Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Paying $100 USD for a $60 USD game seems preposterous and now they may need to pay more in other areas.

“Netflix Tax” May Affect Australians On Steam, May Increase Pirating

Paying $100 USD for a $60 USD game seems preposterous and now they may need to pay more in other areas.
This article is over 9 years old and may contain outdated information

The Australian government is moving to impose a goods and services tax on “intangibles” such as Netflix by 10% after a review in 2012 found that about $1 billion in revenue is lost due to overseas retailers.

Recommended Videos

What this could mean for Australian gamers, who already pay more for games in general, is now they may have to pay even more for Steam games.  Steam does not currently show Australian currency prices and how exactly the tax will be applied is still being discussed.

Some Australians are speaking out about it on PC Gamer forums. A post from user NekoYukai states that they already pay $100 USD for a game Americans pay $60 USD.  She goes on to say that for those who want to stop pirating they are going about it wrong.

We already pay close to $100 AUD for games which Americans pay close to $60 USD thanks to exchange rates and our overheads which the Government must get their hands on. Now, we will be forced to pay even more money to the Government. Why bother, the money isn’t even going to be spent on infrastructure which can be used to download the games at a decent rate… let alone play them. For people who want to stop us Pirating they’re doing a really… really… really bad job…

So it seems before the tax is even approved in the budget Australian gamers are already outspoken about it.

To all those Australian Gamers out there, we feel for you.


GameSkinny is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of T.W. Francis
T.W. Francis
Still figuring out who I am. When I find myself I will let you know.