Rock Band 4 Band-in-a-Box Software Bundle can be pre-ordered for $249.99 in the US, but in the UK, it will cost you quite a bit more.
On the Amazon UK website, the bundle, which includes the base Rock Band 4 game, a guitar, and a drum kit, costs £219.99, which translates into a whopping $345. Kotaku decided to ask Mad Catz about the huge difference in pricing, and Global Communication Director Alex Verrey explained that while Mad Catz tries to make the pricing similar across all regions, a variety of different factors, including the way the tax system works in the UK vs in the US, make it impossible to have the prices exactly the same.
Several external forces come in to play which are often overlooked by both the media and the gamer. The most obvious example is that of VAT (which is included in the total price here in the UK) versus sales tax which is added on to the total purchase after point of sale in regions such as the US. Shipping is also costly, especially with big-box items like Rock Band, and if product needs to travel further from point of manufacture, this can also add to the overall cost. Exchange rates also fluctuate daily and can often have an impact on pricing. As you can see, there are several external forces which come in to play, all of which impact costs.
What are your thoughts on the big pricing difference for Rock Band 4 Band-in-a-Box Software Bundle? Rock Band 4 is set to release on October 6 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
