factors. Next thing you know we'll get some kind of Valve-Currency when 1 Valve = 1 $ and 20 €. What kind of arbitrariness is this? Ignore everything about how the currency exchange works and make your own prices?

I guess the only way to regulate the market is to lower the demand. Stop buying on steam if it's too pricey for you (I know it is for me) and the prices WILL go down (or Steam will get shut down, though Steam isn't just a selling plattform).

[Bloodzone]

Like weird russian says, its just fubar. What were they smoking ?!

[Justin MacDuro]

FOr Valve this is jus another SNAFU situation ... they don't care about consumers , just look at how they are managing this . No one word to the consumers ... just silence from Valve ...

[CoffeeCup]

SAY NO TO THE EURO ON STEAM (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/EuroNOTHANKS)

I have created a group that oposes this latest decision by Valve.
Please join it if you want to show valve that you disagree!

Its open to everyone, please join.

[faugusztin]

CofeeCup, stop spamming.

[CoffeeCup]

CofeeCup, stop spamming.

Spamming is posting multiple posts, ive only posted that once before, 2 pages back.

[lackoo]

What will be the next step ? You no pay, you no play. ??? :mad:

[K4z3yu]

Norway is not part of th EU, only the EEA. We don't use the Euro either, yet now I'm forced to pay for more since I'm not in America?

[Overheal]

This is a disgrace. Ive always upheld steam but now when youre charging more than the shops. And why?

Get the act together valve. show some respect to the eurozone.

[Fornax1]

Just registered to say Im not supporting Steam as long as this ridiculous rate is in force.

(Norway)

[Akiha]

Norway is not part of th EU, only the EEA. We don't use the Euro either, yet now I'm forced to pay for more since I'm not in America?
Allowing the non-Euro using European countries use USD would cause even bigger outrage, I'd guess. But yeah, it's not fair to you guys, and it really isn't fair to anyone at the moment (UK excluded).

[Du3x]

It's been fun Steam/Valve, since I have to pay 70$ for a game instead of the usual 25-50$, you have lost a costumer.
I'm still going to love the games I have bought and play them, that's not the problem;

I'm never going to buy anything from steam again, at least until you fix something for the European countries that are not included in the European Union.

bye steam,
Love,
Norwegian ex-buyer.


$50 = 340,54NOK
50€ = 479,38NOK
(479,38NOK = $70,38)

Difference: 138,84NOK
138,84NOK = $20.80

[Tosadalis]

Heh now I will have to ask my relatives in America to buy me games trough "gift" mode.

[danidreamcast]

I agree with the general sentiment, up to yesterday I saw steam as a great store with some great deals, today I see it as horrible place to buy games at.

The whole $1 = €1 is even more ridiculous when most computer games can be find for less then 50 euros at release on retail stores and they quickly decrease price.

What reason would there be for the games to be more expensive at a DD service then at a retail store?

The whole conversion rate is horrible, it's bad for cheap games, it's even worse for expensive games.

I won't buy any game from Steam regardless of how cheap it is until Valve decides to change this ridiculous conversion rate.

[Du3x]

If I could buy a game in Steam *right now*, by using dollars, in next 5 mins Valve would have sold one more GTA4. But noooo.. not gonna happen anymore. I get the same game now with box, manual and medium, 7 EUROS CHEAPER on local retail store! Euro/dollar ratio being ~1.46 at the moment, I SO would have bought the game via Steam IF they had kept the old system.. or even done *decent* dollar->euro conversion.

Valve, what an earth ARE YOU DOING?! I, with a horde of others, am not gonna buy a SINGLE title via Steam anymore unless you stop screwing your european customers and set those prices something more sensible.

Yeah, same here, I was about to buy COD4 (I had a *cough*, "free" version) but since I like the game and think that the developers deserve to get paid for it, I wanted to buy it.
Not anymore though, guess I'll go to a retail store tomorrow.
The same goes for GTAIV, sorry steam, we had 3-4 sweet years.

[Zeitgeist]

I have just registered to add me to the list. Over the time being I have bought 48 Games over Steam and was planning on purchasing some more, but this won't happen anymore as long as your exchange rate is at 1:1.

If I would buy a game package costing 100$ I would have to buy it for 100€ now. Yesterday I would have bought it with an added 19% VAT for my country which would have checked out with 119$. With todays exchange rate that would have been 83,3771€ (VAT included!). But you expect me to pay 100€ now? This is a difference of 16,6229€ which equals 23,7442$. Help me, but I have to pay that little malus of just only 19,94% for what exactly? Is there any added value I am missing? Like getting a foot massage? I don't think so... And really, I don't like the feeling when someone tries to trick me into something which results in a disadvantage for me.

Good bye Steam store, we had a good time, but you decided to leave me behind for a bit more of your monopoly play money. Hail to your corporate messiah!

[Mastgrr]

Seems to me, whoever thought that a US dollar costs just as much as a euro ought to be fired. The dollar has been in the gutter for a long time now. I don't think it's wrong to have local pricing, but charging the same damn number in euros as in dollars is just ludicrous.

The dollar is wayyyy lower than a euro.

[GaryCXJk]

You didn't read my post, yeah ?

Left 4 Dead. Using exchange rates from http://www.ecb.int/stats/exchange/eu.../index.en.html :
UK : £26.99 x 1/0.95090 = 28.38€ including VAT
US : $49.99 + 19% VAT = $59.4881 x 1/1.4616 = 40.7€ including VAT
EU : 44,99€ including VAT

I don't think you can grasp the concept called "sarcasm".

Look it up in the dictionary. It's likely that it's quite similar in your own language anyway.

[Weird Russian]

Guys please don't forget the VAT, when you are posting your "outrageous" examples. The price difference is not always that big, but that's not the point. It's about making us paying more for no reason.

Let's try and keep this civil? Valve isn't stupid and hopefully people there will realize, that by bringing this pricing system they are not price-competitive with the retail shops anymore. Once the sales go down, there won't be another choice than to lower the prices.

