PlayStation Store Vita game prices more expensive than at retail

NewsPosted 21/02/2012 - 12:40pm GMT

£45 for FIFA Football and F1 2011, £40 for Uncharted and MvC3.

Pricing for PS Vita games from PlayStation Store isn't any cheaper than retail game pricing, and in some cases digital versions are more expensive.

Earlier this year Sony confirmed that downloadable PS Vita games would carry a discounted price compared to retail versions.

"I can confirm that there will be a discount on the downloadable PS Vita titles from PSN. Exact details have not yet been revealed, but be on the lookout for an announcement in the very near future," said a Sony representative.

However, the newly published price list for launch day PS Vita content on PlayStation Store shows very little in the way of discounted pricing.

Major draw Uncharted: Golden Abyss is priced £39.99, the same price as the retail version on GAME.co.uk. The same game is only £37.90 on Amazon. Elsewhere WipEout 2048 is priced £29.99, two pence more than Amazon.

The biggest offenders are FIFA Football and F1 2011, each priced £44.99 on PlayStation Store, but £39.99 and £34.99, respectively on Amazon.

Complete PS Store line-up

Everybody's Golf: £29.99
Little Deviants Trial & Unlock: £19.99
Modnation Racers: Road Trip: £29.99
Reality Fighters: £19.99
Uncharted: Golden Abyss: £39.99
Wipeout 2048 + Network pass: £29.99
Escape Plan: £9.99
Hustle Kings (PSN Only): £6.49
Motorstorm RC (PSN Only): £4.79
Super Stardust Delta (PSN Only): £6.49
Super Stardust Delta & DLC Bundle: £7.99
Top Darts (PSN Only): £6.49
Plants Vs Zombies: £8.99
Cliff Diving (Ar Suite – Digital): Free
Table Football (Ar Suite – Digital): Free
Fireworks (Ar Suite – Digital): Free
Army Corps Of Hell: £34.99
Virtua Tennis 4 – World Tour Edition: £34.99
Asphalt: Injection: £19.99
Lumines Electronic Symphony: £29.99
Rayman Origins: £29.99
EA Sports FIFA Football: £44.99
Shinobido 2: £34.99
Touch My Katamari: £24.99
Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend: £34.99
Michael Jackson The Experience HD: £24.99
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3: £39.99
Dynasty Warriors Next: £29.99
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus: £29.99
Ridge Racer: £16.99
Dungeon Hunter: Alliance: £29.99
A-Men: £11.99
F1 2011: £44.99

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Comments

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User Comments

Wido

£44.99 for Uncharted on the Vita in GAME, £36 at Shopto... I know where I would be going for that game.

£6.89 or something around that figure for Motorstorm RC, again in GAME.

Little Deviants is cheaper on the PSN than compared to GAME, which in store is £24.99.

Posted 19:21 on 27 February 2012

TomPearson

WHERE IS MONEH PIG!

Posted 10:24 on 22 February 2012

BC_Animus

If they are smart they will start doing daily deals for their online store, plus add discounted Vita titles to PSN+.

Sony has never been start with their online strategies, nor with their public relations. They are more likely to charge MORE for their titles, stating something along the line of "the higher quality and the better gaming experience offered by their platform offsets the slight increase in pricing over their competitors".

They NEED to be smarter and think about what the consumers want and how they spend, and also work WITH the retail shops. I really don't see why they couldn't sell game download codes (complete with cases even) at reduced prices (compared to full physical retail copies) in retail shops - that way they won't be alienating the retailers, and if nothing else can beneifit from their instore displays and advertising. Or why not sell a game code copy in a retail store for the full retail price, but offer with it some credit for use on the online store, or DLCs? For a £30 game for example sell the code in a case for the full £30, but offer with it a £10 credit code for the online store - that way you would keep the retailers happy, AND generate additonal sales online.

Anyways Wipeout, Hustle Kings and Lumines... God I'm starting to rethink my whole "spend less money" thing. STILL resisting the Vita, but it's getting harder.

Posted 04:09 on 22 February 2012

MJTH @ pblive

Ok, that sounds better, but it is still an outlandish price to ask for game on a handheld, no matter how many are doing it.

Posted 20:29 on 21 February 2012

pblive

Most retail Vita games will be £30-£35 in stores too, with the exception of Uncharted and FIFA.

Posted 20:00 on 21 February 2012

MJTH

That's a fairly extortionate price for games on a handheld device, I could go down to a game store and buy new 3DS games for £34.99, and that ignoring online retailer prices.

The fact the downloadable price isn't smaller as well makes it totally useless. Why would you download a game if the fiscal product is the same price.

Posted 17:55 on 21 February 2012

pblive

I tried taking my PS3 and TV on the bus, but couldn't plug it in.

The general price is ok, UMvsC3 is new on Vita, I dare say it will be on a one day deal like the PS3 version soon. Most of these titles have the same production values as PS3 games anyway and, unlike 3DS download games, aren't tied to one console, only the user.

My main grumble was over promises of discounts.

Posted 14:43 on 21 February 2012

MrGloomy

Just imagine how bad this scenerio will get if the console manufacturers decide to lock-out second retail copies of games. If Sony wants to kill their online game download service, this is a good example of how to do it. I wonder, will these download games also be restricted to a single user profile? Go on Sony, make this download game pricing fiasco a real jem by restricting it to a single user and making it compulsory to be online to play the games. Genious.

Posted 14:10 on 21 February 2012

CheekyLee

The next time ANYBODY complains about Nintendo's online pricing, just show them this. What makes it all the more laughable is that I could buy the PS3 version of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 for £14.95, and while it isn't exactly comparing apples to apples I know which one would be getting my money.

Posted 13:46 on 21 February 2012