An anonymous source has informed us that a local distributor has released a press release to retailers stating that games prices will be rising due to the economic crisis.
The press release apparently states that due to the Rand weakening some 22% (R9.45 to the Dollar at the time of writing) that game prices will be increasing as of October 27. If game prices go up to between 20% – 25% we may very well be looking at the possibility of R850 for standard titles.
We have a word of advice, after the jump.
It doesn’t take long to realise that there are going to be a lot of massive titles releasing in November and December, so if I can give you a word of advice it is this.
Pre-order, Pre-Order and Pre-Order. That way the prices are locked down and the retailers can’t charge you more.
Also, if there are any October titles that you were thinking about picking up at a later stage (not pre-owned) then you may want to get your hands on them before the 27th.
This is bad, bad news considering that we are about to run into what is arguably the greatest summer line-up of all time.
Last Updated: October 17, 2008
Scratchy
October 17, 2008 at 08:16
I have a feeling there is more than exchange rates at work here.
It’s Christmas season, awesome games and a nice scape goat just happened to walk into the door.
Most retailers have already paid for there stock in order to secure it for release anyway
Macethy
October 17, 2008 at 08:23
I also get the feeling of some underhanded sneakyness. . .MGS4 already retails for about R800 and if all games reach that price then I’m sorry but I’m going to give up gaming mainly on principle because while PC games cost about R300,console games retails for R600 – R750 even though they shift 100 times more units and are almost pirate free,I don’t understand why console games cost so much.Anyway definatly get a feeling retailers are getting greedy ahead of the festive season which in their own words looks very gloomy.
SYPH1N
October 17, 2008 at 08:28
First of all. holy crap! second of all : how can u blame the retailers?? the suppliers put up the cost, do u expect them to sell at a loss? Third : preordering nt necessarily gonna help, 9/10 of them have a preorder price subject to change
Fred
October 17, 2008 at 08:29
What a sad situation for us. I thought R600 per game was already ridiculous.
Macethy
October 17, 2008 at 08:32
But atleast its from Oct 27,already pre-ordered Fallout 3,Gears 2 and Fable 2 so I’m sorted for this year,although my birthday in Jan may be a bit bleak if these rumours are true 😕 . . .
Scratchy
October 17, 2008 at 08:44
Yeah, but pay day for most is only end of the month, so we’re going to have to fork out or lose out
kabraal
October 17, 2008 at 08:48
Meh, I also see this as BS tbh. Like was said before, I’m pretty sure suppliers and retailers also pre ordered and secured their stock long ago. If the week currency persists for say 6 months, then I’ll understand. Not 24 hours. Maybe I don’t understand retail.
Thing is we live in a country with a volatile currency. We’re by no means the only one. Hell even Aus’ currency took a nose dive. Euro’s, pounds and dollars seems to be the only stable ones.
Here in lies the son of a bitch question. We have a volatile currency. We have been to R13/dollar a while ago. Yet it came back. The current ratio will also come back sooner or later… do you think game prices will go down again? I think not.
Banana hammock
October 17, 2008 at 08:49
Then they wonder why piracy runs rampant.
Oh well, i’m not going to stop gaming so i guess i’ll just have to swallow hard and pay up!
Dev
October 17, 2008 at 09:20
If the rumours are true imagine what the prices are going to be on GH World Tour and Rock Band 2 😯 .
Would this affect console prices as well seeing as MS has just dropped prices here?
Milesh Bhana
October 17, 2008 at 09:26
many retailers don’t pay for their stock in cash, they have 30-90 day account. So yes, some suppliers will be affected, some won’t, depends on who settled their accounts for Oct/Nov/Dec stock before the rand fell.
FOr December releases, we’re screwed. end October prices will be unaffected. November stuff is the tricky part. Some will be able to honour their pre-order prices, some won’t. Depends on who has the better cashflow.
