Steam raises recommendations for euro suggested prices by 13 to 25 percent

Steam has increased its suggested retail price recommendations for euro amounts by 13 to 25 percent. These recommendations are for developers who can choose whether to adopt them or not. Valve also says it wants to adjust these recommendations more often.

Developers who sell games via Steam have access to a tool that automatically converts dollar prices to other currencies, such as the euro. These conversions are not based solely on exchange rates and can be ignored by developers. valve want to adjust those recommendations more often and in that context has new pricing recommendations announced, which SteamDB writes about.

With these new price recommendations, the euro amount is closer to the dollar amount. Up to an amount of USD 5.99, the euro amount is even equated to the dollar amount. The increase is between 13 and 25 percent for all amounts, with the percentage being the highest, especially for the lower amounts.

For example, a game that costs $0.99 in the United States will receive a suggested retail price of $0.99 from Valve in Europe. Previously, this was 0.79 euros, which represents an increase of 25 percent. A game that used to have a suggested retail price of 8.19 euros now has a suggested retail price of 9.75 euros. Games that previously had a recommended price of 49.99 euros are going up to 58.99 euros.

Incidentally, the euro is by no means the highest riser. For the Turkish lira and the Argentine peso, the recommended price rises to 500 percent. For other currencies, such as the Israeli shekel or Singapore dollar, nothing changes. The Taiwan dollar is the only currency where a recommended price drops; games with a suggested retail price of USD 10.99 will have a recommended price that is five percent lower.

Valve says that while it’s “enticing to see price differentials as the simple problem of exchange rates,” the company calls this an “oversimplification” of the situation. The company also looks at other factors for those recommended prices, such as the difference in purchasing power and international consumer price indices, with a specific focus on how consumers spend money on entertainment.

These suggested prices are primarily intended for developers who do not have the time or resources to map out suggested retail prices by currency and region. Valve did not regularly adjust these recommendations before, but wants to do so from this year. The company plans to review these recommendations annually and update them as needed.

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