Indian PC Gamers Use Twitter to Protest EA Price Hike
The Indian gaming scene is on the rise. To capitalize on rising sales, EA decided to raise its prices on games from Rs999-1499 (between $16-$25) to Rs2499-3499 ($41-$58) on its upcoming titles, which is approximately the same in price as Western markets.
EA may have altered its prices to prevent non-Indian customers from using VPN clients to pay for games at Indian prices via Origin.
Naturally, this price hike hasn't pleased Indian gamers, who have taken to Twitter to protest. Under the hashtag #EAPCIndia, gamers are complaining about EA's new policy. Many are threatening to boycott or pirate EA's games. "Back to TORRENTS for MOST," proclaimed one angry Twitter user. "So EA goes this way, gamers can try alternatives. Good opportunity for competitors [and] developers," stated another.
To give non-Indian residents a point of comparison for EA's new game prices, one of the protesters pointed out that his rent was only Rs9000, making the Rs3499 price point for a game absolutely outrageous.

You are saying as if America rules the world.
The cost of living in different countries is different and so will be the prices of video games.
I facepalmed. Not everyone earns the same wages. Considering the average pay from what I've heard is 35000-50000 rupees a year, 3500 rupees for single game would be 10% of their salary. Meaning maybe at top 1 game a year, ruling out other expenses.
Guess I missed the boat on that one...
You are saying as if America rules the world.
The cost of living in different countries is different and so will be the prices of video games.
wow typical idiot american is the reason the rest of the world hates us. do you realize the cost of living is different throughout the world? probably not.
I facepalmed. Not everyone earns the same wages. Considering the average pay from what I've heard is 35000-50000 rupees a year, 3500 rupees for single game would be 10% of their salary. Meaning maybe at top 1 game a year, ruling out other expenses.
This is as bad as how much they're ripping off people in Australia. Friend Pre-Ordered BF4 for 90 Aussie Dollars (90 USD) from Origin. I ordered it for Rs. 3500 (70 USD) from a Retail shop. smh. A digital copy should be cheaper then a physical retail copy regardless.
Spoken like a true idiot.Games in india are cheaper cos they are manufactured there.There is no import duties.Increasing the price like this only will promote piracy.If they reduce the prices million of people will buy there games.Guess EA doesn't want to sell anything outside western countries.
While you are spot on about the piracy and prices, you are WAY off on the manufacturing. Origin has digital downloads and they are charging this price, how do you manufacture code? Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V? I could understand that for the consoles but for PC gamers in India it makes no sense as you need you link your game to your Origin account and run the client anyway.
EA needs to start dropping prices or they will have very few people buying games in India IMHO. I kinda feel that this is more of a money grab than it is to fight piracy.
In USA and other developed countries, peoples earning is also much higher than those living India. They earn $2000 on an average and so are the prices of goods there which ultimately makes buying a game for $50 negligible for them. They do not mind paying for 1-2 games every month. But think about those who are living in India. If you scale US earning and expenditure in India, earning is $750 and so are expenses to live a similar lifestyle as anyone living in USA. If you would make games such ridiculously priced in India, who would want to spend $50 on it when all they earn is $750 and their rent is $200 out of it? I totally support the protest because I find it legit. EA is already falling due to their not so liked games and now they are intentionally or unintentionally trying to loose money from Indian market too.