Atari Comments On Test Drive Unlimited Price Difference
US Gamers already know that Atari has graciously decided to put Test Drive: Unlimited on shelves for a mere $39.99, making the online racing game affordable to almost everyone. In Europe however, things are looking much different: Test Drive Unlimited will retail for £49.99, a price that translates to roughly $90. Inevitably, this caused an uproar in the gaming community, to which Atari has now responded.
An Atari spokesperson told Eurogamer that “The price in the US reflects the local Xbox 360 market situation”. The main argument for Atari is “a significantly larger Xbox 360 installed base, with a much bigger Xbox Live Gold membership”, making for more potential sales in the US than in Europe. The publisher adjusted the prices according to their revenue expectations.
Granted, this statement won’t satisfy European gamers in the least. Most feel that Atari simply tries to squeeze the money Atari “loses” on Test Drive Unlimited‘s reduced US price out of another part of the market. Some have also expressed concerns that this could be just the start of greater price differences between US and European territories.
In the end, publishers have the market in tight grip – but only while consumers are complying. Have Atari stepped over the line, or are people making too much fuss about nothing? Whatever your opinion is, it’s a given fact that this is not going to be the last time next-gen game prices are topic of debates.
Via Eurogamer
US Gamers already know that Atari has graciously decided to put Test Drive: Unlimited on shelves for a mere $39.99, making the online racing game affordable to almost everyone. In Europe however, things are looking much different: Test Drive Unlimited will retail for £49.99, a price that translates to roughly $90. Inevitably, this caused an uproar in the gaming community, to which Atari has now responded.
An Atari spokesperson told Eurogamer that “The price in the US reflects the local Xbox 360 market situation”. The main argument for Atari is “a significantly larger Xbox 360 installed base, with a much bigger Xbox Live Gold membership”, making for more potential sales in the US than in Europe. The publisher adjusted the prices according to their revenue expectations.
Granted, this statement won’t satisfy European gamers in the least. Most feel that Atari simply tries to squeeze the money Atari “loses” on Test Drive Unlimited‘s reduced US price out of another part of the market. Some have also expressed concerns that this could be just the start of greater price differences between US and European territories.
In the end, publishers have the market in tight grip – but only while consumers are complying. Have Atari stepped over the line, or are people making too much fuss about nothing? Whatever your opinion is, it’s a given fact that this is not going to be the last time next-gen game prices are topic of debates.
Via Eurogamer
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