GTAmoney

If you haven’t already pre-ordered Grand Theft Auto V, arguably this year’s biggest game, expect to pay a little more for it. The local price of the latest iteration of the infamous murder simulator is set to increase, because our currency is in the toilet, according to the chaps at MyGaming.

According to them, and the retailers they quizzed about the increased cost, it all has to do with our the exchange rate and our currency’s currently plummeting value. Don’t be too glum though; the cost price to retailers is set to increase by just 2.7%, though it does make an already expensive game just that little bit pricier.

Both Kalahari.com and Animeworx have confirmed that those who pre-ordered at a lower price won’t have to cough up extra for the game, which is all rather nice of them.

We chatted to the decidedly forthcoming local Take-Two distributors Megarom, who said that the price increase was unfortunately out of their hands – but they’ve done all they can to keep the price as low as they could. As somebody who used to work in importing, it’s a headache I understand only too well.

“The Rand has depreciated over 30% in the last year and has fallen by 6.6% over the last 2 Weeks. Megarom’s Devon Stanton told us. “Due to this Megarom has unfortunately had to raise the pricing on the title by 2.7%”

“The current RRP on the title is sitting at R749 from R729, and I believe some of the retailers are honouring pre-order pricing. It’s also important to keep in mind that our RRP may not reflect the cost of the title in store”

Right now, depending on who you pre-order from, you can still pick the game up for under R700. Takealot’s got it for R699, While Kalahari.com seems to still have it available for a tempting R629. AnimeWorx seems to have already increased their price, and they’re offering it up for R760, while BT Games doesn’t have a price listed yet all.  CNA, as is the usual, has it at the recommended retail price.

Last Updated: September 5, 2013

1.1
was reviewed on PC

119 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Awesomenaut

    September 5, 2013 at 13:38

    R400 more than I am willing to pay tbh

    Reply

    • Umar Final Fantasy 15 Hopeful

      September 5, 2013 at 13:39

      Did they announce GTA V for PC?

      Reply

      • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

        September 5, 2013 at 13:40

        The 180 Edition hasn’t being announced yet 🙁

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 5, 2013 at 13:43

        Not yet but they will and here’s the thing. Console gamers had to sit on their hands and wait for Diablo 3. We are going to have to pay even more for a game that has been out for a long while. GTAV will come to PC and it will be a lot cheaper and better than the console.

        I like my PS3, I really do. But PC gamers always seems to come out tops.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Awesomenaut

          September 5, 2013 at 13:44

          Indeed. R700 will get me enough games for a year (or more) on Steam

          Reply

        • John mul-ti-pass

          September 5, 2013 at 14:03

          I agree. I enjoy the five games I have on PS3 that I can’t get on PC, but I bought most on specials or out of the second hand boxes.

          I just can’t get myself to spend that much money on a game and it’s not because I don’t feel they’re worth 700. It’s just that some games don’t give me 700 worth of gameplay. Others give me R1000 worth and then some were a waste of a R1 coin.

          Reply

          • Sean Carbutt

            September 5, 2013 at 14:06

            I have pre ordered a Special Editon. Going to have to fork out R949 for that puppy. Has some extra crap like a blue print map, additional missions, skins etc. MP has a .50 caliber handgun and some other toys

          • John mul-ti-pass

            September 5, 2013 at 14:10

            I’m a bit scared of pre-ordering games. Burnt my fingers with games that ended up being very bad. Then again, I can’t see why I wouldn’t like GTA V.

          • Sean Carbutt

            September 5, 2013 at 14:19

            One beeeeg difference for me. I work at Edcon. My mate is the buyer for CNA gaming, so i have a lot of inside info etc. Mine is a guarranteed deal. Beeg beeg plus, we have a CNA store in our Head Office, so I get the games early release day or if i beg enough, the night before. Ssssh, don’t tell anybody.

          • John mul-ti-pass

            September 5, 2013 at 16:12

            Well, that’s a big plus. Wish I had that advantage, could’ve saved me some money in the past. I get info on Marvel and DC stuff, but that’s all. Work with their licensing.

