EA’s said that it will “most likely” discount Star Wars Battlefront 2 around the release of The Last Jedi, which is due out on 15th December. It’s also hinted that there’ll be some “selective discounts” around the holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Makes sense, right? Well, apart from the fact that the game isn’t set to launch until 17th November, meaning that it’ll still be pretty new when these promotions are planned to take place.
“That’s the way the games business always has worked,” exec Blake Jorgensen said as part of an earnings call. “And so if you see the title on discount, don’t read anything into that other than the fact that that’s the way you sell games in the holidays.”
We understand why EA brought this up, as investors are known for getting antsy at the best of times. But with this statement going public, we’re not sure why anyone would pick up the first-person shooter on launch day now. No matter how much you want to play it, folks, it sounds like you’ll be able to save some money if you just wait a few weeks. Don’t be silly and splurge first – just sit tight for a little bit.
[source seekingalpha.com, via mp1st.com]
Comments 36
Hmm, maybe I'll buy it then, because I'm only interested in the story and local multiplayer anyway.
They did it last Xmas or the one before that, brand new games that came out in November & before got discounts pretty big ones two. I'm sure it was also part of Sony's 12 weeks of discounts before Xmas, anyway there will be some good discounts in December on new games on the PSN.
Good business plan - announce your product will drop in price soon after launch!!
@BAMozzy I thought the same thing. I couldn't believe it when I saw that quote.
@get2sammyb a sudden cancellation of a lot of pre-orders, poor opening week sales etc...
Maybe they should just of pushed the release date back to coincide with the release of the movie. I half expected EA to drop another Map around the release of the film - like the Battle of Jakku map that the first game had - something to keep sales and interest going a month after release rather than say their game will be discounted.
This is hysterical on so many levels.
Good to know. Thanks for sharing!
Literally every game is "discounted" shortly after release. How is this surprising?
Sorry, too much of a Star Wars fan to even wait on that.
Meh... Either way this is a rental (at best) for the campaign. The beta was enough for me to get bored of multiplayer.
@BAMozzy
Maybe better than you think: The hardcore buy day-one and demonstrate the server and performance flaws. Meanwhile buying time to patch and stabilize everything before the sale price and inevitable flood of "price-savvy" holiday buyers. Looks quite canny.
I'm not buying it ever. EA can go die in a hole.
@BAMozzy @get2sammyb
EDIT: Oops my mistake, no season pass, just microtransactions. Must have confused it with either AC:O or Destiny 2, 1 of those must have had a $40 season pass. Which throws my entire arguement out the window, unless they are planning on making A LOT of money off of microtransactions? I'm going to bed.
This is the game with the $40 season pass correct? They'll make their money back. Plus, it's 2017, it's no surprise games drop in price soon after release. And from my limited attention span the greater the DLC price the sooner the game goes on sale. They also probably figure a lot of people, well gamers anyway, are saving 20% either from Amazon or Best Buy, so waiting to get it on sale somewhere else isn't going to help if hey can already get it cheaper day 1. Plus, it's an online shooter, people like to jump in Day 1 and "Git gud" before they fall too far behind on the learning curve.
I'm not saying I like EA or anything, but in the grand scheme of things I don't think they're going to hurt themselves w/ this little bit of info which we all knew was coming anyway.
I'll buy at the $30 mark at most. I only paid $20 for the first battlefront and don't see a huge reason to upgrade for $60
If it drops below $30 I'll probably buy it.
Yea Middle pinky to that not even gonna bother Middle index to Microtransactions in AAA games and thumbs down to EA...
@fontainelefunk Not really - unless they really do think their servers are not up to the task of a mass population during the first month. Its not they didn't have a Beta so they must have some idea of how taxing the game will be.
Of course the 'hardcore' fans - not that I would think there are many after the big drop off from the first. It was a lot more 'casual' than other FPS games too.
The bulk of game sales tend to come in the first month or two so if you are telling people essentially to not bother buying the game in the first month - even though some 'savvy' people will realise that Black Friday is a few weeks away and games tend to drop in price anyway if they are not selling in the numbers expected.