Now I don't have any problems with having to pay in € instead of $, but the price should be calculated from the dollar price using the current exchange rates and valid VAT percentage for every country and not just be made up on the spot. I don't know how you can ever provide a reason for a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD to cost more in a specific country? What, are we downloading long distance? It's still the same data provided through the same infrastructure, why should we pay more than US customers for it?

I thought Steam is the future of digital content distribution for a long time, but now I'm not so sure anymore. If you want to sell something you have to compete and if you want to sell something globally, it's even worse. How you want to compete with anyone by RAISING your prices is beyond me.

EDIT: The UK change is an example of this done right. With that I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that the € change is such a mess. The prices should be a bit higher than the UK once, not higher than US prices.

[Mastgrr]

A game that costs 50 dollars translates in to 34 euros. A 15% VAT slapped on that is 39 euros. If they lowered all their prices by 5-10 euros, it would be more accurate then.

[boglito]

Guys please don't forget the VAT, when you are posting your "outrageous" examples. The price difference is not always that big, but that's not the point. It's about making us paying more for no reason.

Let's try and keep this civil? Valve isn't stupid and hopefully people there will realize, that by bringing this pricing system they are not price-competitive with the retail shops anymore. Once the sales go down, there won't be another choice than to lower the prices.

Now I don't have any problems with having to pay in € instead of $, but the price should be calculated from the dollar price using the current exchange rates and valid VAT percentage for every country and not just be made up on the spot. I don't know how you can ever provide a reason for a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD to cost more in a specific country? What, are we downloading long distance? It's still the same data provided through the same infrastructure, why should we pay more than US customers for it?

I thought Steam is the future of digital content distribution for a long time, but now I'm not so sure anymore. If you want to sell something you have to compete and if you want to sell something globally, it's even worse. How you want to compete with anyone by RAISING your prices is beyond me.

The price-hike is currently at 43% (was 46) and that is significant. Also I sincerely doubt that Valve are paying VAT for the games I (theoretically) buy (in my country).

[NotYourDog]

according to google:
1 Euro = 1.4467 U.S. dollars

Just why the hell did they choose to change the currency to euro in Norway? we don't even have euros here, at all! why don't they just change it to french franc while were at it, it is also used in Europe, but not Norway.
Just keep it at $dollars$ it's easier to keep track of, we don't need any other currency.
If you Google "x USD in [currency]" you get the price of x dollars, etc "50 USD in NOK" is that so hard?

[gerwim]

Valve isn't stupid

Based on $1 = €1 I assume?

[Mastgrr]

according to google:
1 Euro = 1.4467 U.S. dollars

Just why the hell did they choose to change the currency to euro in Norway? we don't even have euros here, at all! why don't they just change it to french franc while were at it, it is also used in Europe, but not Norway.
Just keep it at $dollars$ it's easier to keep track of, we don't need any other currency.
If you Google "x USD in [currency]" you get the price of x dollars, etc "50 USD in NOK" is that so hard?

No. The French franc doesn't exist anymore. They use the euro too. It's not the fault of the euro, it's the fault of Valve for thinking that the American dollar must be more valuable than the euro (when it hasn't been for a very long time).

A lot of Europeans can reinforce their "Americans believe they are the center of the universe"-stereotype here.

[Johnnnyboy1989]

This is not a good step in the right direction for Steam. I will not buy any thing on steam no more, its to much 1$ = 1€ = FAIL. :mad:

I'm now forced to buy retail versions. Good bye steam store for now... I love Steam. I Love Valve, bud i don't love the EURO!

Pleas return to the dollar prices.

- John (The Netherlands)

[Polster]

I was just about to buy L4D through steam. Wish i did it a day before. Because at this way i wont buy anything from steam again. To bad the Valve games are great.:mad:

[labando]

Just registered to say Im not supporting Steam as long as this ridiculous rate is in force.

(Norway)
same here (also from Norway)

[Bloodzone]

Valve opened up the wrong bottle here. Serves them right, you just dont do something like this and not even react or base a comment on them.
Just sneaky plant a message of a couple of lines in your 'news' that no-one reads, when you could have for example placed it in one of those Big Pop-up messages when you start steam. Now that would have been atleast fair, now its just Sneaky.

[Weird Russian]

The price-hike is currently at 43% (was 46) and that is significant. Also I sincerely doubt that Valve are paying VAT for the games I (theoretically) buy (in my country).

If you think they don't pay VAT, why didn't you start a riot in the last two years? This would be outright stealing of 16-25% percent for no reason, wouldn't it? I'd think they ARE actually paying it, otherwise there would be no reason to withdrawing it.

Based on $1 = €1 I assume?

Well, that's why we're here, no?

[faugusztin]

Oh, just a note.
Store price for L4D : 1299 Sk, €43.12
Second store price for L4D : 1249 Sk, €41.46
Steam price : €44.99

Steam pricing = FAIL.

[Kopijeger]

Allowing the non-Euro using European countries use USD would cause even bigger outrage, I'd guess. But yeah, it's not fair to you guys, and it really isn't fair to anyone at the moment (UK excluded).

Outrage? Not in the slightest! This was the situation until very recently. I purchased GTA IV through Steam a few days before the actual release, and the exchange rate meant that it was considerably cheaper than the shops: My internet account shows that the USD 50 purchase set me back 358,62 NOK. Cheapest local retail would be 449 NOK (and I would get a disc, manual and paper map). There is a online shop selling it for 349 NOK, though I would have to pay a mailing fee of 29 NOK, making Steam slightly more advantageous.

Paying 50€ for the game currently equates to ~477 NOK. It should be obvious where the outrage is. Another thing is that players who are savvy enough to purchase games on Steam are also the ones likely to be savvy enough to shop around for the lowest prices on games or even download torrents.

By the way, the EA store (never bought anything from it, admittedly) is capable of automatically detecting that I am in Norway and display Norwegian text and prices in NOK. Valve has no excuse for doing this.

[Hideous]

Ouch, Valve. That hurt.

I'm sorry to say I won't be buying anything on Steam while the prices look like this. If Valve wants to avoid losing a large amount of customers, they have no choice but to change this.

[Quick]

I was going to buy some games but it seems that's won't gonna happen... Cuz I live in Europe...

