Why are PC games cheaper than console?

[Goldfingaz]

Nothing to do with reality but go on.

Actually in reality that is one of the largest reasons. Companies are losing crazy amounts of money in the console gaming areas due to people buying and selling used games rather than buying new games. They need to charge more to make up for the people not buying them new. You know, so the developers can make their money. Not to mention cost of dev kits for consoles and such.

[Wilian]

not exactly, our games a way cheaper than the console counterpart, but our machine (PC vs console) is double or triple the price. Also we PC game don't pay sub fee just to play multiplayer on the internet (outside mmo sub or ISP of course)

overall, i think PC and console gamers spend about the same amount of money though PC gamers needs a bigger upfront investement.
In exchange, we often have better looking games and add functionnality (mods and tweaks)

I paid roughly 1800e for my PC when it was brand new. After that I've gathered 100+ games in Steam library that mostly are major releases with 50/60e price tag at inception but gotten them for 5-15e

Continuing at this rate into the future (as there is zero need to upgrade my PC currently, everything runs at max at resolution I want to), I'll be far, far better off with PC in terms of money.

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Actually in reality that is one of the largest reasons. Companies are losing crazy amounts of money in the console gaming areas due to people buying and selling used games rather than buying new games. They need to charge more to make up for the people not buying them new. You know, so the developers can make their money. Not to mention cost of dev kits for consoles and such.

No, it has nothing to do with reality. PC games could be traded and sold in the past and they were still cheaper than console games due to lisencing costs. Keep on dreaming.

[Vankrys]

Actually in reality that is one of the largest reasons. Companies are losing crazy amounts of money in the console gaming areas due to people buying and selling used games rather than buying new games. They need to charge more to make up for the people not buying them new. You know, so the developers can make their money. Not to mention cost of dev kits for consoles and such.

you are right. Because PC games cannot be exchanged once tied to an account, publishers can safely discount their product to sells as many units as possible. It's obviously good for finance to sell more, but it's especially good for "brand awareness".

Right now, the square enix catalogue is at 75% off (axcept thief, too early i guess) on steam. A smart PC gamer rarely buy a game above $15 unless he really really wants it day one.

[Wilian]

you are right. Because PC games cannot be exchanged once tied to an account, publishers can safely discount their product to sells as many units as possible. It's obviously good for finance to sell more, but it's especially good for "brand awareness".

Right now, the square enix catalogue is at 75% off (axcept thief, too early i guess) on steam. A smart PC gamer rarely buy a game above $15 unless he really really wants it day one.

He's not right though. It's not that long since PC games could be traded/re-sold freely and they were still the same price-point cheaper.

[Vankrys]

I paid roughly 1800e for my PC when it was brand new. After that I've gathered 100+ games in Steam library that mostly are major releases with 50/60e price tag at inception but gotten them for 5-15e

Continuing at this rate into the future (as there is zero need to upgrade my PC currently, everything runs at max at resolution I want to), I'll be far, far better off with PC in terms of money.

i agree with you, the more game you buy, the more the difference in game pricing will tilt the balance toward the PC. But you have to admit 100 AAA games (you're talking abotu 50/60€), you definitely are an enthusiast gamers. Don't know if console gamers buy that much in the same time period. i was more in the optic of 1 game per month type of player.

[grexly75]

Im not sure if it affects the price, but you can also lend console games to your friends or sell them after you're done with them. You can't do it on pc.

Actually you can sell second hand PC games just look at places like Gamestop or EB Games and even Ebay (applies only to physical box and disk copies) and depends on what DRM the game developer / publisher used.. Most older PC games do not have this problem..

[Wilian]

i agree with you, the more game you buy, the more the difference in game pricing will tilt the balance toward the PC. But you have to admit 100 AAA games (you're talking abotu 50/60€), you definitely are an enthusiast gamers. Don't know if console gamers buy that much in the same time period. i was more in the optic of 1 game per month type of player.

100 games over 8 years isn't that much really.. Is it? :x

[Vankrys]

He's not right though. It's not that long since PC games could be traded/re-sold freely and they were still the same price-point cheaper.

you got a point. The non tradable feature as more to do with sales than actual regular price.

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100 games over 8 years isn't that much really.. Is it? :x

you didn't say what the time period was, i assume it was half of that. Keeping the same PC for 8 years is ... rare.

[Wilian]

you got a point. The non tradable feature as more to do with sales than actual regular price.

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you didn't say what the time period was, i assume it was half of that. Keeping the same PC for 8 years is ... rare.

I should probably clarify that I bought it in 2007, then I've upgraded it's innards with new GPU (twice), CPU (once) RAM (once) MoBo (once). Overall price when adjusted to inflation remains at 1800e though.

