Disputed FPS Promises Lower Rates to Boost Steam Exposure
Right now, the VR FPS is available at $30 on the platform. However, the developers behind the release are conducting a interactive campaign that could lower the launch rate to as low as $15.
How the Cost Experiment Functions
Players are being asked to place the title to their saved items list. Depending on the total number of additions, the price will decrease in stages.
- Thirty thousand saves: $27
- 40,000 additions: twenty-five dollars
- Fifty thousand additions: twenty dollars
- 100,000 saves: fifteen dollars
The Purpose Saves Matter
Although the platform claims that additions do not explicitly impact prominence, games with a higher number of wishlists often appear in categories like New & Trending. Such visibility can result in a domino effect, potentially boosting sales through algorithms.
Additional additions might lead to higher purchases.
Additionally, players who wishlist a release are sent notifications when it launches or has a price drop. Such could result in impulse sales.
Mixed Opinions
A number of users have expressed concern about the marketing tactic. Skeptics speculate that the intended release rate may have already been intended to be fifteen dollars, with the campaign functioning as a promotional ploy.
A few have raised concerns because of the developer’s prior game, which some players viewed as unfinished. But, the creators have defended their reputation, highlighting multiple patches rolled out within the past year.
An Independent Studio’s Stance
The team portray themselves as a bootstrapped studio striving to support both virtual reality and their independent operation afloat. The developers claim that they are genuinely attempting to maintain rates low despite financial challenges.
We're genuinely attempting to offer rates affordable in spite of raging cost increases.
Regardless of whether this strategy succeeds remains to be seen, but it has definitely sparked debate within the community space.
