Chrono Trigger for Android was released not too long ago, although its asking price of $9.99 might put some gamers off. As we had said earlier, Square Enix has been known for pricing their games much higher compared to everyone else who sells games for a few dollars or even at the $0.99 range. That being said, Square Enix has defended their prices in the past, claiming that the quality of their games justifies its asking price, and while that might hold true, in an environment where apps (both games and non-games) sell for a dollar or less, wouldn’t Square Enix be better off being a bit more competitive?
Speaking at Casual Connect in Kiev, Square Enix’s General Manager of Mobile for Europe, Antony Douglas, answered some questions regarding the prices of their mobile games, along with what seemed like a hint that those prices could be changing in the future.
“I think that the Japanese view of this is that we have built quality games, whether they’re for handheld or for mobile… the business model is not set in this world. Everything is free-to-play right now, tomorrow it could be different, [and] it’ll change the day after that. I think Japan wanted to try things – bear in mind that game sells incredibly well at that price, [and] I think there’s something honest about it, because it tells you how much the game is going to be.”
“$20 for something you can play for 30 or 40 hours is still cheaper than what you can get on a handheld. [Square Enix] Japan are trying that and seeing how it works, and it works very well in Japan. It has been commented on quite a lot in Europe in the West, [and] they’re responding to it. They’re seeing the feedback, and there will probably be changes in the way that it’s structured.”
What do you guys think? Do you think Square Enix’s asking price for their mobile games is justifiable, or do you think they could reach a larger audience if it was priced cheaper (not necessarily $0.99)?
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