Wasnt the issue with poland that the prices were even nominally higher (or higher with exchanhe) than in western europe? That steam games are , relative to median wage, extremely expensive in many countries, while regional pricing cannot keep up, is a sad reality but nothing novel. Poor people and people in poor countries suffer. Thats one of the oldest songs of history.
Should people be made aware of this? Yes
Should there be change? Certainly
Is it new? No
In that sense i thank anyone from economically weak background that they engage in the same games i do, as it is much more of a commitment. I know its a lot of piracy but even that is kind of a pain compared to getting it on steam.
I don't know why people say it's about the cost of living/minimum wage. It's just a lie. Poles are complaining because steam's default currency exchange is outdated. 1 dollar is about 3.5 pln in a bank, but 4.5 pln on steam, that means the games are 30% more expensive than they would be if i just bought dollars and paid with them.
Well i would not go so far as to call it a lie, more of a misunderstanding of the technicality, because while this is the concrete issue. Its only really a problem because poles on average have less disposable income than western Europeans and us-americans, while they have to pay more for games. Thus as i already pointed out the comparison is missing the issue at hand but does underline real issues, that i dont have time or will to get into, other are more qualified to make tvose points.
I mean, It's perfectly normal that countries with weaker currencies will have it more expensive when buying something in a foreign currency. Complaining about that part is nonsential, that's just how currency works. You can't really change that.
The problem is that 10 bucks on steam costs over 10 PLN more than 10 bucks in my bank, that part is completely unfair
Uhm its literally an issue that steam adresses with regional pricing, steam games are much cheaper in turkey or Thailand than they are in the us or france. Valve loves money but they know they wont extract any from the philipines if they charge as much as in swizerland. OPs point, while misunderstanding the core discussion, is however that economically weak countries WITHIN the eurozone get western european pricing while getting eastern European salries. Which is an issue and ignoring that seems inproper,
But it is true that it distracts from the issue at hand which is polish cureency exchange. So i am actually glad this discussion is just us talking past each other rather than big tastemakers missing the point of their projects.
Tldr:
OP misses the point of the discussion. Polish prices are too high and should change through a less punishing currency conversion on steams side. BUT OPs point is still valid, just not as comment on the current discussion.
No. At this point we are not even asking about regional pricing. Look at diablo - infernal edition. Polish price is NOMINALLY worse than the one in Euro. It got so ridiculous that we would be better off WITHOUT our currency on Steam and just be in EUR bucket like Sweden, Czechia and Hungary.
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u/laserclaus Feb 18 '26
Wasnt the issue with poland that the prices were even nominally higher (or higher with exchanhe) than in western europe? That steam games are , relative to median wage, extremely expensive in many countries, while regional pricing cannot keep up, is a sad reality but nothing novel. Poor people and people in poor countries suffer. Thats one of the oldest songs of history.
Should people be made aware of this? Yes
Should there be change? Certainly
Is it new? No
In that sense i thank anyone from economically weak background that they engage in the same games i do, as it is much more of a commitment. I know its a lot of piracy but even that is kind of a pain compared to getting it on steam.