[Mastgrr]

Not allowing European Steam users to buy from the British stores is illegal. It's very possible to take them to court for restricting the option to buy from any European store within Steam (including picking currency).

The EU Commission even investigated iTunes for doing the exact same thing:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6520677.stm

[Weird Russian]

Oh, just a note.
Store price for L4D : 1299 Sk, €43.12
Second store price for L4D : 1249 Sk, €41.46
Steam price : €44.99

Steam pricing = FAIL.

Are you sure this is a good example? You're talking about € 3,50 here with faster delivery... But I'm not here to defend the new prices, though there are far better examples.

Again: please stay reasonable. Flames are easy to dismiss as rambling by people, who aren't supposed to play most of the games on steam anyway. Try and act mature and increase our chance to be taken seriously. Thanks.

[Thomas-AoD]

Well its soo easy: If you are european customer -> DONT buy anymore. Thats all there is to do.

[Opferzeit]

Oh chill out. Who gives a flying ♥♥♥♥ if you have to pay more? Obviously a few more dollars kills people now a days... It's called the market people. Learn to either live with it, or get a real paying job.

[Opferzeit]

Oh, just a note.
Store price for L4D : 1299 Sk, €43.12
Second store price for L4D : 1249 Sk, €41.46
Steam price : €44.99

Steam pricing = FAIL.

Wow... what a huge difference in price range. Lets all throw a fit while our welfare money comes in because it's just drastically killing our financial budget by buying video games under a consumer brand.

[Thomas-AoD]

Oh chill out. Who gives a flying ♥♥♥♥ if you have to pay more? Obviously a few more dollars kills people now a days... It's called the market people. Learn to either live with it, or get a real paying job.

Well, i guess we do HAVE a paying job, since we dont want
to waste our hard earned money!

[Near Elite]

Oh chill out. Who gives a flying ♥♥♥♥ if you have to pay more? Obviously a few more dollars kills people now a days... It's called the market people. Learn to either live with it, or get a real paying job.


Look at Zimbabve and see how well THAT went.

[faugusztin]

Are you sure this is a good example? You're talking about € 3,50 here with faster delivery... But I'm not here to defend the new prices, though there are far better examples.


Yes, those are good examples. Those shops are local, no need to use shipping. But even if i want to order the game like i did at Steam, with shipping, the shipping price for prepaid game is only +1.1 euro (i don't take postpaid shipping into account, as you can't use that with Steam).

And if +4/+8% is not enough difference for you, then i don't know what. If hard box copy with DVD, manual & serial which you can activate on Steam + shipping at more expensive store is stil cheaper than Steam, then something is flawed here, don't think you so ?

And we are talking about local prices in both cases. I was showing that Steam is more expensive than European retail. I was not comparign Europeam Steam prices with UK/US Steam prices, which make European prices even more worse.

[Opferzeit]

Well, i guess we do HAVE a paying job, since we dont want
to waste our hard earned money!

Who says your wasting you're hard earned money? People think its a waste ALREADY that games ORIGINALLY COST $49.99...

So honestly it's a lose/lose situation for anyone in the gaming industry. On top of that... if it hurts your budget to buy games, maybe that's telling YOU as a CONSUMER that games should be on the bottom of your budget list.

[OneOneOne]

I wandered over here mainly to see how the Steam community was taking this price hike business, and I'm curious to see so many people in the UK and Ireland using Steam full-stop.

I recently moved from the UK to Ireland for a job. Prior to that, I almost exclusively used Amazon or Play.com for new games. Steam, recent price increases or otherwise, has *never* been cheaper than getting a box delivered to your home.

Now that I'm in Ireland, Play.com will get my business almost exclusively - there's no delivery charges to Eire, and their prices remain cheaper than any standard store.

So while I understand the furore from more eastern Europeans, I've never understood why anyone in the UK and Ireland would ever use Steam anyway. You pay more, you don't get a physical item, you need to DL it yourself, you need to log into Steam to use it, and the savings inevitably incurred by Valve by ceasing to ship physical items have never been passed on to Valve consumers.

I'm loving it; they've finally not merely managed to shoot themselves down, but they've also managed to napalm themselves into the bargain. It's wonderful. Reap that whirlwind.

[Gaarulf]

1USD = 6 Norske Kroner
1 EURO = 9 Norske kroner
thats 30%

a superpack that costs 100USD would cost around 600 Norske Kroner
but if it is in euro, it is priced 900 norske kroner.

[Tosadalis]

Then why don't they make like 1$=1Ruble for Russians huh? That would be correct compared to 1$=1Euro thing, I'm sure you would gain a lot of buyers...

[Blackwaters]

Yeah, it's a lot more expensive now, I'll keep my self from buying the games I'd like until they fix it. If it's not getting fixed, then thank god that we still have retail stores.

[analytik]

1 USD = 0.7 EUR (http://finance.google.com/finance?q=USDEUR)
Valve = stupid
Steam = LOSE
Not buying again, with the exception of *good* weekend sales.

[Telaran]

Greeting from Switzerland

1) We don't use EURO (and it isn't easy for Europeans to pay in that currency in our country)
2) With the new Pricing I see no reason anymore to support Steam, because
3) The Difference ist around 30% and further: Same or more expensive as a local retailer

I loved the Steam Account, I even supported it back 2001 as a Beta Tester (ISDN CS 1.6 and 10-15 Minutes Loading Time) and I had during HL2 no Internet and still managed a way to bring my computer to a network with internet.

Digital Distribution was a nice Idea (Dont have to store CD's, no DRM except the Account, etc pp - okay some of this are already weakened through the publishers pressure), but your "new feature" was the wrong way... in any possible matter ... really

You should make an official statement and fix this "bug" or you'll lose, as one of "the last good" publisher, the faith of your costumers.

[Weird Russian]

Yes, those are good examples. Those shops are local, no need to use shipping. But even if i want to order the game like i did at Steam, with shipping, the shipping price for prepaid game is only +1.1 euro (i don't take postpaid shipping into account, as you can't use that with Steam).

And if +4/+8% is not enough difference for you, then i don't know what. If hard box copy with DVD, manual & serial which you can activate on Steam + shipping at more expensive store is stil cheaper than Steam, then something is flawed here, don't think you so ?

