So this was posted in the Southern California Imperial Assault Facebook group today:

Quote

Sorry to bum you all out, just got notice from FFG starting tomorrow the prices go up on Imperial Assault. All $10, $12 (except the dice pack), and $15 boxes go up $3. All the campaign boxes go up $5. I know <Specific Gamestore> is going to honor the old price on all in stock product. I'm sure other stores will follow suit as this game has not had the best sales in the last year I don't feel a price hike is going to help it out at all.

There was some further discussion that FFG has to now pay extra licensing to Hasbro for IA and this is the reason for the hike. I don't know anything about that, but it does seem rather timely with the impending release of Legion. I fear we are seeing the beginning of the end for our beloved game.

I am going to consult my local stores about this. But until then, I am gonna take it with a grain of salt for now.

Prices of things always go up... that's why you need to take out a mortgage nowadays to buy a Freddo . I wouldn't read too much into it to be honest. Just feel sorry for everyone buying the game outside the US where it already costs a bazillion times more. ?

An early-year price hike is pretty common (for any wares, really)

Hm. Might be a good time to stock up on the last boxes, before the increase then.

2 hours ago, AphraFanBoy said:

Prices of things always go up... [...] . Just feel sorry for everyone buying the game outside the US where it already costs a bazillion times more. ?

At least over here the prices are listed with tax included.

Darn, eh now it’s tempting me to go ahead and order bespin gambit while it’s still 31$ on amazon, since I still need a mini campaign...

Is it a permanent increase?

This game sees a lot of fluctuation in price commonly (look at all of the threads, like the common thread of someone finally finding a decently priced Boba Fett. It's almost a weekly occurrence).

4 hours ago, subtrendy2 said:

Is it a permanent increase?

This game sees a lot of fluctuation in price commonly (look at all of the threads, like the common thread of someone finally finding a decently priced Boba Fett. It's almost a weekly occurrence).

If it's from FFG... yes. There's no reason for the publisher to run a temporary price hike. If it's going up by $X it'll stay that way.

and incidentally, I'm selling out of the game.

Yea my local store confirmed the charges.

Out of all of the games I've ever played, this one has the least financial investment required. Even buying 2 of everything essentially, the releases ar spread out such that i really dont notice

3 minutes ago, buckero0 said:

Out of all of the games I've ever played, this one has the least financial investment required. Even buying 2 of everything essentially, the releases ar spread out such that i really dont notice

That is a double edged sword too. Few releases.

Wow this is a huge price increase (30%) at the single figure level.

On 1/31/2018 at 10:47 PM, thestag said:

So this was posted in the Southern California Imperial Assault Facebook group today:

There was some further discussion that FFG has to now pay extra licensing to Hasbro for IA and this is the reason for the hike. I don't know anything about that, but it does seem rather timely with the impending release of Legion. I fear we are seeing the beginning of the end for our beloved game.

I am doubtful of this claim, it's been years since has been out and they are about to release another mini game, one you can actually buy on their website.

A few random thoughts, Legion would be covered in any Hasbro licensing deal as well and it's price is better than IA. All stock at retailers has already been paid for so the price is set, this is not gasoline where futures fluctuates the price. This game is not going anywhere for a while, maybe skirmish will not be pushed from FFG, but with the app just released there is a ton of life left and there is a ton of characters to release that are better suited for IA vs Legion (or why they should have made these games compatible with at least conversion kits).

Current stock at retailers does not preclude a price increase on future printings of the same product.

Legion having a lower retail price than Imperial Assault has no bearing on this. Imperial Assault also comes with more physical content, a campaign, and assembled models.

The app's release means more value was added to the game which can be profited from by an overall increase.

Disney's gotta pay for those Han Solo reshoots somehow.

It’s real. Look at the product page for IA.

14 hours ago, TallGiraffe said:

That is a double edged sword too. Few releases.

yeah, but I still haven't put all of my figures on the table and I've been playing for years. I'm not talking about regular vs elite either, I think there are still figures I've painted or haven't but I haven't played a full game with (mostly some imperials)

56 minutes ago, FSD said:

It’s real. Look at the product page for IA.

