UPDATE: Amazon have given me a statment of sorts on the issue: “One of the many benefits of Amazon Prime is access to exclusive selection on a number of great products. Customers who are not Prime members can sign-up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, or they can purchase those items from a Marketplace seller.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Pop over to Amazon and you’ll currently find a few games that are now only purchasable if you have a Prime membership. Go to the product page and you’ll get this message:
The games include FIFA 16, Dishonored: The Definitive Edition, Minecraft, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Battlefield Hardline, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY and Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes.
It’s an odd list. Minecraft and FIFA are obviously big deals, but the rest are a bit older so not exactly ‘must haves’ so it's hard to see the attraction for anyone thinking of signing up. Although there is a logic: if The Division or Dark Souls 3 suddenly became a ‘Prime Exclusive’ people would likely be getting pretty upset about now.
The Prime exclusives aren’t even great deals. FIFA is £34.95 new, via Amazon. Click on the option to “see other buying options” and you’ll discover you’re saving a huge three pounds. It’s the same for the rest - what savings there are is minimal and if you don’t mind a used copy then all the Prime prices can be beaten.
Given that Amazon deliveries have apparently slowed for non-Prime customers due to the retailer's focus on the subscription service, and now this, the company clearly want you to stump up that £79/$99. Or go somewhere else. I’ve contacted Amazon for more info.
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