And we are talking about local prices in both cases. I was showing that Steam is more expensive than European retail. I was not comparign Europeam Steam prices with UK/US Steam prices, which make European prices even more worse.

You don't have to explain to me, why you're unhappy - i am unhappy too. But there are examples like Civ 4 Complete, which is 30 € at amazon and 50€ on steam. I know that example is a raised price, but put it into perspective please.

It's not about the actual prices anyway, it's about how they are calculated (if they are calculated at all).

[Roachz]

signed.. just filling this treath cause we in Europe getting ♥♥♥♥ed !

[Opferzeit]

signed.. just filling this treath cause we in Europe getting ♥♥♥♥ed !

Not really.

[Quick]

Well its soo easy: If you are european customer -> DONT buy anymore. Thats all there is to do.

Dude, you just don't know how it is on our country so don't say anything mkay? >.<

[Thomas-AoD]

You are pretty smart arent you?
Well reading from your posts i can see you arent affected by this. That is nice for you. And since its free market, Valve is free to set their prices and I AM free NOT to purchase! That is all there is to it.

@Quick: Err? lol, nice random comment! Its obvious that i dont know HOW it would be in your country!!! Since -> I dont even know which countly you are from. So? What is the point?

[stranded]

look how pathetic Valve is, they just added a falling snow in Flash on steampowered.com

well expect falling sales.

[Beos]

I won't buy my games on steam anymore, why would I pay more ?

Valve, we are not your sheeps...

[kimd41]

Not buying anything again.

[stranded]

I think they lowered COD5 (world at war) price from 54€ to 49€...

hahahahahahahahh

5€? really? what a deal! *dances to falling snow*

30-35€ should be THE MAXIMUM price for any game on Steam. Right now it doesn't make sense at all.

[Peewee]

*Just registered ONLY for post in these thread*.... omg!

Well, i just got Left 4 Dead these morning, and for my surprise, was 44.99 $, and i thinking will be Around 32 €, but no, it costed me 44.99 €, really ♥♥♥♥ing lame, seriusly these its the last game i buy from steam if these its not fixed asap.

I got more than 15 games from steam and never saw these ♥♥♥♥ befor, seriusly, i trusted on you valve, i always speaked really good about steam and your way of sell things in every forum, but from now, i´ll just say the ppl to buy the retail game, cause in most countrys of EU now its more cheaper buy the retail version or at least buy from others webs.

Very bad way valve, 1 $ = 1 € NO! ITS 1 euro = 1,46 USD we are so ♥♥♥♥ing tired of be the "stupids" of the world, if these keep up, will be the END of steam really soon, i´m not going to buy any of the games anymore.

Merry Christmas Valve and goodbye.

If you do not agree with this non-sense exchange rate join our group:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/1e1us

[gerwim]

look how pathetic Valve is, they just added a falling snow in Flash on steampowered.com

well expect falling sales.

They made the snow for the imba 1337 prices.. not

[Quick]

You are pretty smart arent you?
Well reading from your posts i can see you arent affected by this. That is nice for you. And since its free market, Valve is free to set their prices and I AM free NOT to purchase! That is all there is to it.

@Quick: Err? lol, nice random comment! Its obvious that i dont know HOW it would be in your country!!! Since -> I dont even know which countly you are from. So? What is the point?

Oh, so why I must tell where is my location? It's doesn't metter cuz every time I want to buy game I always look currency how much it gonna cost to me that game... Because I'm paying for taxes too depends on what game I want to buy...

[stonoozka]

1 costumer less !

[Skinner3]

What does this pricing thingy got to do with VAT? They take the VAT when you make the transaction, and shows it separatly...so if before it was 50USD + vat (in USD), now its 50 euro + vat (in eur?) I guess.

btw
CoD4 price in my country (Lithuania):
Steam: 50 eur = 173 litas
Shop: 9 eur = 30 litas (Russian version, but works fine and can be changed to English.

Nice price difference lol

[faugusztin]

What does this pricing thingy got to do with VAT? They take the VAT when you make the transaction, and shows it separatly...so if before it was 50USD + vat (in USD), now its 50 euro + vat (in eur?).

Now it's including VAT. The problem is that previous USD price + local VAT was lower than current EUR price including VAT.

[faugusztin]

In beta thread jmccaskey frm Valve wrote :

"The beta has ended, so I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, feel free to continue discussing pricing in one of the other numerous threads on this topic.

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout (when VAT is commonly included in the initial prices). It seems we've accomplished that now.

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers. We appreciate everyones feedback on that topic. Your opinions are definitely being heard."

I find the last sentence hard to believe.

[lackoo]

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout (when VAT is commonly included in the initial prices). It seems we've accomplished that now.

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers.:rolleyes:

[stranded]

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout...

HAHAHAHAHAHHAH, yes charge us almost twice (for some of us it is almost X2) covering yourself with VAT. Games in USD with Tax were MUCH CHEAPER than games in euros without VAT.

It seems we've accomplished that now.

All you have accomplished right now is SALES DROP this holiday season.

Good luck.

[ZeFask]

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers.
Epic fail.

[Sierra Oscar]

I find the last sentence hard to believe.

Many people in this thread were looking for a response from Valve, and now they have got one. Things do take time, so I have faith in Valve.:)

Also, just a general note - lets keep this thread civil. Feedback is always wanted as long as it is constructive in nature.

[faugusztin]

Many people in this thread were looking for a response from Valve, and now they have got one. Things do take time, so I have faith in Valve.:)

Also, just a general note - lets keep this thread civil. Feedback is always wanted as long as it is constructive in nature.

But then i don't understand why anything like beta testing was here. This is exactly thing which should be done in beta - if you make extremly high prices, then correct it before you release them to public.

[stranded]

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers.

This sentence is simply insulting me as a costumer. Retail is cheaper, see other pages, I won't be pasting same numbers over and over.

Direct2Drive has some better deals as well.

[Hanock]

Yay! You have lost a customer right in this moment! Sure European Union is up, but this doesn't mean all the Euro countries has an unified fiscal politic. This means each Country has its own VAT policy. Please next time find another excuse to rise up prices. Oh well i think there will be no next time, at least for me.

