Steam has updated its regional pricing system, which could potentially lower the cost of games in Russia and other countries.
Valve has updated its regional price recommendation system in Steam, adding two new conversion methods. Now developers can choose how to set the cost of games in different countries, and for Russia, this potentially means lower prices.
The main change is the appearance of three calculation options. The first still relies on the exchange rate and provides direct conversion. The second takes into account the purchasing power of users in a particular country. The third, multi-currency, combines several factors at once — from the local economy to the prices of comparable entertainment. This method is close to the one previously used in Steam.
The difference between the approaches is noticeable even in basic examples. A $10 game, when converted at the exchange rate, will cost approximately 790 rubles. When calculating based on purchasing power, the recommendation is reduced to 260 rubles, and the multi-currency option suggests 465 rubles.
With more expensive releases, the spread becomes even more noticeable. The standard $70 turns into 5550 rubles with direct conversion, but when calculated through purchasing power — 1800 rubles, and the multi-currency option — 2700 rubles.
At the same time, the platform does not directly interfere in pricing. As before, the final decision remains with the publishers. Prices will not change automatically — developers must manually accept the new recommendations.
This means that the effect of the innovation will be uneven. Small studios and indie developers are more likely to actively use the new tools. Large publishers, on the other hand, often adhere to a global pricing policy and may ignore regional characteristics.
