Regional pricing
Prices around the world
Course 1 kept a list of prices for each country. On Steam, "The price for each product on Steam is specified and displayed using 37 different currencies and 4 region groups."
Three ways to convert
Steamworks offers three methods:
- Exchange rate only"A simple currency exchange rate".
- Purchasing power onlyWhat people in a country can afford.
- Multi-variable"Multiple factors for each currency, including local purchasing power".
Quick check
Which method looks at what people in each country can afford?
- Purchasing power
- Exchange rate only
- None of them
Show the answer
Purchasing power
Purchasing power uses public data on what customers in each country can afford, not just the currency rate.
The studio decides
Valve suggests prices "in the Propose Pricing tool, relative to a selected USD price." But "Pricing decisions on Steam are entirely in the hands of you the developer." Valve reviews initial prices and changes.
Rules for changes
Valve asks "that price changes wait until after 30 days from release".
Raising a price in any currency starts "a 30 day cooldown on your ability to submit discounts." No discount is allowed within 30 days of release, or of the launch discount ending.
Check the calendar
Theo raised Shard Garden's price in Brazil on 1 May. Can Theo start a discount on 15 May?
- No: a price rise starts a 30-day wait for discounts
- Yes: discounts are always allowed
- Yes, but only in Brazil
Show the answer
No: a price rise starts a 30-day wait for discounts
The rise on 1 May blocks new discounts until 31 May, in every currency.
Review on a schedule
Theo sets Shard Garden's price in each currency, starting from Valve's suggestions, and reviews the list every quarter. Big currency moves trigger a review sooner.
Quick check
Converting the US price at today's exchange rate gives a fair price in every country.
- True
- False
Show the answer
False
The same amount of money buys different amounts in different countries. That is why purchasing power is one of Valve's methods.
Who keeps what
Each store keeps a share of every sale, and the shares differ.
Bolt says: Next: platform fees compared.
Fact-checked 12 October 2026
- Steamworks: Pricing partner.steamgames.com