I discovered a couple of games that differ in price significantly. Here are the examples:

Prey: Digital Deluxe Edition
GOG - 50% off = 19,99 EUR
Steam - 70% off = 11,99 EUR

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Digital Deluxe Edition
Steam: 70% off - 11,99 EUR
GOG: 60% off - 23,99 EUR

These are just a couple of games I found.

My question would be the following: Why such drastic difference in price? Is it because the publishers expect a loss on DRM-free games, or what? I do not understand. Is this the second-class-citizenship effect?

EDIT: Fixed a mistake

Are you sure about that? For me it's 80% for 11.99€

With that, the difference between platforms comes form the higher percentage discount on STEAM over GOG. There have been cases in the past where games were cheaper on GOG. It's just timing.

Steam sell to more customers, so in theory they can offer a greater discount. Whether they do so or not is up to them, so like MadalinStroe says it is a matter of timing and no doubt other reasons.

To many developers and publishers we are what could be classed as second tier customers, so have a lower priority as a GOG or DRM-Free customer. For many of them, we simply aren't worth it at all, as they won't make enough over time to counter their DRM-Free fears or bias against.

I'm not sure of the prices you have listed...

... but...

... you are experiencing the "GOG effect."

Generally, prices on GOG for DRM-free versions of games (often lacking MP functionality) are higher than Steam and elsewhere... yes, often even during sales.

That's the curse of DRM-free. You pay extra to own the games.

Yeah, thx. A mistake. Still, the point kind of stands.

I think that usually, the games reach the same discounts at some point during the different sales in both stores. For example, the lowest price for Wolfenstein 2 the new colossus digital deluxe edition on steam, has been 12 euros (not 9 euros) and the same goes for GOG.

https://isthereanydeal.com/game/wolfensteiniinewcolossusdigitaldeluxeedition/info/

The edition of the game that costs 9 euros, is the base game without DLC´s. Which, again, had the same low price on Steam and on Gog, at some point this year.

https://isthereanydeal.com/game/wolfensteiniinewcolossus/info/

I suppose, as long as both stores get the same low price, even if at different times, it is quite fine. I was just confused, as if the deal was always that better on steam, then it would be really hard to ignore.

Sometimes it's regional pricing (Steam seem to have more currencies than GOG). Other times it can be the games themselves, eg, the three Bioshock games are regularly just £10 on Steam whilst buying them on GOG are nearer £16-£18 (because GOG sell them as 3x separate games whilst Steam sell them as a special Trilogy / collection).

funny you mention them. got a discount code email for them today.

Yeah I just got the same one too. Even with 80% off the price for just Bioshock Infinite (Windows-only) is about the same as what the whole Trilogy sells for on Steam (inc a native Linux build of BI). GOG really need to renegotiate a better "collection" deal there.

I agree with Timboli and kai2's answers. Economies of scale through more volume sales through Steam for profitability estimates paired with the fact that DRM-free versions of Steam-DRM games are arguably different enough products to justify the price discrimination. These are the two major factors I'd consider when setting prices as the publisher. With P vs Q curve data, I suspect the demand elasticity for GOG games are also more inelastic than Steam, but that is a personal hypothesis of mine.

I wouldn't mind 10-15% higher price on gog, but 1,5x+ is just too much.
Then I just go buy a steam key.

Further to what I posted here earlier.

Price is only part of my decision making when buying a game.

If I become interested enough, then yes price becomes a bigger factor, than if it's a game I desire anyway.

So often it is a matter of either cheap enough to match my level of interest or what I consider a fair price.

I never even check what price the game is elsewhere, and certainly not at a DRM store like Steam.

That said, if I am waiting for a game to come down in price, and I see it DRM-Free at Humble or Itch.io or the ZOOM Platform, and it is an acceptable price there I will usually buy it, though I will double check the price at GOG just to make sure, as I'd rather buy it at GOG. There are other governing factors though.

Sometimes I will even buy a game at GOG, that I got for free at Epic or even Steam, if it is cheap enough. DRM-Free is a great motivator and I believe in supporting GOG and those who support the GOG model. In a very real way, it is like investing.

Check out the price and discount difference of Dishonored®: Death of the Outsider™

I think both stores use Regional pricing and it's against the Law
both in EU and US

it called Price discrimination
if you see them do that you can file a complaint with the company

source:
https://definitions.uslegal.com/p/price-discrimination/
https://www.markhamlawfirm.com/law-articles/unlawful-price-discrimination-an-obscure-antitrust-offense-by-william-markham-2013/