[Japan]If you thought PS3 games were overpriced, check out the prices on PS4 games

[MOONPHASE]

The PlayStation 4 version and PlayStation 3 version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag are the same price in North America. Next gen and current gen are both $59.99. However, in Japan there is a price difference between PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 games.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is 7,400 yen ($76) on PlayStation 3, but 8,400 yen ($86) on PlayStation 4. Ubisoft also has the PS4 version of Watch Dogs priced at 8,400 yen ($86) too. Most PlayStation 3 games have a suggested retail price between 7,000 – 8,000 yen. For example, Gran Turismo 6 is 7,980 yen, Lightning Returns is 7,770 yen, and Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is 6,980 yen.

Ubisoft also said the PlayStation 4 upgrade program will be available in Japan. Upgrading from the PS3 version of Assassin’s Creed IV to the PS4 version will cost 1,000 yen ($10). Assassin’s Creed IV will be available on November 28 for PS3 and is a PS4 launch title slated for February 22.

Update: Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends is also more expensive on PlayStation 4. The retail PS3 version is 7,560 yen or 6,600 yen on the PlayStation Store. The PS4 release is 8,190 yen for a packaged game or 7,100 yen as a download. Tecmo Koei will also offer an upgrade which will allow people that bought the PS3 version to upgrade to the PS4 release for an additional 1,000 yen.

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/10/04...3-games-japan/

[Terjyn]

This is why I think people are treading through dangerous territory when they say that game prices should be de-standardized and based on the merit of the game.

Odds are this will result in high quality/desired titles going up in price, rather than titles becoming cheaper as a rule.

[DJJez]

ps4 games are currently priced at £49.99 in the uk where as ps3 games are £39.99 so we are getting screwed over as well. of course come release day the prices could go down but i doubt they will until after christmas

[GeneticMutation]

Originally Posted by DJJez

ps4 games are currently priced at £49.99 in the uk where as ps3 games are £39.99 so we are getting screwed over as well. of course come release day the prices could go down but i doubt they will until after christmas

Sainsbury's has them all listed at £54.99, even with my sisters 10% discount that's still bloody expensive! I'm hoping they come down to at least £44.99 at launch which I think is pretty reasonable for new gen games!

Once the madness settles after launch and christmas I hope they come down to £39.99!

[Elandyll]

Japan has always had crazy prices for entertainment stuff, it's not new or limited to videogames.

In fact, anyone interested in Anime, wether for TV series or OVAs (looks at Moonphase) should know that they've had it real rough, much moreso than for Video Games in fact, relatively speaking to the amount of stuff you get for the price.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Japan has always had crazy prices for entertainment stuff, it's not new or limited to videogames.

In fact, anyone interested in Anime, wether for TV series or OVAs (looks at Moonphase) should know that they've had it real rough, much moreso than for Video Games in fact, relatively speaking to the amount of stuff you get for the price.

I heard some anime studios were taking issue with Japanese fans buying US released anime*DVDs/blu-rays when they were less expensive or had better features.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by Musashi

I heard some anime studios were taking issue with Japanese fans buying US released anime*DVDs/blu-rays when they were less expensive or had better features.

It's not just Anime, but even with Japanese developed games released on region-free systems. But it's not as noticable as Japan's issue with America on Blu-rays since Japan and America share the same Blu-ray region unless Japan starts using the whole region-locking Japanese PS3 games like Persona 4 Arena. But does make you wish it would be easier to like say get the Yakuza games released in America sooner instead of waiting a whole year when Japan is already ready for the next game in the series.

When it comes to Anime, they tell the American company when it's ok or not to release a title on Blu-ray. Anime movies are not as hard to release. But paying $60 for 2-3 episodes per Volume versus $60 for a whole season or a $400 boxset, I think I know what people would prefer. So America gets many HD available titles but on DVD until Blu-ray is ready.

Some workarounds in America include removing the Japanese voices in the Blu-rays of Kurokami The Animation and Persona 4 The Animation even though the DVDs had the Japanese voices intact. K-ON! was released with English and Japanese lossy Dolby Digital audio, but K-ON!! plus the movie had DTS-HD Master Audio. Aniplex USA often just brings the Japanese version of the Blu-rays and DVDs into America but being an English-friendly version with a pricetag that's not much different than buying it in Japan.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

This is why I think people are treading through dangerous territory when they say that game prices should be de-standardized and based on the merit of the game.

Odds are this will result in high quality/desired titles going up in price, rather than titles becoming cheaper as a rule.

I think letting the market determine the price is still a better environment than $60 or bust.

Some games ought to be worth more than $60. Games with a ton of effort and boutique games that service a small but passionate core of players willing to pay for it should be allowed to go higher.

Smaller budget games that don't have the staff/talent/resources to make a $60 AAA game shouldn't be forced to strive for that quality bar just to justify a retail release.

I think a lot of people have lost sight of the "good old days" of gaming years ago, when games would sometimes be upwards of $50. Adjusted for inflation, that sometimes ends up being over $100 in today's currency, and those games back then didn't cost nearly as much or take nearly as long to develop in terms of AAA experiences.