Now EA's on Euro Steam, but not UK

By Tom Bramwell Published 23 December, 2008

The plot thickens.

Electronic Arts and Valve now claim that a number of the former's games are available "to gamers in most of Europe, the United States and Canada via Steam".

However, the newcomers remain unavailable to UK gamers (and apparently those in Japan), despite reported availability across the rest of the continent.

The games in question are Spore, Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, Mass Effect, Need for Speed: Undercover and FIFA Manager. The US store also has Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. (We originally said that Crysis and Crysis Warhead were among the new games, but these have been available for a while - apologies for the error).

EA and Valve have yet to comment on the UK hold-up.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (17) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • warlockuk #1 3 years ago

    It's ok, we don't need it available to the UK. We can buy the games for less in an actual shop and still have change for a few beers.

  • Whizzo #2 3 years ago

    Indeed, Steam pricing is so out of step with UK online retailers you're better off with buying from them.

  • PearOfAnguish #3 3 years ago

    They'll be along shortly for UK Steam users, probably just haggling over the prices.

    Not that it matters because, as stated above, the cost of Steam games is so ridiculous that you'd have to be insane not to buy a boxed copy online.

  • UncleLou #4 3 years ago

    Indeed, Steam pricing is so out of step with UK online retailers you're better off with buying from them.

    This really might be a reason. PC games seem to cost half of what they cost anywhere else in the UK. Yet you silly buggers all buy console games. You want to be ripped off! ;)

  • spudsbuckley #5 3 years ago

    Yet you silly buggers all buy console games. You want to be ripped off! ;)

    Factor in the cost of keeping your PC up to date and it's roughly the same or more than buying console stuff.

  • pauleyc #6 3 years ago

    Factor in the cost of keeping your PC up to date and it's roughly the same or more than buying console stuff.

    You don't have to upgrade your PC every 3 months in order to play the latest games. But if you want to believe that then UncleLou's right. :-)
    Edited by 1 at 23/12/08 @ 10:31

  • secombe #7 3 years ago

    Must be the pricing thing, I imagine a Euroland roll out is pretty straightforward, but adjusting those prices to good ol' sterling is probably currently part of lengthy dull discussions.

  • Ascardon #8 3 years ago

    "Must be the pricing thing, I imagine a Euroland roll out is pretty straightforward, but adjusting those prices to good ol' sterling is probably currently part of lengthy dull discussions."

    hey, its Valve, so you will prolly get : 1$=1€=1£

    Edited by 1 at 23/12/08 @ 11:40

  • steviepunk #9 3 years ago

    "1€=1£"

    Well, that part is pretty accurate at the moment!

    The £ based prices that have been on Steam recently have actually been an improvement over what the $ prices were (given recent exchange rates), but as many have stated, the online stores have been even cheaper.

    @DiscoStu - The reports I've read state that SecuRom is not present on Spore and a few others (though not confirmation that it's all of the games)

  • Bitkari #10 3 years ago

    Securom code is present in Steam versions of those games, despite the lack of disk check.

    More DRM fail.

  • canuter #11 3 years ago

    SecuRom is no longer the disc-based protection it used to be. Now its that plus online activation. So yes, Steam versions can still have SecuRom (Bioshock, Mass Effect have it).

  • warlockuk #12 3 years ago

    Don't forget the steam games are often a little behind in the update department, too (Plus you can't re-sell 'em on eBay once you realise they're shite)...

  • mr_ruberfon #13 3 years ago

    yes, crysis warhead and others have it.

  • penhalion #14 3 years ago

    @warlockuk

    +1

    You've just stated the single most compelling reason not to touch steam with a very long pole.

  • Sar #15 3 years ago

    Mass Effect and Spore don't have Securom DRM via Steam.

    EA did not lie.

  • callum9999 #16 3 years ago

    @secombe: My PS3 was around £200, how much does a decent gaming PC cost? Exactly.

  • IronCladChicken #17 3 years ago

    @callum9999
    Since the gaming PC is also a normal PC (web browsing, word processing, etc...) - You'll need to include the price of your computer as well as that of the console... How much did your PC cost?

    Btw.. Where did you buy a PS3 for £200?