        • Umar Final Fantasy 15 Hopeful

          September 5, 2013 at 14:59

          As always, we make a lot of fun of those egotistical bastards but hey, they have the superior hardware

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            September 5, 2013 at 15:02

            We have superior exclusives and zero DRM 😉

          • Umar Final Fantasy 15 Hopeful

            September 5, 2013 at 15:05

            Well that is true, consoles for the win. PC for the snooze ZZZzzZZ

  2. Jakster

    September 5, 2013 at 13:39

    Console gaming is turning into a joke as the next-gen arrives. Too costly to get into and too costly to maintain. No wonder companies like Samsung are smiling all the way to profits.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Awesomenaut

      September 5, 2013 at 13:42

      Why Samsung?

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        September 5, 2013 at 14:00

        Jakster works for Samsung. He mentions them whenever he can. Imagine if he was working for KFC.

        “Console gaming is turning into a joke as the next-gen arrives. Too costly to get into and too costly to maintain. No wonder companies like KFC are smiling all the way to profits… Mmmm finger licking good!”

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          September 5, 2013 at 14:01

          screw samsung

          Reply

        • RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

          September 5, 2013 at 14:13

          BWAHAHAHAHAH! WINNER!

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            September 5, 2013 at 14:14

            he only did that for comment of the week!

          • RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

            September 5, 2013 at 14:15

            I agree. The nana is hedging his bets man.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            September 5, 2013 at 14:16

            hy is baie slim piesang

        • JHN

          September 5, 2013 at 15:15

          Win

          Reply

        • Sageville

          September 6, 2013 at 09:52

          Man, really?

          He works for Samsung and does advertising punts on their behalf?

          I believe there’s a special place in hell for those peeps, right next to telemarketers, lawyers and politicians.

          Reply

      • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

        September 5, 2013 at 14:03

        He has a bit of a point there. Galaxy Note 3 releases for R10000 and the world runs out and buys it. PS4 launches for R6299 and people moan and groan all year long about the device being too expensive.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          September 5, 2013 at 14:05

          But let’s be fair, how else are hipster scum supposed to show of their credit card dependence in coffee shops across Africa? 😛

          Reply

          • John mul-ti-pass

            September 5, 2013 at 14:06

            I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more pleasing word combination than Hipster Scum. Well done sir.

          • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

            September 5, 2013 at 14:11

            LOLZ….Gone are the days of gold teeth and bear grills 🙁

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            September 5, 2013 at 14:11

            Hahaha!

        • Marc O Polo

          September 5, 2013 at 17:42

          my problem has not been with the price but the price difference to the rest of the world, would be stupid to be screwed on price and not complain about it!

          Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 5, 2013 at 13:42

    R749 for a game, eina that’s going to hurt.

    Reply

    • Tarisma

      September 5, 2013 at 14:32

      That is a fuck load of money for a game, just by second hand or wait 6 months.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 5, 2013 at 14:36

        Yip, that’s why I don’t preorder anymore. Wait 6 months/year – get the game & all its DLC for a nice discount.

        Reply

        • Tarisma

          September 5, 2013 at 14:46

          Same here hey, second hand, platinum, steam summer sale, humble bundle or PS+ is the way forward. No point buying new games there are so many many “older” ones that are 80% of the price.

          Reply

    • CypherGate

      September 5, 2013 at 15:33

      gona hurt, but keep you busy for a very very long time before your next game purchase 🙂

      Reply

    • Marc O Polo

      September 5, 2013 at 17:47

      if i take the amount of hours of play i get out of a top game its still to me worth it, lets be conservative and say i play it for 20 hours, that is less than R40 a hour… a hell of a lot less than i spend when I’m at the pub

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    September 5, 2013 at 13:43

    To to trade in Bioshock 3 and Last of Us >:(

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Awesomenaut

      September 5, 2013 at 13:44

      To to?

      Reply

      • Trebzz

        September 5, 2013 at 13:50

        Desmond To to

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 5, 2013 at 14:06

        Bt Games

        Reply

        • John mul-ti-pass

          September 5, 2013 at 14:08

          I still need to get Last of Us, so it’s good to know that I’ll find one second hand already…

          Reply

  5. Otto_ki

    September 5, 2013 at 13:47

    WOW that’s a lot of Randelas…good thing I jumped ship after Vice City, loved it too bits everything after just wasn’t giving me that GTA AWWW JISS!!! feeling

    Reply

    • Guest

      September 5, 2013 at 14:27

      *Randibas

      Reply

  6. InsanityFlea

    September 5, 2013 at 13:49

    Time to hang up the controllers and find a new hobby.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      September 5, 2013 at 14:10

      I’m going to try my hand at quantity surveying… 😀 Screw GAMING! Hello THEODOLITES!