For EA to say don't bother buying at launch, the most likely group of people that message are the ones that are most likely to buy at launch. The ones that haven't pre-ordered, waiting for a review etc may not have bought at launch anyway. I know that if I am likely to buy at launch, I probably have it pre-ordered and wouldn't be waiting on a review. If I am waiting for a review, the chances are that I am looking to see how much I think a game is worth - fantastic reviews may be bought within the first month, good/average reviews when prices drop and 'mediocre' or poor reviews may consign the game to 'buy if in the bargain bin' or leave. Depending on how the review goes, coupled with my interest in the genre, story/setting, modes, length replayability etc will determine at what price I decide to jump in. An average review in a genre I like with an interesting story/setting, decent length/replayability and co-op/MP modes may not need to drop in price as a 'good/great' review in a different genre etc.
I don't think this is commercial suicide but its not a great business move. What you want is to sell the product at the highest price you can and fr as long as possible. At some point, the price will drop because there comes a point where a price drop and therefore a drop in profit margins can be offset by selling more copies of the game. For example, if you get £10 profit per game and sell 100 in a week (ie £1000 profit) can be beaten by dropping the profit margin down by £5 but selling 300 a week (ie £1500 profit) but you still want to sell the game at its most popular at the 'highest' price. By telling those that were going to buy to buy a month later, when the profit margins are 'lower' does not make good business sense - especially as they could lose the customer completely with less than favourable reviews and/or when those that did buy early are 'negative' - especially if the servers are struggling, bugs/issues in the game etc.
I bet if your friends said the game was poor, boring, lacking in depth, massive drop off in player numbers etc you would be thinking you dodged a bullet by waiting. Those that may of bought in November could also find their interest/circumstance etc have changed and its no longer on your wanted list - so lost sales. Its not good business sense.
Talking of the Beta, the game does seem light on content. I know they have added a Campaign but lost the 'Horde' mode. The MP looked like it had lost a few of the modes too. The lack of modes (and maybe Maps too), along with the Star Card system could well affect its longevity, which of course could negatively affect those sales a month later...
I enjoyed the first and can't wait for this one. I'll keep my pre-order thanks.
Amazons giving me $30 off so I'm biting.
Good to know, not buying it at launch anyway
That feel when your the only dumba$s that already pre-ordered 😅
Here's a discount I want, single player only mode digitally for £15.
Most EA games drop in price quickly and since I have no interest in getting into the MP, I will wait until this is £15 in six months (if at all).
If I want to get good in MP, I can just use the money I saved to buy my way up the rankings.
Sony 12 week of Christmas will be here soon I hope Horizon Zero Dawn game of year will be one of them really wat that
..I don't mind getting something like this day 0 - purely because, a) it gives me more time to practice, b) I get more practice, c) I NEED THAT PRACTICE TIME...
In all seriousness, it looks a hoot, and you could always wait forever for that next £10/£20 drop - people who bought it day 1 will have had more their money's worth by ploughing hours and hours into it! (I know I will!)
It would have been day one for me. Butr I will wait and most likely get it for something like £10 less with the new star wars movie. He answered the question badly and really needs to think before he opens his mouth next time.
I haven't bought an EA game for years, it seems to be working out alright for me.
Ok that settles it then. Odyssey last week is the last game that I am paying full price for on 2017.
Not allowed to buy games after 08/31/17 any ways since everyone wants to get me Xmas gifts. So if I see a good black Friday deal I'll have someone snag this for me since Battlefront 2, Shadow of War and Lego Marvel 2 are the only games I'm really interested in this Xmas season.
Kinda saying to your pre-order group, "Thanks, Chumps!"
@tatsumi Yeah me too. Im not gonna wait 3-4 weeks just to save $10.
This is the case with all 3rd party games during the holidays. In 2 weeks time, there'll be rumblings of a PS4 discount/deal and all of the big stores will be running things like 40% off or Buy2Get1 on new releases.
I'm waiting out Doom, AC: Origins, and Battlefront2.
@BraveFencerZan Doom came out in 2016, have you been waiting all this time?
@3Above lol, should've probably detailed I mean Doom on Switch
Since I only care about the story, I will save more money by finding a Twitch stream
I'll do better than that. I won't buy it at all.
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