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Valve decides that Europeans don't get screwed over enough when they buy games photo

A large number of European consumers have become outraged over a recent decision by Valve to start listing Steam prices in Euros for everyone in the EU (previously, everything was in US dollars). While this seems reasonable, the outrage is because the currency exchange rate Valve is using is $1 = €1, while the actual exchange rate is something close to $1 = €0.72. To make matters worse, Valve is forcing a flat VAT into the price, even in countries that don't have a VAT or use a lower rate.

With this change, almost everyone in the EU has found that Steam games are drastically more expensive than they used to be, and are understandably pretty upset about it. A Steam community group protesting the change already has around 3,000 members, and that number is getting bigger rather quickly.

So far, Valve's only response has been to claim that the change was mainly made to make things "easier to understand" for Europeans so that they "wouldn't be surprised" by taxes. Oh, and they also realized that since European game stores charge so much anyway, they could raise their prices and still be competitive.

As much as I love Valve, this is pretty crappy. Hopefully they realize that this is unfair and decide to use a proper exchange rate.

[Thanks, Martin!]








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Jonathan Ross is an Associate Editor in Los Angeles who is obsessed with capybaras. Like, seriously, obsessed. If he's not playing Team Fortress 2 or getting into arguments about why PC gaming is superior, he's either off having a fancy dinner with lots of expensive wine, or sitting on the Destructoid IRC complaining that's he's not off having a fancy dinner. Likes: Chrono Trigger, Street Fighter, Steam, everything Blizzard and Valve have ever made, playing Angry Birds on the toilet. Meet the rest of the team



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49 comments | showing # 1 to 49
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Nogarda's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:13
Nogarda
-_- *sigh* When it comes to gaming America has been saying 'bend over' for the past two decades. It's only the newer generation of gamers that are being enlightened on almost a daily basis be it from microsoft points to crap like this. it never ends. If we could somehow mail a punch in the face to those trying to screw us over and a second to the German Censorship board which effects the whole of the european contenients game content, things might change. But it never will.
ninjikiran's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:18
ninjikiran
That is ridiculous, I don't have to be European to see that this is bull.
GamingGoddess's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:23
GamingGoddess
This really seems as though it should be beneath Valve, although I suppose their bean counting department is probably nice and separate from the developers. Disappointing.
Diverse's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:25
Diverse
I still think Australia has it the worst.
Snidesworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:25
Snidesworth
It was expensive to buy off Steam before, now it'll be utterly extortionate.
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:26
MrSadistic
usa usa usa
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:27
linuxguy
No you all don't understand it's because of shipping cost
:p
Jesse Cortez's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:28
Jesse Cortez
Just when everyone thought Valve could do no wrong!

But of course this is probably a "higher-ups" decision and not the people who make the games...here's hoping things get fixed!
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:30
Magesx
Maybe you guys should stop being Communists over there and come over to the freedom side.
Cynical Gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:33
Cynical Gamer
It really blows my mind that the UK is Sonyland. There must be a lot of rich gamers over there.
Nogarda's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:47
Nogarda
@cynical gamer

Thats because nintendo have been giving us the shaft (6 months after a us wii release title we get it) while ps3 and xbox 360 titles like cod 4 or fallout 3 get a same day release and barely a few days after a US one.

Microsoft doubled prices on everything from subscriptions to msp's so what you pay $10 for we pay £20 for usually. Sony at least try not to give us the shaft it seems this gen but is slow as sin in every department really. In the end its all about gamer service and overall value. we have enough to deal with, with a rogue scotman pretending hes prime minsiter when no one voted for the c***. let alone being shafted in the game industry.
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:48
grafkhun
This is coming from Valve? damn...
SuperD1984's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:49
SuperD1984
UK is SonyLand? i only know one person with a PS3
SuperD1984's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:52
SuperD1984
GO GO GORDON BROWN,

also english are cocks(well that guy anyway)
OrgunDonor's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:53
OrgunDonor
But steam has never really been that cheap for the UK users, Left for dead is only £25 in most online retailers, but on steam you are generally looking about £40 maybe even more... i mean it was cheaper to get the 360 version then the PC version....
mo0man's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:54
mo0man
Any Europeans feel like jim is here laughing at you all?
SuperD1984's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:56
SuperD1984
Nah, he was forced to move to the US
SnakeDude4Life's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/19/2008 23:59
SnakeDude4Life
Forced?