[lackoo]

Feedback is always wanted as long as it is constructive in nature.
For US. Valve members:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurozone ;)

[Jumpy-B-L]

Heh, yeah, whatever happened to the digital distribution being cheaper than retail? For me that was Steam's main selling point. Funny how it took this thread to remind me of that. I think from here on out I'll buy retail if the Steam price isn't better. I feel sorry for you Euros. You have my sympathy.

[Sierra Oscar]

But then i don't understand why anything like beta testing was here. This is exactly thing which should be done in beta - if you make extremly high prices, then correct it before you release them to public.

Im guessing the main function of the beta was to resolve any technical issues. As JM outlined, the pricing is an on-going issue.

I am not saying that I myself am over the moon with these changes, but we should certainly allow Valve times to make the prices more balanced if needs be.

[GaryCXJk]

Yeah, now I have double trouble, since I want to support the leavers, but I still want Peggle Nights.

I mean, buying Peggle Nights still gives a (false) message that I approve of this pricing system, but I just want more Peggle action.

But I do agree with the fact that games are just overpriced, especially in Europe.

Now if online prices were lower than retail prices, sure many people would have bought it, literally also, but now it just feels like a rip-off, not to mention it would be a rip-off if I would actually buy trough Steam.

[Modiga-Disabled]

But then i don't understand why anything like beta testing was here. This is exactly thing which should be done in beta - if you make extremly high prices, then correct it before you release them to public.

I imagine the beta test was in place to test the system, not the pricing.

[Filias]

... Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers.
Are you kidding me? You wanna have different prizes for every country or what? I thought that one of advantage of digital distribution are same prices for everyone.
So you (Valve) figured that in Europe are higher prices of games then US so you will be more expensive too?
You finally show your true face!!

[Heinold]

In beta thread jmccaskey frm Valve wrote :

"The beta has ended, so I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, feel free to continue discussing pricing in one of the other numerous threads on this topic.

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout (when VAT is commonly included in the initial prices). It seems we've accomplished that now.

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers. We appreciate everyones feedback on that topic. Your opinions are definitely being heard."



Of course, nobody ever have read the bill, after they pushed the "Buy It"-Button. 30 pages of dyslexic cannot be mistaken.

[Modiga-Disabled]

Are you kidding me? You wanna have different prizes for every country or what? I thought that one of advantage of digital distribution are same prices for everyone.
So you (Valve) figured that in Europe are higher prices of games then US so you will be more expensive too?
You finally show your true face!!

The problem is that universal pricing isn't competitive. Take the UK for example, a year ago Steam was excellent value for money in most cases, the exchange rate was around $2 to the pound. The Orange Box was at least £5 cheaper on Steam than it was at any retailer. Recently though the exchange rate has tanked, suddenly pretty much every mainstream game on Steam was a good £5-£10 more on Steam than it was retail; it made no sense to buy it from the more expensive outlet. Now with the regional pricing, the prices are again competitive at least they are here in the UK.

The rest of Europe is a different matter, but hopefully that will get resolved.

[Revoid]

well i wont be buying anything from steam unless they fix this. and neither will my 5 friends. we all bought l4d GTA TF2 CS and play togheter. so far we have really enjoyed steam but no more! this is just stupid and greedy.

valve dont slap the hand that feeds you.

[Quick]

Heh, yeah, whatever happened to the digital distribution being cheaper than retail? For me that was Steam's main selling point. Funny how it took this thread to remind me of that. I think from here on out I'll buy retail if the Steam price isn't better. I feel sorry for you Euros. You have my sympathy.

Thanks! At least someone can understand it...

[RMJ1984]

Its sad they mess it up, Steam is handsdown the best online place to buy games imo, but with these prices its just not worth it, consindering a good and valid point, you cant even sell games. So imo valve should really start to lower prices quite alot, in the end it will earn the companies more money, because if stuff is cheap on steam, people will buy alot more because its just so easy and simple.

Must say atm im advising all i know to stop buying, i have according to some other thread spend over 800$ on games on steam, and if this i how i get repayed for loyal support then its over.

[in.meinem.turm.]

Please fix this soon. I really want to buy Stron Bad's Coll Game for attractive People on Steam but not with this currency-bug.

[stranded]

Valve sets those prices. You say how am I sure? Here's an official statement of S2 Games creators of Savage 2 game (few hours ago available on Steam for $9.99 now it's..€9.99).

Read this:
http://forums.savage2.com/showpost.php?p=240941&postcount=10
Steam sets the prices on it, users can still upgrade to a prime account with us for $9.99 US

Whole topic on official S2 forums:
http://forums.savage2.com/showthread.php?t=14745

[lackoo]

Maybe i need to update my old thread. :rolleyes:

[DrBreen]

The rest of Europe is a different matter, but hopefully that will get resolved.

Yes, because the UK is certainly more important than the rest of the +30 european countries.

Bull♥♥♥♥, I fail to see how it is diferent.

[Zeitgeist]

Well, Valve, I have already written that I won't buy anything from your store until you realize a realtime currency exchange rate (it would be ok for me to round up prices to the next *.49 or *.99), but I just want you to know that I _would_ have just spend another 30$ on my account, which I won't do now. While I understand you prefer real money over your virtual $$$ on one hand, I would have thought you would prefer 30 virtual $ over no $ on the other hand.

You should do the math, cause I did.

[Heinold]

Valve sets those prices. You say how am I sure? Here's an official statement of S2 Games creators of Savage 2 game (few hours ago available on Steam for $9.99 not it's..$9.99).

Read this:
http://forums.savage2.com/showpost.php?p=240941&postcount=10


Whole topic on official S2 forums:
http://forums.savage2.com/showthread.php?t=14745

Thanks for that Posting! :)

[freibooter]

Now with the regional pricing, the prices are again competitive at least they are here in the UK.

The rest of Europe is a different matter, but hopefully that will get resolved.

I hope we all agree that digital distribution is much, much cheaper for the publishers and I strongly believe that at least some of the savings should be passed on to the customers.
Valve not only doesn't do that, currently almost all prices on steampowered.com are universally and significantly more expensive than European retail.

