I grew up playing video games, and they were a great way to escape reality, learn new things, and bond with friends. Nowadays, I still want to support game developers, but for many of us in Egypt, the prices on Steam are just too high.

Steam’s partner documentation indicates that Egypt falls under the USD_MENA pricing tier, and Valve even suggests pricing for games in this region. On paper, this should make games more affordable for millions in the Middle East and North Africa. The catch? Those suggestions are optional, and unfortunately, a lot of publishers overlook them.

Take Baldur’s Gate 3, for instance. Valve recommended a lower price for MENA, but players in Egypt ended up paying more than that. Conversely, some publishers, like the one behind The Talos Principle 2, did stick to the suggested pricing, showing it can be done. Right now, things seem great on paper, with Egypt included, but in reality, we're still paying prices that are closer to what folks in other countries pay, even though our income doesn’t stretch that far.

This isn’t about wanting free stuff. We genuinely want to buy games and support the studios behind them. But as things stand, many of us are forced to make tough choices: wait for sales that take forever, resort to unofficial key sites, or even turn to piracy because legal options are simply too expensive.

We’re urging Valve and game publishers to take real steps so that being part of USD_MENA translates into fair prices for everyone living here.