Controversial Shooter Vows Discounted Rates to Boost Steam Visibility
Right now, the VR action game is priced at nearly thirty dollars on the platform. However, the studio responsible for the release are initiating a social experiment that could lower the final cost to as low as fifteen dollars.
How the Cost Experiment Works
Fans are encouraged to add the release to their Steam wishlists. According to the amount of saves, the rate will fall accordingly.
- 30,000 saves: $27
- Forty thousand additions: twenty-five dollars
- Fifty thousand saves: twenty dollars
- One hundred thousand additions: $14.99
The Purpose Wishlists Count
Although Valve claims that additions do not directly affect exposure, releases with more wishlists often show up in areas like Upcoming & Popular. Such visibility can result in a snowball effect, likely boosting sales through algorithms.
Increased saves might result in higher sales.
Moreover, players who add a title get notifications when it releases or has a price drop. Such may encourage delayed purchases.
Varied Reactions
A number of users have shared skepticism about the pricing strategy. Critics suggest that the intended release cost may have already been intended to be $14.99, with the promotion functioning as a promotional strategy.
Others have expressed worries due to the team’s prior title, which several users considered as unfinished. But, the developers have defended their reputation, highlighting multiple updates launched over the past twelve months.
An Independent Team’s Stance
The creators present themselves as a bootstrapped company working to support both VR and their independent studio alive. They claim that they are honestly trying to offer prices reasonable regardless of economic inflation.
We are genuinely trying to offer prices affordable despite rising inflation.
Even if this approach pays off remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly sparked debate within the gaming space.
