{"id":85799,"date":"2019-03-01T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/03\/talking_point_capcomrs_resident_evil_switch_pricing_is_nothing_new"},"modified":"2019-03-01T22:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T22:00:00","slug":"talking-point-capcoms-resident-evil-switch-pricing-is-nothing-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2019\/03\/01\/talking-point-capcoms-resident-evil-switch-pricing-is-nothing-new\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking Point: Capcom\u2019s Resident Evil Switch Pricing Is Nothing New"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7923a204327cd\/large.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7923a204327cd\/small.jpg\" class=\"media_thumbnail\"><\/a><\/div>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"RE4\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7923a204327cd\/re4.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/7923a204327cd\/re4.900x.jpg\" alt=\"RE4\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>While <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/02\/a_trio_of_classic_resident_evil_games_is_coming_to_switch_this_may\">Capcom\u2019s announcement<\/a> that Switch versions of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/resident_evil_zero\">Resident Evil Zero<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/resident_evil_hd_remaster\">1<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/resident_evil_4\">4<\/a><\/strong> are coming on 21<sup>st<\/sup> May should be cause for celebration, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/02\/want_resident_evil_on_your_switch_youd_better_have_deep_pockets\">pricing of said games<\/a> has been the cause of consternation for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/articles\/2019-02-28-resident-evil-hd-0-and-4-on-nintendo-switch-cost-gbp30-each\">many fans<\/a>. North America will get a combined physical version of Zero and Resident Evil, although it seems Resident Evil 4 won\u2019t get a digital release in <em>any<\/em> territory and us Europeans won\u2019t see any of them on a cartridge.<\/p>\n<p>Prices don\u2019t compare favourably to other platforms, either, where the games have been available for some time. Currently listed for \u00a329.99 each on the eShop in the UK, the triple pack is going for \u00a339.99 on Xbox One and PS4, and cries bemoaning \u2018Switch tax\u2019 are doing the rounds once again. This is hardly the first time these games have been exhumed and we doubt it\u2019ll be the last, so where does Capcom get off charging so much?<\/p>\n<aside class=\"object object-tweet\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p><span lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICYMI: Resident Evil 0, 1, and 4 are coming to the Nintendo Switch eShop as individual digital downloads! Pre-order today and get playing as soon as all three games are available on May 21! \ud83c\udf3f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eX2B5qQ7oL\">pic.twitter.com\/eX2B5qQ7oL<\/a><\/span>\u2014 Resident Evil (@RE_Games) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RE_Games\/status\/1101180400326578177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 28, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Well, we\u2019ve <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2018\/08\/is_switch_tax_a_real_concern_or_just_a_myth\">discussed<\/a> the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2017\/09\/feature_exploring_the_switch_tax_and_why_nintendo_was_right_to_use_game_cards\">infamous \u2018Switch tax\u2019 before<\/a>, although we\u2019re not sure it really applies in this case. After all, Capcom has form charging top-dollar for everything \u2013 digital or otherwise. Regardless of the cost on the countless other platforms it\u2019s available on, is it really a surprise that Capcom is going to charge as much as possible from the outset?<\/p>\n<p>The company\u2019s entrance onto Nintendo\u2019s hybrid platform was a cautious one. It dipped its toe in the water with <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/ultra_street_fighter_ii_the_final_challengers\">Ultra Street Fighter II<\/a><\/strong>, an HD version of its classic 2D fighter which launched on the console for an eye-watering $40. Fans baulked at paying that for <em>yet another version<\/em> of Street Fighter II, but it didn\u2019t stop a significant number of them buying the game \u2013 it was a \u2018smash hit\u2019 according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2018\/08\/is_switch_tax_a_real_concern_or_just_a_myth\">Capcom itself<\/a> and prompted the company to jump fully onboard the Switch train.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"RE0\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/60fbef828a1be\/re0.