"The Outer Worlds 2": Microsoft doesn't dare to charge 80 euros after all
Microsoft originally wanted to charge 80 euros for "The Outer Worlds 2". However, following criticism, the price has been lowered to 70 euros.
(Image: Obsidian Entertainment)
Microsoft has changed the pricing of its upcoming sci-fi role-playing game "The Outer Worlds 2": Instead of charging 80 US dollars for the title, it will only cost 70 dollars. This is also reflected in the euro price: 80 euros will become 70 euros. Anyone who has pre-ordered the game will receive a credit note from the operator of the relevant store.
The price change was announced by developer Obsidian in a tongue-in-cheek X-Post, which fits in with the satirical tone of "The Outer Worlds 2". It is not clear from the post why Microsoft ultimately decided to lower the price. The price point of 80 US dollars had caused much discussion.
(Image:Â Heise Medien)
Dollar prices differ from euro prices
Most blockbuster games in the USA still cost 70 US dollars before tax. A game costing 80 US dollars is a rarity in the USA. In Germany, however, the price of 80 euros that Microsoft charged for "The Outer Worlds 2" is no longer a complete exception. Several years ago, Square Enix was already asking 80 euros for "Forspoken", and Microsoft itself is already asking 80 euros for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6". In the USA, however, these games still cost 70 US dollars before tax.
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Microsoft already announced a few weeks ago that 80 euros/80 US dollars is likely to become the new standard price for blockbuster games. The fact that "The Outer Worlds 2" of all games kicks off the new dollar price had irritated Xbox fans in the USA. The first part was a solid, but neither particularly outstandingly produced nor particularly extensive role-playing game. Part 2 is also likely to be rather average by triple-A standards.
Accordingly, the price reduction could also be seen as expectation management. In any case, this is probably a one-off exception – There are no indications that Microsoft intends to move away from its new pricing strategy in the long term.
Publishers and developers are trying to counteract the higher demands and increased development costs in the industry with higher prices. The price leader so far is Nintendo: the Switch 2 game "Mario Kart World" costs 90 euros for the physical edition.
(dahe)
