Rising Video Game Prices Spark Outrage in Turkey
As video game prices continue to climb, gamers worldwide are feeling the pinch. Recent subscription price hikes, like the Xbox Game Pass increase and PlayStation's tiered service hike last year, indicate a trend that shows no signs of stabilizing. The impact is especially harsh in countries with lower median incomes, such as Turkey.
In 2020, former PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan defended a 20% price increase, citing the growing amount of time players spend on video games compared to other media. However, this reasoning does little to console Turkish gamers who now face steep price hikes. For instance, the cost of gaming titles in Turkey has surged to $85, a significant jump from the previous 2,000 Turkish lira (about $60), in a country where the median monthly salary is roughly $400.
Ameer, a video game media executive, voiced his frustration on social media, arguing that Sony's pricing strategy in Turkey is out of touch with the economic realities of the country. He emphasized that many players will now struggle to afford new games, describing the situation as "illegal" due to the disparity between prices and local incomes.
The backlash from the Turkish gaming community is widespread. One gamer remarked on the irony of a highly profitable company like Sony failing to accommodate gamers in economically disadvantaged regions. Another pointed out the stark contrast between Sony's pricing and Microsoft's more affordable Game Pass options in Turkey, despite recent increases.
The hope is that Sony will reassess its pricing strategy in Turkey to ensure that video games remain accessible to all. As the cost of gaming continues to rise globally, it's crucial for companies to consider the economic diversity of their customer base and strive for fairness and empathy in their pricing decisions.