In a way its good news. If IA weren't doing well they'd drop the price, get rid of the stock and stop production. If they're bothering with a price increase, they're likely planning to reprint for a while still and likely still produce new content.

Price increases can't be helped, dollar has worsened, and likely the costs of manufacture have increased.

5 hours ago, neosmagus said:

In a way its good news. If IA weren't doing well they'd drop the price, get rid of the stock and stop production. If they're bothering with a price increase, they're likely planning to reprint for a while still and likely still produce new content.

Price increases can't be helped, dollar has worsened, and likely the costs of manufacture have increased.

Just playing devils advocate here...

It could mean that they are actively abandoning IA and this is an opportunity to whittle down the market with a price increase. At the same time a price increase gives them more money as the product is in it's death throws.

Again, I don't think this is true, but it's in the realm of possibility.

Or it could have to do with Hasbro licensing and this increase is necessary to keep IA at a profitability level that Asmodee is comfortable with. If sales continue after the $$$ increase we'll continue to see new releases. If sales have a significant drop we may see less and less.

I think neomagnus is correct in this instance. If the game is in it's death throes, the publisher will want to move and clear inventory. They fastest way to increase demand is to lower the price, not raise it. They could try increasing demand by announcing the game is dead and then price gouge the "rush". However, a price hike usually decreases demand and would be counter productive. Announcing the game death would only entice current IA owners to finish collections meaning sales could be spotty with only certain releases moving instead of all inventory. New players would look to Legion instead of trying to buy a price hiked, dead game imo.

Given FFG just released the app which requires the core and can utilize all the expansions, I don't see the price hike as a sign of doom. I see it as a means to pay for the app, especially if future app campaigns remain free to play, and take advantage of renewed interest in the game.

It's really hard to speculate on the Hasbro ordeal considering there's no official word or statements out there on the subject. I could see this as a viable explanation too though. Business is business after all. Products get cut if they don't profit.

Lot of doom and gloom here, I've got lollipops for all the sad, depressed conspiracy theorists

5 minutes ago, buckero0 said:

Lot of doom and gloom here, I've got lollipops for all the sad, depressed conspiracy theorists

I'll be as dour as necessary if it gets me a lolly! Where's the *YUM* emoji?

10 minutes ago, buckero0 said:

Lot of doom and gloom here, I've got lollipops for all the sad, depressed conspiracy theorists

What about the optimists? Do we get an article on IA?

I'll have to bake brownies for the opptimists

36 minutes ago, The Archangel said:

I think neomagnus is correct in this instance. If the game is in it's death throes, the publisher will want to move and clear inventory. They fastest way to increase demand is to lower the price, not raise it. They could try increasing demand by announcing the game is dead and then price gouge the "rush". However, a price hike usually decreases demand and would be counter productive. Announcing the game death would only entice current IA owners to finish collections meaning sales could be spotty with only certain releases moving instead of all inventory. New players would look to Legion instead of trying to buy a price hiked, dead game imo.

Given FFG just released the app which requires the core and can utilize all the expansions, I don't see the price hike as a sign of doom. I see it as a means to pay for the app, especially if future app campaigns remain free to play, and take advantage of renewed interest in the game.

It's really hard to speculate on the Hasbro ordeal considering there's no official word or statements out there on the subject. I could see this as a viable explanation too though. Business is business after all. Products get cut if they don't profit.

Exactly. They wouldn't have released an app on their cost if they thought the game was dead.

As for the Hasbro thing, folk are reading too much into it. FFG had the Star Wars license, and Hasbro had a deal with Disney. Disney bought Star Wars and caused some legal wrangling. Obviously they sorted something out because FFG has since released further expansions to all their Star Wars games including IA and X-Wing, and release Rebellion plus Expansion, and Destiny, and Legion... Its obvious there's no issues. Probably Hasbro just takes a cut and is happy somebody else is footing the risks. But we really don't know and it's pointless to speculate.