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/60fbef828a1be\/re0.900x.jpg\" alt=\"RE0\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen a variety of releases since, from <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/mega_man_11\">Mega Man 11<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/mega_man_legacy_collection\">Mega Man Legacy Collection<\/a><\/strong> to the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/capcom_beat_em_up_bundle\">Capcom Beat \u2018Em Up Bundle<\/a><\/strong>, and they\u2019ve all done very well on Switch. While Capcom\u2019s strategy remains puzzling at times (we can\u2019t think of a good reason why <strong>Disney Afternoon Collection<\/strong> hasn\u2019t come to Switch yet), Nintendo\u2019s console is turning a tidy profit for the Japanese company.<\/p>\n<p>With the release of Resident Evil 4 \u2013 one of the best-rated video games of all time \u2013 it\u2019s no wonder Capcom is looking to wring as much cash as possible out of impatient gamers eager to play the game on their favourite portable. It\u2019s business, and like any other, making money is the <em>real<\/em> game.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen Capcom experiment before with pricing on Switch; the cloud-based version of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/resident_evil_7_cloud_version\">Resident Evil 7<\/a><\/strong> in Japan is a good example. Unlike Ubisoft\u2019s <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/assassinrs_creed_odyssey_cloud_version\">Assassin\u2019s Creed: Odyssey Cloud Version<\/a><\/strong> which launched with a full \u00a58,400 price tag (around \u00a360\/$75), Capcom tried a different model with their cloud-only offering. Following a 15-minute taster, a \u2018play ticket\u2019 \u2013 essentially a six-month \u2018subscription\u2019 to the game \u2013 cost \u00a52,000 (around \u00a313\/$18).<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear exactly how this approach fared, but it seemed like a stingy proposition at the time. While Capcom <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2018\/06\/capcom_could_release_more_cloud-based_games_on_nintendo_switch\">had hinted<\/a> that success in this area may lead to further streamed games, an answer given during a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.capcom.co.jp\/ir\/english\/data\/pdf\/explanation\/2018\/2nd\/explanation_2018_2nd_02.pdf\">Q&amp;A with investors<\/a> last October provides an indication as to its success:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><strong>Q. What is your current situation as well as your future outlook on developing for cloud gaming?<br \/><\/strong><br \/><\/em><em>A. While we did release a certain title supporting cloud gaming in the first half, this was done primarily for technological research purposes and did not have a significant impact on earnings. Based on the results of this research, we will internally consider further expansion into cloud gaming.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The cloud-based game in question <em>must<\/em> be Resident Evil 7, and it appears not to have been the money-spinner the company hoped. Of course, the game had expected <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2018\/05\/resident_evil_7_cloud_version_doesnt_really_work_outside_of_japan\">connectivity issues<\/a> outside Japan, but even in optimal conditions, it wasn&#8217;t perfect.<\/p>\n<p>While it may have been a worthwhile experiment, if Capcom has trouble streaming games in Japan, it\u2019s unlikely to have much success elsewhere and anybody hoping to see <strong>Monster Hunter World<\/strong> on Switch in some capacity will likely be disappointed. Monster Hunter World brought the series a global level of success that Capcom must be looking for ways to expand upon, but the message from Switch owners is that it needn\u2019t bother. We can argue about Switch \u2018tax\u2019 and greedy businesses until the cows come home, but ultimately <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mochi_wsj\/status\/890919984301449216\">450,000<\/a> people bought Ultra Street Fighter II in its first quarter \u2013 a game which didn\u2019t enjoy the warmest <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/reviews\/nintendo-switch\/ultra_street_fighter_ii_the_final_challengers\">critical reception<\/a> \u2013 sending the message that they\u2019ll pay the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2017\/3\/1\/14778570\/nintendo-switch-street-fighter-ii-cost-40-price\">\u2018ludicrous\u2019<\/a> price of \u00a339.99\/$39.99 for the privilege. Seen from that perspective, Capcom probably thinks \u00a330 for Resident Evil 4 is a <em>bargain<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Don't look at us - we didn't buy it!\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/bb0adce0b728f\/dont-look-at-us-we-didnt-buy-it.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/bb0adce0b728f\/dont-look-at-us-we-didnt-buy-it.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Don't look at us - we didn't buy it!