I guess this is an effect of the price reduction. Consoles are very expensive in Brazil but their prices fell quite significantly over the years, probably reaching a new audience. At the same time, many of these games were discounted, which was a big factor to those gamers under a strict budget.

Yes, they did and I believe that has made the price 40% lower average. In fact, mine was built here (799 reais for a 250GB slim model), but the games are still too expensive.

By the way, my 10 years old son just kicked my ass in PES 2013.

Pretty much what I expected.

Microsoft is producing XBox 360 in Brazil, reason why is cheaper than the PS3. Sony reduced the price of the PS3 to keep it competitive and intends to manufacture it locally in 2013, when it should match the 360's price.

Interesting data. I'm from Brazil too and the older games in the rank are easy to explain. Launch games cost around US$ 100 (some people here were talking about Halo 4, it was launched here by US$ 85, because MS usually launch first party games cheaper, Ubisoft and some others do it too). Older games cost US$ 35 to US$ 60, so it is a good deal.

Besides that, there is a factor that I have already talked about in another thread (a ethomaz one about console sales in Brazil): just recently the current gen consoles are starting to sell better here, so most people didn't have consoles when these titles launched and the first thing you do is get the system's most famous games, this explains why Gog of War and the first Assassin's Creed are on the list.

Wow, that is a significant price reduction!  And it creates local jobs, so it's a win-win. 

Any idea what the games are so expensive?  It it translating it to portugues?  Import cost and taxes?

Are the digital games equally as expensive?  In the USA 800ms points is $10.00.

The games would have to be made in Brazil to qualify for the tax reduction. It works for consoles because it forces console makers to bring manufacturing to Brazil therefore creating jobs. As for the actual games, no clue if just pressing them in Brazil would qualify for tax reductions or if the actual studios need to be in Brazil too.

It's a third world country mentality really. There are some benefits but it takes away the incentive for national brands to improve their products since they're pretty much garanteed to sell due to being considerably cheaper than the often better import stuff. A good example of this is the car industry in Brazil, the laughing stock of the country.

http://www.telecompaper.com/news/xbox-360-has-65-percent-market-share-in-brazil--901215

Xbox 360 has 65 percent market share in Brazil

Thursday 11 October 2012 | 19:31 CET | News

Oops double post. :|