      Reply

      • RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

        September 5, 2013 at 14:13

        You’re dead to me now…

        Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      September 5, 2013 at 14:13

      There’s always a spot available with the Master Race.

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        September 5, 2013 at 14:15

        Which is far more costly to keep up with…

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          September 5, 2013 at 14:15

          PC gaming is a lie!

          Reply

          • Martin du preez

            September 5, 2013 at 14:19

            Yeah. Who wants to play shitty versions of games like Diablo III on pc?

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            September 5, 2013 at 14:28

            Or console ports like.. every game released this year 😛

        • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

          September 5, 2013 at 14:16

          Perceptions…perceptions 😉

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            September 5, 2013 at 14:17

            the truth the truth you know so very well….

      • InsanityFlea

        September 5, 2013 at 14:17

        I have console & pc (monster pc) the games will be costly on PC too.

        BF4 pre-order + premium cost me R900!! 🙁

        Reply

        • Uberutang

          September 5, 2013 at 15:00

          I pre-ordered BF4 and COD G for R799 , combined…

          Reply

          • InsanityFlea

            September 5, 2013 at 15:22

            BF4 pre-order was R400, Then Premium is R500.

  7. Marius Nell

    September 5, 2013 at 13:50

    As long as the price for my limited edition do not increase. R700 for a 70 hour + game is ok in my book.

    Reply

    • Purple_Dragon

      September 5, 2013 at 15:23

      Exactly. People will shell out R600 for a 6 hour FPS game but bitch and moan about R700 for a massive game like GTA.

      Weird shit.

      Reply

  8. Martin du preez

    September 5, 2013 at 13:50

    I don’t know how this stuff work. But why are there NO increases on other games releasing? Or do they really adjust these prices according to hype/pre orders?

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      September 5, 2013 at 13:53

      I was thinking the exact same thing. Someone’s milking the hype train.

      Reply

      • Martin du preez

        September 5, 2013 at 13:56

        I swear this happened before GTAIV release as well..

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          September 5, 2013 at 13:57

          I wasnt that hyped about Gta IV more about V so wouldnt know

          Reply

        • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

          September 5, 2013 at 14:01

          Yes it did happen. I remember reading reviews a month later about how cumbersome GTA 4’s gameplay was and the story being average but by then too many gamers that fell for the hype train and they already filled Rockstar’s Swiss accounts.

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            September 5, 2013 at 14:02

            Ive never been let down by a Rockstar game yet..

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          September 5, 2013 at 14:04

          Don’t forget the insane price at which Max Payne 3 launched…

          Reply

          • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

            September 5, 2013 at 14:12

            This is a R* issue.

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 5, 2013 at 14:03

      Importing on a large scale is a bit of a headache of a business; generally, you end up paying, in dollars, the price when the stock lands, not when you order it. It’s based on these mammoth agreements, that should certain fluctuation thresholds be crossed, you end up paying higher than agreed pricing. With the recent proper nosedive (around 8% within the last month) of our currency, we should be glad the increase is only 2.7%.

      Other overseas distribution houses will have different shipping agreements, so not every game/imported item will be affected – for now. Expect everything else to go up soon enough though.

      Reply

      • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

        September 5, 2013 at 14:18

        The more copies that land here the higher the price of the game will rise if our president keeps yapping his trap?

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      September 5, 2013 at 14:04

      I have to agree with you there Martin, if other titles also showed an increase, I wouldn’t have thought twice – rand/dollah exchange, but I have to say, this sounds like Saffer retail opportunism again.

      Reply

    • Nick de Bruyne

      September 5, 2013 at 16:51

      To you guys commenting here @martindupreez:disqus @timster1033:disqus @FoxOneZA:disqus @JimLenoir:disqus — with GTA games, they are indeed being milked to a degree, as Rockstar, knowing full well how big demand is for their GTA games pretty openly said that they add a ‘premium’ onto their GTA games.

      Essentially, what they are saying is: “Our games are so good, and we know that you want to play them so bad, and will pay without issue, that we decided to put the price point higher because we can”.

      That’s why the game costs so much. I mean it’s crazy that we are scrambling around for a R629 preorder price! Usually pre-orders bag you a game for R100 less than that.

      Reply

  9. Trebzz

    September 5, 2013 at 13:51

    I’m bloody glad I ordered it at a lower price everyone us out to get money now.