[Nuckels]

not exactly, our games a way cheaper than the console counterpart, but our machine (PC vs console) is double or triple the price. Also we PC game don't pay sub fee just to play multiplayer on the internet (outside mmo sub or ISP of course)

overall, i think PC and console gamers spend about the same amount of money though PC gamers needs a bigger upfront investement.
In exchange, we often have better looking games, added functionnality (mods and tweaks) and a richer ecosystem (like 10 to 1 in game released for PC vs games released on console)

500euros for a xbox one, i can build a pc for that that can run any game right now, soo.. not really?

[Deleted]

you got a point. The non tradable feature as more to do with sales than actual regular price.

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you didn't say what the time period was, i assume it was half of that. Keeping the same PC for 8 years is ... rare.

i would argue that keeping the same console for 8 years is also rare, the first editions usually break within a few years. my ps3 never did in the years i had it, but RROD and ps3 crashes were both common

[Nuckels]

i would argue that keeping the same console for 8 years is also rare, the first editions usually break within a few years. my ps3 never did in the years i had it, but RROD and ps3 crashes were both common

Most of those console issues were people who didn't understand they needed to stay cool and be cleaned once in a while, granted a console also isnt for that audiance and some of the design was outright poor. Not had a single of my consoles break and i've had them since 1995.

Edit: before someone throws a hizzyfit, I am aware that they do break sometimes and you simply can not help that.

[Deleted]

I should probably clarify that I bought it in 2007, then I've upgraded it's innards with new GPU (twice), CPU (once) RAM (once) MoBo (once). Overall price when adjusted to inflation remains at 1800e though.

And just to add something people often don't take into account, more likely then not you would still buy a PC (albeit a much cheaper one) for other reasons even if you exclusively played games on consoles. So you would buy for example a 400 euro console and a 300 euro PC instead of your 1800 euro machine.

[Vankrys]

i am a PC gamer (95% of the time) i understand and fully aknowledge that PC gaming is cheaper than console gaming, especially if you are an enthusiast, less so if you are a very casual gamer (a friend of mine buy like 3-4 games a year for instance, on PS3)

but to keep our opinion pertinent, we need to take into consideration the fact that console gamers have their way to reduce their gaming expenses as well, mainly through used games either in a specialised shop or directly from people.

Console game prices do drop too. looking at batman arkham origin on amazon, it's $33 right now.
Need to see both side before making statement.


But in the end, yeah, PC masterrace and all.

[Deleted]

I think piracy plays a role in this too. The way I understand it (I might be completely wrong!) piracy is much smaller thing on consoles and it's not nearly as easy to get illegal copy. More reasonable prices counter that at least a bit. My country has rather high piracy and pc gaming rate and new titles cost roughly 30-40e in stores (with ~60e for console games). Then we have Russia, where prices are even lower and piracy is even more common.

[Once]

Console game does drop too. looking at batman arkham origin on amazon, it's $33 right now.
Need to see both side before making statement.

Origins is $10 on Steam until Monday, just an FYI for anyone interested since you brought it up.

[Vankrys]

Origins is $10 on Steam until Monday.

i know, i just announced it a few post above, the whole square catalogue is at 75% That is exactly why i chose that exemple.

[Eroginous]

Console games can be sold/traded. PC games generally can not.

How's that for a good reason?

I was under the impression you could let your friends 'borrow' your steam games.

[Deleted]

Why are PC games in advantage regarding the price tag (and discounts) on Steam in comparison to PS Store and Xbox Marketplace? Or even the physical versions with CDs that you can find on any retailer?

I really don't understand why and would like to know the logic behind it.

the answer to that is quite simple actually.

PS Store and XBox Market only have to compete with eachother. They own rights to your device in a way that only through them (Microsoft/Sony) can anyone else (game developers) make a videogame for you (the player) and this includes setting up the price. They (Microsoft/Sony) only have 1 competitor.

On the other hand Steam (or any computer game seller) has to compete with everyone that makes a PC game and virtually anyone can make that and set up their own price.

A clear classic example of how lack of (real) competition can turn against the end user regarding product prices.

[barackopala]

I think piracy plays a role in this too. The way I understand it (I might be completely wrong!) piracy is much smaller thing on consoles and it's not nearly as easy to get illegal copy. More reasonable prices counter that at least a bit. My country has rather high piracy and pc gaming rate and new titles cost roughly 30-40e in stores (with ~60e for console games). Then we have Russia, where prices are even lower and piracy is even more common.

Piracy rates on xbox is not as low as you might think, it's pretty common to see most retailers sell xbox with an "added" RGH "feature"