Capcom's next-generation action game, "Devil May Cry 4," is about to be released worldwide, and major game retailers have started rolling out various pre-order and launch advertisements. However, players in the UK were surprised to find that the PS3 version of the game is priced at the usual £39.99, while the Xbox 360 version retails for only £29.99.
This inexplicable price difference immediately sparked controversy. Was it due to the higher development costs of the PS3 version, or, as rumored, were there differences between the two versions that justified the price discrepancy? Speculation abounded.
In response to this issue, Capcom's official spokesperson provided a third explanation: There is no difference in quality between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of "Devil May Cry 4." The £10 price difference has nothing directly to do with the development costs of the two versions. The reason for this outcome lies in Capcom's business model, which allows for discounted sales of the Xbox 360 version after its release.
"Actually, we are not the only publisher to have had similar experiences. This does not mean that the PS3 version has higher production costs; it's simply because our business model allows us to offer appropriate discounts on the Xbox 360 version," the official spokesperson told the media.