    Reply

  10. Lord Chaos

    September 5, 2013 at 13:54

    Fortunately we have the CPA to protect those who have per-ordered. So raising the price for an already paid for game would be suicide.

    Reply

    • FSR

      September 5, 2013 at 14:40

      And most retailers have a “price subject to change” disclaimer in their Ts & Cs for preorders… so you won’t get much traction with the CPA.

      Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        September 5, 2013 at 14:42

        You’d be surprised. Best way past it is to do like BT. Ask for deposit, and don’t put a full price on. With that you can change final price. But once it’s accepted as full payment, ‘aint much they are allowed to do.

        Reply

    • ryanwhygordon

      September 5, 2013 at 15:59

      Unless, like me you pre-order the special edition on Kalahari (during their 15% discount period) only for them to cancel my order due to lack of stock. Now I have to place a new order and have a R170 price increase to deal with.

      Reply

  11. TiMsTeR1033

    September 5, 2013 at 13:54

    Then why did I preorder at CNA and nly paid R656?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 5, 2013 at 14:01

      Cancel the pre-order & pay full price you thief.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        September 5, 2013 at 14:07

        LOL!

        Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        September 5, 2013 at 14:09

        NEVER!!! I be a PIE-RAT!!!

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          September 5, 2013 at 16:24

          RAT-OF-PIE?

          Reply

  12. ALKi1234

    September 5, 2013 at 14:03

    Kalahari.com is the king when it comes to pre-orders. Got it for R599

    Reply

  13. A 2 Brute?

    September 5, 2013 at 14:04

    Got my PS3 Special Edition on Takealot.com for R600. To be fair, I did have credit from an old order I cancelled. Glad I paid before the price hike though!

    Reply

  14. Trebzz

    September 5, 2013 at 14:10

    BT games did send an email saying R670 I think, but that might change now.

    Reply

  15. TiMsTeR1033

    September 5, 2013 at 14:11

    What I dont get is, Do we import all Console games at Pound to rand exchange or Dollar? I mean its all Pal and pal is Uk…. Can someone please enlighten me… Im not so clued up on this

    Reply

    • RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

      September 5, 2013 at 14:11

      Well then you are a god damn idiot! No, kidding, I also don’t know 😉

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      September 5, 2013 at 15:08

      Usually all international transactions are dollar based.. whether that is true of games I do not know for sure.

      Reply

      • Marc O Polo

        September 5, 2013 at 18:02

        i would imagine that megarom deal with rockstar in the states, otherwise we would have to get it from the uk, US to UK to SA would hike the price even further, also the import duties from US and Europe are ridiculous,

        Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 5, 2013 at 15:17

      Depends on the supplier. as Gavin stated, usually all international transactions are done in dollars; though some may choose to use their own currencies. As far as I know, some of our game imports are actually done against the Euro. Activision Blizzard, for example, ships many of its PAL games out of The Netherlands. Many of EA’s come from Switzerland, Ubisoft’s From France, Deep Silver’s from Austria etc etc etc and etc.

      Reply

  16. RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

    September 5, 2013 at 14:11

    Damn man. Only going to get worse with all these strikes…

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      September 5, 2013 at 14:13

      I see a massive shooting fest all over again….

      Reply

  17. MieLLiePaP

    September 5, 2013 at 14:13

    i really don’t get this! how is it that in US Fifa 14 will sell for $60 and GTA 5 will go for the same price…but in SA, Fifa 14 will be R699, but GTA 5 will be R749. i just don’t get it…if megarom blames the Rand, then that means that all other games must be that price as well…but its not! so…i don’t get it! Am i missing somthing? please can someone explain.

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 5, 2013 at 14:22

      Our games, locally, don’t just get imported from the same distribution centre in Europe/US.we have different middlemen handling different games, from different publishers – each with different agreements, different pricing tiers etc.

      EA games, thanks to our local EA offices, tend to be cheapest as they don’t go through a local third-party distributor. Sony will charge different prices to our local distrbutors for Sony games than say, 2K games’ European distribution agency sells games to Megarom.

      On top of that, they all use different shipping agencies and different shipping mechanisms to get games to this little tip of Africa. Some games are brought in in small consignments by air, which can make their single unit prices quite high. Others, if there’s a long enough lead-time, can be brought in bulk consignments by ship, making them cheaper per unit price.