Worse enough, with the new regional pricing all prices an Steam are between 15% and 35% more expensive (depending on your local VAT) if you are from Europe and don't live in the UK.

This is ridiculous and certainly not an "accident" right before Christmas. I really hope that Valve won't get away with this obviously greedy and stupid short-time thinking.

Just imagine the following:
Valve announced that for Christmas every single item on Steam would be 25% off ... I'm sure most customers would get rather excited about this deal. Except, for most of us European customers that would simply mean that we would pay about as much as we would have paid just two days ago.


Instead of "European Local Currency Available" Valve could have just as well written:

"Exciting Christmas Deal for Our European Customers: Pay 30% more on almost everything!"

[DalamarNL]

Valve sets those prices. You say how am I sure? Here's an official statement of S2 Games creators of Savage 2 game (few hours ago available on Steam for $9.99 now it's..€9.99).

Read this:
http://forums.savage2.com/showpost.php?p=240941&postcount=10


Whole topic on official S2 forums:
http://forums.savage2.com/showthread.php?t=14745


As of 12/09/2008, Savage 2 is FREEWARE. That's right, Savage 2 can be downloaded and played for $0/€0 legally.

And about the price changes, this definitely will keep me from buying games in Steam. I hope you all do the same and support your local retailers.

[@lien_svk]

I entered to group!!

[Akiha]

As of 12/09/2008, Savage 2 is FREEWARE. That's right, Savage 2 can be downloaded and played for $0/€0 legally.

And about the price changes, this definitely will keep me from buying games in Steam. I hope you all do the same and support your local retailers.
It's free to play, but it still has an "prime" account that costs $9,99 which offers few perks over the "free" account.

[Sir_Parkinglot]

I hope we all agree that digital distribution is much, much cheaper for the publishers and I strongly believe that at least some of the savings should be passed on to the customers.
Valve not only doesn't do that, currently almost all prices on steampowered.com are universally and significantly more expensive than European retail.

Worse enough, with the new regional pricing all prices an Steam are between 15% and 35% more expensive (depending on your local VAT) if you are from Europe and don't live in the UK.

This is ridiculous and certainly not an "accident" right before Christmas. I really hope that Valve won't get away with this obviously greedy and stupid short-time thinking.

Just imagine the following:
Valve announced that for Christmas every single item on Steam would be 25% off ... I'm sure most customers would get rather excited about this deal. Except, for most of us European customers that would simply mean that we would pay about as much as we would have paid just two days ago.


Instead of "European Local Currency Available" Valve could have just as well written:

"Exciting Christmas Deal for Our European Customers: Pay 30% more on almost everything!"

It's even worse for us who doesn't pay any VAT normally, we pay almost 45% more now.. (norwegian)

[Justin MacDuro]

Valve sets those prices. You say how am I sure? Here's an official statement of S2 Games creators of Savage 2 game (few hours ago available on Steam for $9.99 now it's..€9.99).

Read this:
http://forums.savage2.com/showpost.php?p=240941&postcount=10


Whole topic on official S2 forums:
http://forums.savage2.com/showthread.php?t=14745



OMG ... So it seems that it's Valve and not the developers who are going to earn a lot more of money ...
One guy was asking if the developers will get some extra money for raise the prices of theyr games up , here is the response ...
NO ... all the money will go to VALVE ...
With this change they have lost at leas 50 dollars from me this x-mash , I was planning to buy HL2EP2 for me and some other games to gift some friends ... Now I think I just will buy some books or retail games .
Thats incredible , they are going to earn a lot more of money with no valid reason .

All customer should opne theyr eyes and look at what Valve is doing and probably was doing during long time ago ...

[Heinold]

It's even worse for us who doesn't pay any VAT normally, we pay almost 45% more now.. (norwegian)
Your VAT is 19%, isn't it? But you are right, the prices now are extortion for norwegian people.

[Sir_Parkinglot]

Your VAT is 19%, isn't it? But you are right, the prices now are extortion for norwegian people.

Nope, no VAT on anything on steam

[Mastermind1996]

***STEAM FINAL WARNING***
If u keep on doing this u will lose all Europe Customers and believe me that are MUCH of people I started to like u and buying much games from you but Now I think I just have to buy them somewhere else! THIS IS JUST FREAKING UNACCEPTABLE AND EVRYONE WHO IS STILL BUYING FROM STEAM IS A N00B FOR LIFE!!!

[lackoo]

***STEAM FINAL WARNING***
If u keep on doing this u will lose all Europe Customers and believe me that are MUCH of people I started to like u and buying much games from you but Now I think I just have to buy them somewhere else! THIS IS JUST FREAKING UNACCEPTABLE AND EVRYONE WHO IS STILL BUYING FROM STEAM IS A N00B FOR LIFE!!!Now you scared Gabe. ;)

[Exxploit]

FFS! Norway isn't even in the EU. We don't use €. This is not fair. I'm sick of EU now. EU can ♥♥♥♥ off. We have to follow their rules even though we're not in EU... just bc we are in Europe doesn't mean we're in EU. Valve, do not punish us for living in Europe when we're not even in EU.

[NykO18]

This is ridiculous.
I can buy these games in a store, with a box, including the cost of gas to drive by there, and it would still be cheaper. Steam just lost all of its interest, instantly.

[Filias]

The problem is that universal pricing isn't competitive.....Recently though the exchange rate has tanked, suddenly pretty much every mainstream
game on Steam was a good £5-£10 more on Steam than it was retail; it made no sense to buy it from the more
expensive outlet.
I understand these reasons quite good. I become with Steam because low rate of USD too. The prizes was for me so good, that I even bought games which I illegally played before.

But when I wanted to buy Far Cry 2 the price was as high as at near shop where it include manual, translation to Czech and nice box to my shelf (and now its even worst).
What I have on Steam? Possibility of account steal or lost.
And now with new Euros price I finally open my eyes that Steam wasnt mean to be cheaper.
We have prices often higher than UK and US, but Steam make us equal. If I want a cheap games now, I can order them from UK.. yes it is less comfortable, take some time, but believe me, worth it!

[s-paco]

Well, if it's true then it is good bye buying games off of STEAM. The service was great, but i don't accept this major rip off.

