[REMOVED]

On positive side. Atleast this supports local economy instead money going to certain tax-havens...

I actually wonder if bundles are going to cost more as of January 1, 2015 too as they're digital services or digital goods too.

Does anybody actually have some information about Valve's opinion in this matter?
Anyways, people should read sardanapal post before going nuts here.

Phisical copy with 21% VAT = 50€
Steam Digital copy with 15% VAT = 50€

Digital future is awesome, for publishers and investors!

Prices for Far Cry 4 at the moment:

cheapest local retailer store, which have to have warehouses, shops, is already paying all these fancy taxes etc. - 38€ for a physical copy.

Uplay - 60€. (60$)

Steam 60€. (60$)

Nuuvem 39,46€. (48$)

I don't know why it is such a problem for the two biggest platforms when somewhere else it's already in use. I also can't agree with generalising "you can't afford it - then don't buy it. Not an excuse for piracy." while there's still no reasonable regional pricing. Reasonable =/= dirt cheap, just for the record.

If you are an asshole, you will rant or/and steal games no matter the price. Even if everything was magically 80 % cheaper, once it became a new standard there will be a lot of "is of too much $$$, me no have $$$, gib cheaper or torrent" guys...

Steam sales are getting worse rapidly (f.e. warlock 2 if it wins the daily game battle thing -66% while on gmg it has been -75% weeks ago). So Im starting to care very little for whatever Steam tries to sell me. Steam's store has become one of the most expensive places to buy games.

Besides, hundreds of unplayed games should give me things to play until Im old and grey. The rare game I surely want to play I can just as well buy for the full price, 21% VAT (Netherlands) wont make me go bankrupt.

A great chance to play my backlog. LOL.

Maybe the governments should spend less money so gamers won't have to pay more to support the government.

Easy fix: shutdown Valve Sarl (Lux offices) and have no official presence in Europe. Let Eiropeans buy from US store and just convert prices to EUR by current exchange rate. There you go. Valve would not officially support europe so no taxes would need to be payed and most costumers would be happy due to finally having fair pricing and in some cases, no region locks.

If they raise it on Russia,im screwed on more expensive games that now more expensive.

Probably a stupid question, but will it affect the steam market & ingame items in any way?

Why is it that whenever the EU institutes terrible laws, the first thing the Europeans jump on is VALVe like they're the bad guys in the situation? VALVe sinks overhead from their own profits, man. Like on foreign conversion for currency, you pay less than if you straight up paid the overall currency cost for the game in USD, because VALVe pays part of the conversion for you. That said, they don't control regional pricing, it's still the content license holders who do this, so if you're mad that a game costs you more than it should, be mad at the publishers. Like I go on Steam, and I see the Left 4 Dead bundle costs $29.99 as its base for USD, but in CDN it's only $32.99, but the actual (base) cost for currency conversion is $34.89 CDN -- almost a full $2 more. And that doesn't include any tax or other costs that your credit card company would throw at you for the currency conversion. I don't know what the value differences are like in the European union, but I'm pretty sure GabeN is still paying part of the costs of your currency conversion.

If you really have so much enmity for VALVe, you're welcome to try other content providers. But you'll pay more due to no incredible 75-90% off sales, and other providers are unlikely to help cover the conversion costs. I think people need to stop treating VALVe like they're anywhere on the level of Antichrist, because they're dealing with your ridiculous laws just like you have to. You try and tell me how the EU is protecting you with a law like this.

27% in Hungary. Yay.
At least they can't cost more than the physical copies.
Are we going to pay taxes for games only or for any items such as cards and keys?

It only will be more fair comparing digital to retail. Valve was getting some advantages others couldn't due to size and infrastructure.
It was a natural step, and may not mean higher prices. See murkmurkmurk comparison example.

feels good not being a european citizen for once 3rd world ftw

Do you live in Europe?
Yes.

Will you keep buying games on any European Steam Store?
Nope. Steam redeemable keys all the way.

I do not see any price changes. I think, prices will not change later...

There was no price change in EU2.

funny that people really think there is any price-change today....nobody forced steam to raise their prices ....they have only to pay the VAT corresponding to the country they sell to. If we look to the countries with the majority of sales they do in the EU this would be 4-6 %-points higher resulting in ~ 4,3% higher prices (100/115*120)....why should they ruin this shiny 2,49 or 4,99 or even 9,99 prices ....maybe they just do less discounts....or they deal with it.

All seem normal here after day 1.
Do you copy?

Bad Rats still 0,99€ - so far all is good.