....
garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:02
garison
Even we Canadiands don't get screwed over that bad when it comes to exchange rates.
Lodin's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:07
Lodin
Now it's literally cheaper to buy every game on Steam in a store or online so screw them. Why would I for instance buy the Strong Bad game on steam for 35 Euro when I can still get it for 35 USD at Telltale themselves?
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:08
Atlas
Yeah meng, in Canada they are trying to change games to 65$ from 60$. Games used to be 70$ a few years back. I remember several months maybe a year back and some high profile games were going for 50$-55$ out of the gate but the Canadian dollar was worth $1.15 back then and now it is down around 82 cents for a US dollar.
Vedicardi2's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:20
Vedicardi2
What the hell what is up with those giant coins
SnakeDude4Life's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:40
SnakeDude4Life
@Vedicardi2

Those are euros, over 9,00 tons of sliver and copper.

cainball's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:47
cainball
@Diverse

I second that. Expensive games, late release dates. Some companies don't even release all their games here (Rock Band 2, I am looking at you.)

For the last couple of years, I have bought the majority of my games from Play Asia. Now, with the Aus dollar doing so poorly (due to America's failing economy- how the hell does that work?), I actually have to go into a store and buy games. Dammit. Sucks to be an Aussie gamer sometimes.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:47
Takeshi
Good job, douchebags. I hate his face so much, I can't look at the pic anymore.
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:48
Takeshi
BTW. I could care less about Steam. Just hate his face that's all.
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 00:59
ace of knaves
What do you know, Valve is no longer 100% magic.
Uther's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 03:07
Uther
THAT'S WHAT YOU STUPID EUROPEANS GET FOR BEING BORN THERE!
Dammit Valve, are you trying to makes us hate you?
hood_954's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 03:14
hood_954
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EA BECOMES ASSOCIATED WITH COMPANIES IN ANY WAY.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 03:22
Kyousuke Nanbu
Valve sucks.
Steam sucks.
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 03:53
PhazonYoshi
Fuck you, Valve. You know I love you, but you're going the right way to change that.
Timmeh's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 04:14
Timmeh
"Almost everyone in the EU"... Except the UK. I don't know what happened with the Euro conversion but games priced for the UK are now substantially cheaper and more in line with retail prices.

Oh and bear in mind that Valve don't set the price for third party games, I'm pretty sure it's the publisher. Although since there are no examples in the post it's possible that they are overcharging for their own games too.
Alasdair Duncan's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 04:25
Alasdair Duncan
I have to feel Valve are shooting themselves in the foot. Digital distribution is supposed to level the playing field and entice people to buy games, not pirate them. Ramping up the price for no good reason and making some games not available outside North America, doesn't help.
Regor's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 04:50
Regor
@SuperD1984

Gordon Brown isnt English.
atheistium's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 05:05
atheistium
thanks valve, u dick :(
Kaspar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 05:39
Kaspar
What, why, valve, my love, why would you do this to me?

Prices here in stores are unreal, Steam was the only thing that kept me from pirating EVERYTHING.
RaiRed's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 06:38
RaiRed
Even when prices were dollars Left 4 Dead was coming in at £40 as opposed to the £20 retail price, exchange rates are insane. I almost never found a game on steam I couldn't buy with a case for less. Digital Distribution sucks.
Remo's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 09:27
Remo
Great, it's now far cheaper to buy a pc game in my local gamestop than it is to buy off steam. Fallout 3 cost about 10 euro's less there than on steam now.
konrad hazen's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 13:28
konrad hazen
...aaaaaaaand here goes the magic of Valve. Apparently greed has gotten the better of them. I sure hope their future games are still as good as always.
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 15:04
CALkulon
Thank fuck we (UK) don't use the Euro. It's still total bollocks, of course.
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 18:39
grasslunatic
WTF Valve I will never buy a game from Steam again.
Satsumomo's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/20/2008 22:47
Satsumomo
I hope this happens for Latin America, that way I can buy Steam games for only $5!
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/21/2008 12:09
JustLikeBuck
Merry Christmas to you, Valve. You c***s.
Simplex's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/21/2008 18:49
Simplex
Hitler learns about new prices on Steam;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9aEY87sDDU
Spartan's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/21/2008 19:52
Spartan
The group has over 5k now and there is another one for getting rid of regional restrictions which has over 10k members that is closely related to this crap.
zeroword's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 09:59
zeroword
Looking at it from Valve's point of view with the state of the economy, any drop in the value of the dollar would have screwed them over. Changing to the Euro was a logical choice but they should have averaged the exchange rate out instead of a flat one to one.

Look at it this way, Credit cards charge extra for exchanging currency so the price is still not going to be fair in the end.

Then there is the flat VAT. That sucks for you.
myzerosum's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:55
myzerosum
time to find a demonoid invite
Spartan's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/23/2008 07:54
Spartan
Well, now everyone in the world can get the software except for people in the UK and Japan. The whole deal just sucks big time. Moreover we need to congratulate Valve on providing ample incentive to EU gamers to use the Internet versions of the titles as well as those of us in the UK and Japan.
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