Getting Xbox One games just got a whole lot more cheaper in India
We recently reported that Microsoft would be selling the Xbox One in India exclusively via Amazon. One would think that supplying to a single retailer would drive down the cost of distribution of the console, which is expensive in a country as big as India. However that was not the case. Rather than pass the savings directly to customers in the form of a lower price for the Xbox One, Microsoft and Amazon have seen it fit to give discounts on peripherals and freebies instead. Depending on when you pre-ordered the console, these range in value from INR 6,000 to INR 10,000 (around $99 to $163).
(See: Here’s why you can only buy the Xbox One on Amazon in India)
And while much has been said about the hardware pricing and availability, what about the games? A quick look on Amazon (the exclusive seller for Microsoft first-party games in India), and you’ll soon realize that the pricing makes absolutely no sense. Old launch titles like Ryse and Forza 5 are going for INR 4199 (around $69). Upcoming games such as Forza Horizon 2 are up for pre-order for INR 4299 (almost $71).
On Amazon India, the pricing for most Xbox One games isn’t exactly affordable.
To put it into perspective, games from publishers such as Ubisoft and Warner Bros are at INR 3499 ($58) while Sony first-party games are INR 3999 ($66) at the most. This makes Microsoft’s Xbox One line-up the most expensive list of launch games if you were to buy them officially.
Why is this happening? According to sources close to the matter, this is due to unfriendly foreign exchange conditions combined with customs duties and taxation pushing the price up. But if this was the case, why is it that other, non-Microsoft published games are priced lower? Microsoft did not reply to our request for comment.
Nonetheless, it’s not all gloom and doom for Xbox One fans in the country. Provided you have a decent internet connection, your saviour for cheaper games may be none other than Microsoft itself. Puzzled? Using the Smartglass app for smartphones, we managed to get an inkling of what pricing to expect from Microsoft on the digital front.
Right now the Xbox One Games Store is not up for India. But you can still check game prices via the Smartglass app.
Older first-party titles such as Ryse and Forza 5 are marginally cheaper on the Smartglass app at INR 2700 ($45) and INR 3900 ($64). Not much of a deal, right? That is of course, until you discover the pricing for multi-platform games. New titles like Metro Redux and Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition are fairly priced at INR 1880 ($31) and INR 2410 ($40) respectively.
Heavy hitters like Titanfall are also well-priced at INR 2500 ($41). These prices are almost half of what the grey market charges locally and a fair bit lower than most Western markets. How long this lasts however, is another story. Given that EA ramped up prices for India after an influx of non-Indian buyers on Origin, you’d be wise to get what you want before the prices inevitably go up.
(See: Titanfall video review: as good as shooters get)
As you can see, games are a lot cheaper digitally. Almost by half in some cases.
It’s telling that Microsoft’s own games, while less expensive digitally, are nowhere close to being competitive compared to multi-platform titles even on its own storefront. The American-based company’s roster for the year is teeming with strong exclusive content, and it would be interesting to see how it tackles pricing closer to releases of high profile exclusives like Sunset Overdrive and Halo: Master Chief Collection.
If you’re looking forward to playing games from the likes of EA and Activision, you’ll be in luck. Just keep in mind that you’ll need a decent internet connection and oodles of hard drive space.
More India news:
Microsoft thinks it can sell more Xbox Ones by going exclusive with Amazon India
Xbox India head Anshu Mor sounds off on how Microsoft manages its retail partners, why the Xbox One is poised for success, and of course, Sony.
The post Getting Xbox One games just got a whole lot more cheaper in India appeared first on Games in Asia.
The post Getting Xbox One games just got a whole lot more cheaper in India appeared first on Games in Asia.
