Seeing that GOG is the publisher, this is a bit sad to see. But alas, that's how the world is.

It was exactly what I expected to see after they fully embraced the realities of the market.

Same here :/
Still something that they're not regionally priced in even more regions actually.

Yes, only it's one thing to say that you are forced by others to do something and another thing to not be forced by anyone and still do it. It clearly shows how you really think.

I remember the times when they put out videos showing that regional pricing always screws someone. And well, having the Russian region pay 50% less than all others is unfair. So, if I want to vote with my wallet, what am I supposed to do? Not buy at GOG at all or pirate more?

True, it could be worse. But these are old games, and the fact that it didn't happen with them is no guarantee that it won't happen with a future release.


Are you saying that you had doubts that this is the way they see things? Haven't you learn yet that it's all PR spin to make us swallow every pill without (much) fuss?

I cant' tell you what to do, you have to decide for yourself.

As I said to IAmSinistar before, expect every game release to have the comrade discount coupon as GOG dropped all pretense of striving for flat worldwide pricing after they adapted to the realities of the market just like every other established digital distribution store. I would have been actually very surprised if these GOG published games were flat priced in Russian/CIS territories.

I'll go with what HypersomniacLive said, you mean you still had any doubts?

As for what to do, both sound like good ideas. In case of self-published titles that the devs offer for purchase DRM-free and flat priced, buy them directly from them if you can. Otherwise... Yeah.

As for the realities of the market, at the very least they could have drawn some sort of imaginary poverty line, ensuring that all countries that currently get blanket discounts are below it, and then offer the same discounted prices to all other countries that are also below it. It still wouldn't be fair, and it's wrong in concept either way, but it'd at least have some sense, a non-asshole-y rational explanation.

I always suspected it but still had some hope (don't know why really) and gave them the benefit of doubt.

But this is over now at last. And I wonder when they will adapt to the realities of the market (TM) and drop the DRM free. Maybe not this year but maybe next year or so. Or at the latest with the first online multiplayer only game.

Just "move" to Russia or Ukraine. It's quite easy to do ;)

Yes, my impression is that this is part of GOG's market penetration strategy for that region. Thus it will be the de facto pricing standard going forward for all new releases.

Atleast there is no more false hope anymore thanks to GOG finally being upfront and honest about it.

Not exactly how I'd call it but we clearly see where the stench is coming from. :P

Well like most of GOG's less popular actions it took calling them out on their shit for em' to actually admit it, so I know what you mean. ;)

But not everyone can do it. GOG would probably get suspicious if suddently 9/10 people move to Russia.

Pirating every second game would by far be the easier option. In the long run it might even bring prices down officially like it did for Russia where long time piracy is rewarded by lower prices.

thats stupid crazy talk