Digital Download cost more than retail hard copy!!!! REALLY!!!

Hi can you please tell me how the cost of a digitally downloaded game from the Xbox store can be justified at being £10 to £15 more than a hard disc copy bought from a retailer be it online or street store.

Surely the cost to the game producer and seller would be less for a digital download compared to the manufacturing and shipping of a hard copy.

So why is it that the download copy cost so much more to the customer.

This just looks like profiteering to me on behalf of Microsoft.

:)

 

About Mass Effect 2

Why would you want that? A digital download on Marketplace would cost 10 times more than a physical copy from a retailer.

 

Hard copy vs Digital

Running servers and bandwidth that host the digital copies costs more than making a disc or a case. Also, Microsoft takes a 30% cut of sales sold on the digital store. Which is more than retailers take from publishers for a retail copy.

 

More than often it's Microsoft's set prices , if a game is $60 usually after 3 months it is put on sale for $30 on Deals With Gold , then re-listed for $45. If a game is cheaper at another online store / GS , then buy it there. Plus , not only to digital
downloads remain on your account and get rid of cases , but they also net you rewards points and rebate if you're signed up with rewards.

 

It just seems hard for me to see how they can justify charging more for a virtual copy of a game then compared to a hard copy.

E.G. GTA V for a hard copy £42.99 www.game.co.uk/.../grand-theft-auto-v-301143

for XBL copy £54.99 store.xbox.com/.../4f0a3089-ba2c-4f3d-9e38-102a41cbd885

Its not as if GTA V is a newly released game but you still have to pay full price for the virtual copy.

Destiny is another example.

Yes as a customer it will save me storage space and if the disc gets damaged I won't have to purchase a 2nd copy. But then company data bases and virtual storage can get corrupted or hacked causing loss of customer data.

 

Its more to the point of shareing

 

Shot borderlands prequel is 39 online Xbox store dlc and 5 bucks at Walmart