\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Don&#8217;t look at us &#8211; we didn&#8217;t buy it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On top of this, the looming economic question block hanging over the UK and EU arguably plays into this topic as well. Europeans have always put up with higher prices in comparison to gamers across the pond and upcoming uncertainty in Britain (we\u2019re not going to even write the irritating portmanteau that\u2019s defining a generation of UK politics) will only make pricing an even more contentious issue in the near future. While the narrative of \u2018Switch tax\u2019 is an easy one to subscribe to, Nintendo Life reader James M. points out that, the upcoming <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/3ds-eshop\/phoenix_wright_ace_attorney_trilogy\">Ace Attorney Trilogy<\/a><\/strong> has been listed for \u00a330\/$30 across all platforms where previous ports <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/okami_hd\">Okami HD<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/switch-eshop\/onimusha_warlords\">Onimusha<\/a><\/strong> launched last year for \u00a315.99\/$19.99.<\/p>\n<p>That price difference could simply be Capcom being characteristically inconsistent, or it might suggest caution regarding potentially chaotic currency fluctuations in the coming months. The calamitous manner by which the British government is extricating itself from continental Europe isn\u2019t helping any businesses with interests in the UK, and unfortunately, the general public will likely endure rising prices across the board as foreign companies are forced to deflect costs. Selling digital goods may give more control, but they\u2019re subject to exchange rate fluctuations like any other and video game companies will also want to ensure parity between physical goods and digital equivalents as far as possible in order to keep retailers happy. No company will knowingly <em>undercharge<\/em> for its products, regardless of the financial climate, and the current economic uncertainty only compounds problems (this does not, of course, explain why Capcom is charging $30 for the game in North America).<\/p>\n<p>In many ways, it could be argued that Nintendo gamers have never had it so good. The weekly eShop sales on Switch make it a massive departure from any previous Nintendo home console. No, the discounts don\u2019t compare to the vast savings periodic Steam sales offer, but to see a \u00a320\/\u20ac20\/$20 discount on first-party games without a Player\u2019s Choice line within the first two years of a console\u2019s lifecycle is unheard of on Nintendo platforms.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture strip\"><a title=\"Must not buy, must not buy, must not buy...\" href=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/369305c5cedad\/must-not-buy-must-not-buy-must-not-buy.original.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/369305c5cedad\/must-not-buy-must-not-buy-must-not-buy.900x.jpg\" alt=\"Must not buy, must not buy, must not buy...\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption\">Must not buy, must not buy, must not buy&#8230;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And is \u00a329.99 too much for Resident Evil 4? Only last week we spoke about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/02\/talking_point_is_the_remake_of_zelda_linkrs_awakening_worth_usd60\">Link\u2019s Awakening<\/a> and its supposed $60 price tag; Resident Evil 4 is one of the <em>best games of all tim<\/em>e and we\u2019re <em>hungry<\/em> for it on Switch. We recognise porting it takes much more work than simply clicking the &#8216;Export .switch&#8217; button, however much practice Capcom has had resurrecting it again and again. The developer must have its RE porting pipeline running efficiently, that\u2019s for sure. We imagine it\u2019s currently working on <strong>Resident Evil 2<\/strong> for Switch \u2013 would we be surprised if <em>that<\/em> were to launch as a $60 game in a year\u2019s time?<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, Capcom believes gamers will pay \u00a330 to play Resident Evil 4 \u2013 and the upcoming <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/dragons_dogma_dark_arisen\">Dragon&#8217;s Dogma<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 on Switch, and based on all the available evidence, that&#8217;s probably right. <em>Not<\/em> buying it is the <em>only<\/em> way to send Capcom a message if prices like that rub you the wrong way. The only form of protest is to vote with your wallet and not buy the game at that price; it\u2019ll surely join those lovely eShop sales soon enough. There\u2019s <em>more than enough<\/em> to be playing in the meantime, and more than enough ways to play Resident Evil 4, too.<\/p>\n<p><em>So, what\u2019ll it be, stranger? Do you have the willpower to wait a few months until these games get an inevitable discount? Is Capcom just being greedy? Share your thoughts in the comments.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While Capcom\u2019s announcement that Switch versions of Resident Evil Zero, 1 and 4 are coming on 21st May should be cause for celebration, the pricing of said games has been the cause of consternation for many fans. North America will get a combined physical version of Zero and Resident Evil, although it seems Resident Evil [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85799\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}