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EU unhappy about the high prices that UK gamers have to pay compared to others

January 30, 2008 in News comments 16

The EU is looking to expose Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft for 'price fixing' the UK. An Xbox 360 Premium was £269.66 in the UK, £250.53 in France, £178.63 in New York and £161.73 in Japan. The companies complain about the Government Imposed Tax, but are we really getting a fair deal? Are the big companies ripping us off, or are the higher prices just down to shipping, region coding, and VAT? If the compainies are found guilty of price rigging then they could be facing 10% fines of their turnover. ALOT of money.

The EU is gunning for Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft as it begins a crack down on rip-off Britain.

The European Commission believes companies are ripping off UK gamers by charging more for game consoles and other consumer electronic goods than in the rest of Europe and in the US and Japan.

This is nothing new of course. British gamers have been paying more for their games and consoles than the rest of the world for years. However, the EU is banking on a new naming and shaming policy, which it hopes will shake things up a bit.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the British launch price for the 60GB PlayStation 3, which was £425, was 27 per cent more than in the U.S. and 68 per cent more than Japan.

The price was also higher than the £399 charged in France and Germany and the £397 in Australia. As we all know though, these prices have come down.

Pricerunner.co.uk has published some research conducted in October 2007 and come up with some average games console prices across a number of territories. Their results show that an Xbox 360 Premium was £269.66 in the UK, £250.53 in France, £178.63 in New York and £161.73 in Japan.

Pricerunner.co.uk has also revealed the average prices for the Wii and the 60GB PS3, which is nearing extinction as Sony phases it out. The research shows how much more UK gamers have to fork out for their game consoles compared with the rest of the world. According to Pricerunner.co.uk, England is the second most expensive country compared to the international average.
Reason via videogamer.com »
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  • 1
    BradSK Jan 30, 08
    Damn *bleep*ing right. We've been ripped off on console prices for way too long.
  • 0
    Slumpy monkey Jan 30, 08
    YeA, *bleep* YEa its unfair w have to pay more. FIGHT THE POWER.

    I really hope they get fined. Maby next time round they will start to be more fair.
  • 1
    kik36 Jan 30, 08
    Now if only they would go after the oil companies with the same demands. I wish you all the best of luck across the pond, because I feel like I'm getting ripped off sometimes just paying the normal US prices.
    • 0
      Seeker X Jan 30, 08
      I take it you haven't read "The Pelican Brief".

      Oil Companies will kill you, your family, and eat your kids...

      In the topic here, this is quite a case, should lower their corporate egos a bit.
  • 1
    Slumpy monkey Jan 30, 08
    A new game on average is $100 is most places.
  • 1
    lord of vice city Jan 30, 08
    finally, lets hope something happens, the amount we pay in comparison to others is apalling
  • 1
    Steel Magnolia Jan 30, 08
    I have been saying this for years. We get ripped off on everything though, not just games. You go to the US and petrol is cheaper, clothes are cheaper, cigarettes are cheaper, games are cheaper and of course consoles are a lot cheaper.

    It is long over due that something gets done about it.
  • 0
    The New Era Jan 30, 08
    This is the benefit of living in the United States, still, fight the power
  • -2
    BANDITO ATTACK Jan 30, 08
    lol @ "europe is unhappy"

    welcome to the party, assholes.
  • 1
    Dance Floor Killah Jan 30, 08
    I can't blame them for being pissed off. They pay way too much for consoles and games. It's ridiculous.
  • 1
    Twisted Jan 30, 08
    I hope the princes get better for you, that must suck.
  • 1
    DeepDarkAbyss Jan 31, 08
    It's about time someone complained. We've been ripped off for years, on everything. I rcently moved in with some relatives in America for a few weeks and I was actually amazed how little everything costs.
  • 0
    redneonfish Jan 31, 08
    The goverment is full of tossers, oh well. I hope they do something.
  • 1
    Guugley Jan 31, 08
    They should have complained ages ago, but at least they've done it.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jan 31, 08
    I live in the states but i too feel the UK is getting ripped off, but i think the government needs to change there before any prices gets lower. That and Tariffs really hurt everything.
  • 0
    SSJ3 Trunks Jan 31, 08
    Fight the power!

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