GOG opts to end its Fair Pricing Package scheme to minimise financial losses

Earlier this week, we learned that PC storefront GOG is going through some financial trouble, leading to at least a dozen staff being laid off. Now, the platform is ending its customer-focused Fair Price Package scheme, as the market shifts to a bigger revenue split for developers and publishers.

Not surprising for a storefront, GOG as many games that vary in price depending on their region. The company introduced its Fair Price Package feature as a means of levelling the playing field by absorbing some of the extra cost and placing the difference back into a user’s GOG Wallet. The system has proven popular, resulting in repeated sales on the platform and the store’s ability to “still turn a small profit.”

Sadly, this doesn’t seem the case anymore. On average, GOG returns approximately 12% of a game’s cost back to the user, with numbers reaching as high as 37% in some cases. “With an increasing share paid to developers, our cut gets smaller. However, we look at it, at the end of the day we are a store and need to make sure we sell games without a loss,” GOG says in a statement.

“Removing FPP is not a decision we make lightly, but by making this change, we will be able to offer better conditions to game creators, which – in turn – will allow us to offer you more curated classic games and new releases. All DRM-free.”

The program will carry on throughout the next month, giving users one last chance to benefit from the Fair Price Package. Once March 31, 2019 rolls around, the feature will come to an end and any funds gathered will have 1 year until they meet their expiration date.

KitGuru Says: I can’t say I ever took advantage of the Fair Price Package but it is certainly an interesting idea. Unfortunately, this does seem like the only way GOG can remain relevant as the market is flooded with new competition. Are you disappointed to see the feature come to an end?

Become a Patron!