Because of the difference in exchange rates with the U.S. dollar, it’s even more likely that they’ll squeeze more money out of players.

Sony’s decision to stop producing physical discs was undoubtedly its most poorly received strategy in recent memory. More than two weeks after the announcement, fans continue to flood the company’s social media posts with threats not to buy games unless physical discs make a comeback. The negative reactions have been so intense that even major studios are reconsidering their partnerships with PlayStation. The backlash could get even worse as Sony introduces regional pricing on the PlayStation Store, which uses higher exchange rates.

Sony has officially confirmed that it will introduce regional pricing in several Latin American countries, where exchange rates will make games more expensive. Starting August 20, the PlayStation Store in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua will switch from U.S. dollars to local currencies, with the transition beginning a few days earlier. Interestingly, the exchange rate that PlayStation will use to price products in each country lists the value of the Mexican peso as lower than the actual market rate. Currently, one dollar is equivalent to 17.5 Mexican pesos (MXN), but the company’s exchange rate calculates one dollar as 20.5 MXN. This will make games more expensive when regional pricing is introduced.

Due to the higher exchange rate, games like Grand Theft Auto VI will cost more when the update is released. This means that fans only have one month left to purchase their favorite games at a lower price. Sony informed players of these changes via email and confirmed that regional pricing will be introduced in additional countries, though details have not been disclosed.

With anti-consumer measures like higher exchange rates, it’s clear that fans have reason to oppose the all-digital strategy, which gives Sony complete control over prices. The Mexican government has already filed a lawsuit against Sony, but only time will tell if this will result in the resumption of physical disc production or lead to better legislation.

Source: Tech4gamers, Sony