Oh, surprise! Activision gouging StarCraft II fans over game prices

I know Activision is a fashionable target and the new Big, Bad, Evil Villain of the Gaming Industry™ since everybody stopped hating EA quite as much. But Jesus, sometimes they really do dig these holes themselves.

Case in point: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty launched everywhere today, and Activision Blizzard is recommending a retail price of £45 for the game in the UK – that’s £10 more than any other new PC game. Fortunately, because not all retailers are dicks, many are simply pricing the eagerly awaited strategy title at £34.99.

We’ve been here before, of course. Last year the company placed an extortionate £55 recommended retail price on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and demanded £15 for a mediocre pack of three new and three old maps for said game. It’s widely expected they’ll inflate the SRP for this year’s Call Of Duty: Black Ops.

It’s pure greed, of course, but then maybe we should look closer to home for the blame. What’s really depressing is that people don’t seem to mind being treated this way. Modern Warfare 2 sold a ton despite its inflated price tag, and so did the downloadable maps. It seems as long as gamers are gullible mugs, Activision will continue bumping up prices.

Just remember that when you’re paying £60 or US$85 for all your new games four years from now that I bloody called it.

[Via CVG]