While it only took a decade-plus for the sequel to 2011’s Dead Island to land, for most Canadians it only took seconds to pass on purchasing the sequel Dead Island 2.
There isn’t anything wrong with Dambuster’s rather impressive follow-up as it is a rather commendable sequel that iterates on the established mechanics and even proves that not everything needs an open world. I even prefer it to Dying Light 2 as it’s the perfect game to sit back with and listen to podcasts with.
Dead Island 2’s price is egregious in Canada
However, as it stands for those living in Canada, the price is a talking point because it’s one of the first new launches that have moved past the standard (it’s still unbelievable we call it standard) MSRP of $89.99. If this sounds familiar to you, in February, Nintendo revealed not only our first look at The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom but also that it would launch at $89.99 on the eShop in Canada.
Instead, Dead Island 2 is reminiscent of the 1990s in Canada, when at the time, prices varied wildly depending on the game and platform. Right now, you can pick up a physical copy for $89 at GameStop or you can go digital and pick a copy up for $98.99 on the Xbox Marketplace and the PlayStation Store. Or if you want to play it on a PC, the Epic Games Store is listing it for $79.99.
Similarly, if you wanted to celebrate the launch by picking up the Dead Island 2 Hell-A Edition, it costs $129.99 and includes a SteelBook, Venice map, six Slayer tarot cards, 2 pin badges, 1 patch, pulp weapons pack, and golden weapons pack.
Looking at the current conversion rate $70 USD converted to Canadian is around $95 CAD. In Canada, we’re always at the mercy of the US dollar when the exchange rate is bad, it’s bad for us but we’ve never benefitted when it goes the other way.
Publishers shouldn’t scratch their heads at sales figures when a brand-new video game costs $98 dollars before tax. In fact, the general consensus is that unless a steep sale happens, many are now waiting or skipping the release altogether. In the last decade, prices have increased in Canada and the days when you could walk into an EB Games and purchase a game you were excited about at $59.99 are long gone. Instead, we’re now at a point where the choice is to skip groceries or buy a brand-new game in some cases.
If this trend continues, you can bet that fewer Canadians will be buying games on day one at full price. This is the first generation where waiting for a discount will make the FOMO hurt substantially less. I know I’m already second-guessing my purchases these days as paying $100 for a video game, especially the base version, is unacceptable.
Using your wallet to send a message is a viable alternative these days and thanks to services like Xbox Game Pass, there is a far more digestible solution readily available.