On the bright side, I think even MS/Sony/Ninty know that the market is a little screwed right now and price drops on older titles are coming fast. I think that as gamers, we’re fortunate that this is a global problem and the big 3 are starting to take notice.
ewie
October 17, 2008 at 09:32
we will just have to wait a few months for some games. If the game dont sell good price wil drop quickly. Just take facebreaker
DarkOcean
October 17, 2008 at 09:37
Um no retailers havnt already paid for stock. Retailers have payment terms minimum 30days. Has anyone been watching the exchange rate? Some analysts are almost comparing this to the great depression of the late 1920s and everyone thinks its a conspiracy LOL. Come guys lets think about it if the currency has lost over 20% in value over a few days and average retail makes 20% a game what would the increase need to be to just survive? Also I think the Lazy article is the “WORST CASE” scenario there will be some new pricelists released today where one should be able to see the real end product. have a look at this link to see how dire it is. http://www.exchange-rates.org/history/ZAR/USD/G/180 (May be a good idea everybody checks their investments to see if they are safe)
DarkOcean
October 17, 2008 at 09:41
Yes game prices will go down if the currency strengthens. Have a look at what the currency and game prices were around 9/11. Rand/Pound was at 23 – 1 game prices increased but then decreased once the curency strengthend.
Scotty777
October 17, 2008 at 09:49
holy crap!!! I bought my ps3 thinking, no more install, game updates, at the cost of R600 a game… I thought i was clever, but now, i’m kicking myself!
R850 is INSANE!!!!!!!!!! I simply can’t afford that, and that means i’ll only get a game every 4 months now… sadly…
Goose ZA
October 17, 2008 at 10:11
YEah but can you really see that happening for the current lineup? Gear 2, Fallout 3, LBP etc. No way in hell they aren’t going to sell well even with the huge prices
0rk0
October 17, 2008 at 10:17
I think more people will opt for the digital distribution method of buying games in the future. Developers save on costs on printing manuals and burning discs and that leads to games being cheaper to download than to buy in the store.
DarkOcean
October 17, 2008 at 10:30
I agree OrkO we just have one problem and thats no bandwidth. Until thats a lot better I dont see DD going forward.
Jimmytheediblewyrm
October 17, 2008 at 10:34
Woooo! And the rand is currently sitting at R10.14 to the dollar… I think its time we might have to look at getting new hobbies… 🙁
0rk0
October 17, 2008 at 10:57
I recently got myself a neotel connection.
Got the 10GIG Prime bundle for R600.00
Split the cost with the beter half : )
Connection slower than telkom’s best according to the stats but I opted for more bandwitdh than speed.
I did a couple of sessions of Wipeout HD and it was lag-less. Still have to go and try UT3. The ping is quite high according to speedtest.net, but I haven’t had problems as yet.
xyber
October 17, 2008 at 11:33
Don’t the publishers have to pay a license fee to MS and Sony for the games they wanna release on their platforms? That’s about the only reason I can see for the higher console prices. But serioulsy, this is getting ridiculous. Who the hell can afford R800 for a game?
As Scratchy said, nice scape goat to hike the prices.
Kale
October 17, 2008 at 11:35
According to rumor the largest atom smasher was going to destroy the world in 3 weeks. That was 4 weeks ago.
My point. Where is this article? Who said this?
Also why must I pay R300 over and above the R300 more I spend for the 360 or PS3 version of the game, I say screw the retailer we are already being ripped off.
Strife Lives
October 17, 2008 at 12:08
Bs.pure bs.well,I think its time for me to pick up a 80gig PS3 for R5399.cuz that will be much higher later. . .and. . .Geow2.Fallout 3.and Fable 2. . . .one has to go if true 🙁 I cant get them all at launch,so no preorders.
LazySAGamer
October 17, 2008 at 12:12
Just a note, the average AAA title in Australia sells for AUD$110 = R754
And that was before the Ozzie currency completely collapsed against the US Dollar..
Unfortunately this economic crisis is affecting everyone and not just the merchant bankers.
DarkOcean
October 17, 2008 at 12:22
The article predicting games at over R850 is a bit sensationalist. The new Prices have settled for console between R679 – R699 and PC – R399.
Nick
October 17, 2008 at 12:37
Ya, I did say that R850 is a possibility, not a probability.
I do however already know of a certain PS3 game that is going to be retailing for an RRP of R850.00 and that price was already set a couple of weeks back at the very least.
So what’s going to happen to that price?
Messiah
October 17, 2008 at 13:14
Maybe for everyone else in the world, but for us here, R70 per gig, I doubt it will ever be cheaper 🙁