Please reconsider The Sims 4 regional pricing in Ukraine — 70% price increase
Please reconsider The Sims 4 regional pricing in Ukraine — 70% price increase
I would like to ask EA and Maxis to reconsider the current regional pricing of The Sims 4 DLC in Ukraine.
Recently, the prices of The Sims 4 DLC on Steam in Ukraine were significantly increased across the catalogue. For example, The Sims 4 Get to Work increased from 999 UAH to 1699 UAH, which is an increase of approximately 70%.
This is a very substantial increase for the Ukrainian market.
I understand that EA may need to adjust prices due to currency fluctuations, inflation and changes in regional pricing recommendations. However, I believe the current Ukrainian prices should be reconsidered with the actual economic situation and purchasing power of Ukrainian consumers in mind.
Ukraine is still experiencing a full-scale war, which has had a major impact on household incomes and expenses. Average wages and purchasing power remain significantly lower than in the United States and Western European countries, while the cost of essential goods and services continues to put considerable pressure on household budgets.
At the same time, The Sims 4 has an unusually large amount of additional paid content. When prices increase across Expansion Packs, Game Packs, Stuff Packs and Kits simultaneously, the total cost of legitimately owning the game's content becomes extremely high relative to local incomes.
This is particularly noticeable when comparing regional pricing. A price that may be reasonable for a consumer in a high-income country can represent a much larger financial burden for a Ukrainian player.
I also believe that regional pricing should take into account the importance of keeping legitimate purchases accessible. I am not suggesting that piracy is justified — it isn't. However, when official content becomes disproportionately expensive compared with local purchasing power, some players may simply be unable to justify purchasing it legally.
Fairer regional pricing could instead encourage more players to remain within the legitimate EA ecosystem and continue supporting the developers.
I am therefore asking EA to review the current Ukrainian regional pricing and consider Ukrainian purchasing power, average income, the ongoing economic impact of the war, the difference between Ukrainian and Western markets, the cumulative cost of owning The Sims 4 DLC, and the importance of keeping legitimate purchases accessible.
I am not asking for free DLC or special treatment. I am asking for regional pricing that reflects the economic reality of the Ukrainian market.
The Sims 4 has a large and passionate community in Ukraine, and I hope EA and Maxis will consider reviewing these prices rather than simply applying the same pricing approach used for substantially wealthier markets.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this feedback.