Really, REALLY bad move by Valve.

[gerwim]

Valve, do not punish us for living in Europe when we're not even in EU.

They cannot punish you, but you can punish them for doing this crap. Don't buy a single game from Steam but use a nother "Steam"-like or retail!Then you will hit them hard, atleast, if every european citizen does this.

[SeriousKriss]

I'll just add my voice to the pile of complaints here. I really like Steam (enjoying the new beta embedded web navigator btw), but I can't support this absurd price hike.

[Grizzler]

Well, I don't mind the euro as a currency. But when they say that 1$=1Euro then no, I won't buy anything probably until they lower the euro price so it matches the $ price.

[blindmagus]

Plz valve , i have start to buy game on steam becouse is opposit Spore Marketing.
Please valve, delete this horrible system, if you need money we make a donation, but do not make these things ....

Merry christmas, come back to steam when I can afford to buy your games.

[esdsilver]

well thats it, going to local retail again...

[lackoo]

if you need money we make a donation I will not pay.

[Rhoninthewizard]

Congratulations Valve you have determined me to no longer be your customer, tomorrow I will terminate my USD debit card. I'll stick to my Wii and DS, probably buy PC games from Amazon.co.uk, when I want some and the free games that come with a magazine (Level), the January edition will have Psychonauts.

[Kaiser Soze]

The problem is that universal pricing isn't competitive. Take the UK for example, a year ago Steam was excellent value for money in most cases, the exchange rate was around $2 to the pound. The Orange Box was at least £5 cheaper on Steam than it was at any retailer. Recently though the exchange rate has tanked, suddenly pretty much every mainstream game on Steam was a good £5-£10 more on Steam than it was retail; it made no sense to buy it from the more expensive outlet. Now with the regional pricing, the prices are again competitive at least they are here in the UK.

The rest of Europe is a different matter, but hopefully that will get resolved.
Problem is that EU has laws that forbids thing like this. Customers must be able to buy in whatever EU country they want and they have the right to do it at the same price as locals.

Apple had already problem trying to use different prices in UK than in the rest of Europe with their itunes. And finnaly they unified prices. Valve is not bigger than Apple. So if they continue doing this thing, they may face legal problems.

[CoffeeCup]

Exactly.

I suggest everyone fills in a complaints form at the the European Commision website to have them take a look at this crap.
Valve is breaking rules here.

[Heinold]

.
Please valve, delete this horrible system, if you need money we make a donation, but do not make these things ....



They have had enough, no donation required. They need a diet, they are getting greedy.

[Koei]

So Steam now mimics retail prices more closely (at least for me as a Dutchy). I can't say I'm surprised. The moment they said they were working on localized stores I expected this, I'm at a loss why others didn't as well.

Sure it's been great living of the weak dollar for months, but I didn't expect that to last. Retail still sets the prices for all and will be continuing to do so for pretty long I guess.

Uh. I'm also Dutch and retail prices are much lower than the prices on steam.

[dongbar]

Stop ♥♥♥♥♥ing, and get your lazy ♥♥♥ to the store.

[Kaiser Soze]

dongbar, I can do both :P

[bavstavd]

I hate this policy... :mad:

1euro = 1 dollar????

BiG MISTAKE!! change it...

Valve,.. not good job, bad move... :o

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[b.e.r.g]

Just want to add a comparison of Fallout 3 retail vs Steam:

Fallout 3 is 49.99€ on Steam, and retails for 299,- NOK here in Norway (http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=358661)

49.99€ = 482.21 Norwegian kroner (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&q=49.99%E2%82%AC+in+nok&btnG=Search)

1 - (299 / 482.21) = 0.38 (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&hs=5lk&q=1+-+299+%2F+482.206277&btnG=Search) = 38%

So, Fallout 3 is 38% more on Steam than the retail version over here. Not acceptable imo.

[teoKrazia]

The Call of Duty 4 'offer' of the last year [69,95 USD for Europeans against 49,95 USD of the rest of the world] was already a dishonourable example of e-commerce, a 90 degrees somody-ready concession to the big publishers and retail distributors interests, but with the amazing idea of 1 USD = 1 euro you have definitively betrayed what Steam has been until now. Is with great dislike that a long time supporter as me feel forced to come here and register purposely to say you...

S-H-A-M-E

Read it?
Ok, u can proceed with ban, I don't have anymore to say, unless that I hope European customers will boycott Steam products untill your face will crash against a very bitter concrete forcing you to reconsindering the matter. ;)

Cheers.

[lackoo]

Back to Impulse.
http://www.impulsedriven.com/products/ESD-IMP-W115

Will not buy games from Steam.

[Zips]

What are you trying to say anyway? None of what you said made much sense.

[lackoo]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770231

[Robineng]

This is just hilarious, never bought a game through steam to the ridiculous prices and with these changes I dont think I'll ever buy one in the future either. Rather get a box and everything then pay twice the amount.

[Pinguin]

:(Huge let down of European consumers, Valve might not have
the power to make pricing decisions on other Developers/Publishers products.
But at least they could make a fair deal for there own games to there European costumers.

[Sir_Parkinglot]

Just want to add a comparison of Fallout 3 retail vs Steam:

Fallout 3 is 49.99€ on Steam, and retails for 299,- NOK here in Norway (http://www.komplett.no/k/ki.aspx?sku=358661)

49.99€ = 482.21 Norwegian kroner (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&q=49.99%E2%82%AC+in+nok&btnG=Search)

1 - (299 / 482.21) = 0.38 (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&hs=5lk&q=1+-+299+%2F+482.206277&btnG=Search) = 38%

So, Fallout 3 is 38% more on Steam than the retail version over here. Not acceptable imo.

Actually, its 62% more on steam than retail:mad:

[LordCiego]

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout (when VAT is commonly included in the initial prices). It seems we've accomplished that now.


Wait wait wait, WHAT?!?!

This is nonsense, I know that you wanted to show the real final price with this BUT NOW I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M PAYING.

You are charging every European country the same VAT even if the don't have the same and this way when some game drops price, lets say 10€, it won't really drop 10€ and accordingly the correspondent vat taxes but 10€ including VAT in that quantity so the discount is less in Europe.

