Sales & Discounts
Players often ask us why different platforms have different sales and discounts. Understandably, some players may feel short-changed when they compare sales on one platform against another. However, it is important to know why these differences exist and who is responsible for them. For the most part, this can be summarized into 3 points.
Who runs the sale?
Sales are organized by the platform holder and developers/publishers are invited to take part in that sale. This means we do not get to choose when a sale happens or what the theme is.
How does competition affect discounts?
Competition is good for players as it drives down prices. On PC, Steam has to compete with other PC platforms and key resellers and therefore prices are typically lower to remain competitive. Whereas, Xbox and PlayStation are closed platforms with no competition. Therefore, prices remain higher as players have no other option than to buy from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store.
How do platform restrictions affect discounts?
Each platform will has their own restrictions that dictate what can be discounted and when. Steam gives the developer/publisher the most freedom to make their own decisions, while Xbox, PlayStation and Epic are stricter.
For example, most platforms won't allow the same product to be discounted twice, if it has recently been in a sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
I missed the sale, can I still get a discount?
Sadly, if you have missed the sale, you will need to try again next time. We have no ability to reinstate a discount once the sale has ended.
Can you provide me with an individual discount?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide players with individual discounts or vouchers at this time.
Will the same discounts be available in all regions?
In most cases, a sale will be available in all supported regions. However, in certain situations, a sale may not be available in all regions at the request of the platform holder.
Why is something more or less expensive in different countries?
The developer/publisher will set the base price in USD, which is then converted into other currencies according to the platform's recommended regional pricing structure. The regional pricing structure is calculated by the platform's team of experts. They will consider a variety of factors which take into account the overall economic circumstances of a country, and not just the current exchange rate. The regional pricing structure is typically refreshed annually.
Why is the regular price different across platforms?
Each platform will use a pricing matrix to define what price a product can be. Unfortunately, this pricing structure doesn't align across all platforms, which can result in small differences, when a product is not on sale.
Can you tell us what is going to be discounted ahead of a sale?
No, the date and contents of upcoming sales are confidential, which means we are unable to share any details with you before the sale starts. To continue working with these platforms, we must agree to confidentially agreements like this.
When are sales planned?
Sales are planned in cooperation with the platform holder months in advance. Therefore, this can be another reason why discounts don't align across all platforms.
Why are Xbox Game Pass discounts not available at launch?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will typically see a 10% discount on add-ons. However, this discount will not be available when an add-on launches, as it is manually applied by the team at Microsoft. This can take up to 72 hours.