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> Consoles are sold at a loss which complicates things. It doesn't really. Nobody forced the console makers to adopt that business model, and they must have be
by jsnell 3y ago
> Consoles are sold at a loss which complicates things.
It doesn't really. Nobody forced the console makers to adopt that business model, and they must have been aware of the regulatory risks. They chose to do it anyway.
- ReptileMan 3y agoTrue but so far the common view is that when you buy something subsidized you play by the rules of the person that subsidizes it. Like buying a phone from a carrier and it locking only to it's sim cards and so on. Of course as a consumer you must have a right to break vendor lock in (free market and competition is good right), but in case of subsidized goods you should also expect some kind of additional fee for the unlock.
- nonethewiser 3y ago> True but so far the common view is that when you buy something subsidized you play by the rules of the person that subsidizes it No thanks
- josephcsible 3y agoWith carrier-subsidized phones, you sign a contract at the time of purchase agreeing to those rules, and if you don't like them, you can pay full price for an unlocked phone instead. With game consoles, you don't sign any such contract, and the manufacturer won't sell you an unsubsidized unlocked one.