What i mean is that you have sacrifice more information so we can know what we are really paying for "easiness" to know the final price.

Thats nice, in this case when people have less information the prices are easily manipulated to screw us...

P.S: It was so difficult to add a little message that said (* without taxes) below the USD price, like a lot of online shops do?

[An honest gamer]

I will join in on the crowd not buying anymore.
Here in Denmark they add on a 25% VAT tax, and I still purchased games through Steam, but if I now have to pay the same amount in Euro's, plus the 25% VAT, then I might as well buy my games locally, and be sure they work when steam decides they don't like my account anymore and cancels it or if they go belly up.

[freibooter]

Dear Valve,

I'm pretty sure that you were aware of that fact that the new, mandatory European currency store would mean a 15-45% price increase for anyone who will have to pay in € from now on.
I'm sure you anticipated protests and angry customers and I'm sure you made the conscious decision to go through with it anyways. After all, earning up to 45% more on every sale was simply too tempting. Even if you lost a few sales in the short term ... it's easy money and it's Christmas and a lot of sales are made during this time.
Well, it's a free market and there isn't much I can do but accept your jolly "♥♥♥♥ You, Europe!". I'll simply stop buying from Steam until this is resolved.

But please answer me a single question:

Why did you spare the UK?

How come the UK got sensible, reasonable prices that are almost competitive and fair in comparison to the international store while the rest of Europe was treated like a bunch of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ five your olds that wouldn't notice when you jacked up prices by 40% over night for them.

I don't expect an answer or justification explaining the price increase itself. That's one reason why I didn't just post this in one of the other "Valve just went crazy and made a big oh-oh all over Europe"-threads.

But I'm just curious: Why screw over a whole continent and spare a single country? What's so special about the UK?

Please grant me this single wish for Christmas and answer this simple question.

Sincerely,

freibooter
a curious former customer

[b.e.r.g]

Actually, its 62% more on steam than retail:mad:

Ah yes, wasnt thinking clearly there...

[lackoo]

Actually, its 62% more on steam than retail:mad:
Retail: 37.51 EUR in here.

[MortalC]

Now it's including VAT. The problem is that previous USD price + local VAT was lower than current EUR price including VAT.

Not to mention all the countries that don’t have VAT to start with, we just got screwed over twice…

[Sivlon]

I bet d2d, gog, id, and other DD sites are loving Valve for giving them a great Christmas gift (the entire European PC gaming market).
I hope these guys take their chance and increase their market share while they have this great opportunity.

These recent actions Valve has taken shows us that the market is in need of more competition.

[lackoo]

:rolleyes:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770231

[Spotify]

The EU isn't the problem here, Valve is. This is a arrogant and selfish act of them. I'm from Norway, and as mentioned earlier, we are not in the EU, and we don't use Euros as our currency (we use NOK). Since we are not in EU, we don't need to pay the "EU VAT". The only situation where we should pay this EU VAT is when we visit another country (which is a member of the EU) in a time period for over 3 months. Any less, we pay the VAT, but we can get it refunded. Notice that this is for buying stuff in retail stores etc. But Steam makes it possible to buy digital foreign products without leaving the country. As of this, EU VAT for Norwegians and other countries in the same situation should be removed.

Simple solution to this is to remove the whole euro currency thing! It worked perfectly before this "upgrade" came.

There are now no reasons to use Steam to buy games. Until the games are 25-30% cheaper than the retail version (because of the missing middleman), I'll stop buying games, and if there is a game that I really want, I'll buy it from Play.com or some other online game shop, and get the retail version, with all the advantages that include.

Shame that Valve is the new EA.

[MortalC]

In beta thread jmccaskey frm Valve wrote :

"The beta has ended, so I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, feel free to continue discussing pricing in one of the other numerous threads on this topic.

One of our main goals with pricing in Euros and GBP was to make it easier for Europeans to understand what they are being charged and to not be surprised by VAT taxes at the end of checkout (when VAT is commonly included in the initial prices). It seems we've accomplished that now.

Another on going goal for us is to have competitive prices compared to other digital and physical retailers. We appreciate everyones feedback on that topic. Your opinions are definitely being heard."

I find the last sentence hard to believe.

That have to be the dumbest thing I have read in years, they got lots and lots of feedback complaining about prices during the beta but they completely ignored it… I mean seriously how dumb do they think we are?

[Jani666]

Problem is that EU has laws that forbids thing like this. Customers must be able to buy in whatever EU country they want and they have the right to do it at the same price as locals.


This is a very important point here, but I can´t imagine if they don´t know this.
But otherwise, if you see how stupid this whole thing was realized, (Information politics, countrys have to pay in € even if they have another currency) maybe they really don´t know anything about Europe, european law, and european customers.

Good luck to steam in other parts of the world.

[boglito]

That have to be the dumbest thing I have read in years, they got lots and lots of feedback complaining about prices during the beta but they completely ignored it… I mean seriously how dumb do they think we are?

Dumb enough to keep buying their games despite a 40% price-hike I guess.

[kka-team-hills]

Yes i never by on Steam.
By a Retail Box, and give EA more € for this ♥♥♥♥.

[hvkasteren]

First it was region locking games.
Next came the 3rd party intrusive DRMs.
Now they start charging us substantial amounts more for no clear reason.

All this without any decent form of communication towards the people using this service.

Looks like the only thing I'll be doing with steam from now on is play the games I already own through it.

[Modiga-Disabled]

Yes, because the UK is certainly more important than the rest of the +30 european countries.

Bull♥♥♥♥, I fail to see how it is diferent.

How did you infer that from what I said? I was pointing out why regional prices do seem to be required and showed why giving the UK as an example.

[Bloodzone]

Not buying any more games via STEAM nananana.
And its such a shame cause I have the money, but I refuse to be conned.
So its off to the stores again, or maybe websites like amazon or play.com

I dont hate steam, as a matter of fact I kinda liked it. But with these prices it looses all apeal to me.

[BounceDK]

50 Euros = 73 Dollars. Stop ripping people off gawd dammit.
Bye Steam, you will not be missed.