      In the end, we’re at the mercy of the people our local distrbutors buy games from, exchange rates, shipping agencies and customs – and that’s before the local distributors add their mark up (they are in the business of making money) and before warheousing and local logistics are taken in to account, before we even get to retailers and their mark-ups and logistics.

      It’s a far trickier prospect overall than most gamers realise.

      Reply

      • InsanityFlea

        September 5, 2013 at 14:33

        Thank you, clears some things up!!

        Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        September 5, 2013 at 14:38

        Pfftt.. I like the conspiracy theories better!

        Reply

      • MieLLiePaP

        September 5, 2013 at 14:42

        Cool, now i understand a little better 🙂

        Reply

  18. RinceThisandFINALLYlvUP!

    September 5, 2013 at 14:18

    Where’s OVG when you need real rage to rear its ugly head?

    Reply

  19. Brenz

    September 5, 2013 at 14:18

    I got my email confirmation of pre order about a week ago with the quoted price of R665 from BT Games, and thats what im paying. there shall be no negotiations!

    Reply

  20. TiMsTeR1033

    September 5, 2013 at 14:21

    my buddy has already got the game says it came into stores yesterday!!!

    Reply

    • Martin du preez

      September 5, 2013 at 14:22

      Kak

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        September 5, 2013 at 14:22

        he is playing it now! hehehe

        Reply

      • Brady miaau

        September 5, 2013 at 15:24

        I got fifa 2010 at CNA Hatfield, Pretoria, three days before official release date. At a discount. They packed it out on the shelf. I am sure Nu Metro had a fit.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          September 5, 2013 at 15:39

          lol, I remember getting GTA 4 two weeks before it “officially” launched in stores. Ah CNA… you were a rebel back then.

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            September 5, 2013 at 16:11

            2 weeks! damn i wish my CNA was like that!

          • Brady miaau

            September 5, 2013 at 16:23

            It seems to be a thing of the past, but they did it multiple times, with different games. I understand they nearly lost all Nu Metro imported games as a result.

            I was surprised, because I did not know it was pre-release. Then I looked it up and found articles and previews, but no real reviews.

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      September 5, 2013 at 14:29

      Friends share or else!

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      September 5, 2013 at 15:12

      I’d pay him real money if he let me get some gameplay footage of that being played

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      September 5, 2013 at 15:38

      Your buddy is a WITCH! BURN HIM! BURN HIM OR SEE IF HE FLOATS! IF HE FLOATS HE’S A WITCH!

      Reply

  21. RedDeadZombie

    September 5, 2013 at 14:29

    So glad I have paid for my Special Edition via Kalahari for PS3. R750 is what I paid and it seems you can’t find GTA V for PS3 on their site anymore.

    Holding thumbs for anyone who has not yet paid for this game.

    Bring on the 17th of September!!!

    Reply

  22. Avithar

    September 5, 2013 at 14:41

    i pre-ordered the special edition from CNA and paid a R1000

    Reply

    • RedDeadZombie

      September 5, 2013 at 17:38

      Not cool

      Reply

      • Avithar

        September 6, 2013 at 11:25

        but i am sure it will be worth every cent that i have spent

        Reply

        • RedDeadZombie

          September 6, 2013 at 11:31

          That is something I will def agree with!

          Reply

          • Avithar

            September 6, 2013 at 11:37

            counting the days bud, will take half day from work cause it will be delivered to the office….

  23. Uberutang

    September 5, 2013 at 15:01

    I will wait for the pirate bay edition on this one. Eventually to buy it for workshop mods at $9.

    Reply

  24. InsanityFlea

    September 5, 2013 at 15:21

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      September 5, 2013 at 16:22

      I can relate.. lol! The funny thing is GTA Vice City changed my view of 80s music. I used to hate the music my older siblings loved (there’s a decade between my older siblings and the banana)….

      Now… whenever I hear Safety Dance… I can’t help but sing along. 🙁

      Reply

  25. Fred

    September 5, 2013 at 23:19

    I’m sure glad I don’t have to put up with Rs or Rands or whatever you call them. We pay for everything with gold. It’s just easier that way.

    Reply

  26. bluegoon

    September 6, 2013 at 10:15

    I’ll buy it off a piratebay sale.

    Reply

    • Marc O Polo

      September 6, 2013 at 16:45

      dirty pirate!

      Reply

  27. CURT

    September 12, 2013 at 14:37

    guys gamezone has gta v for R600 pre order R580

    Reply

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