Ryse: Son of Rome on Sale as Microsoft Experimental Digital Price Model

Microsoft is experimenting with different price models for the digital copies of games found on the Xbox One by offering one of the console's exclusive games for a reduced price for a limited time.

Ryse: Son of Rome is temporarily on sale in an attempt to placate Xbox One owners who have been looking for discounted games on the console. From Feb. 18 until Feb. 24 Ryse will be available digitally for $39.99. Studio manager Mike Ybarra confirmed on Twitter the move was driven by fan complaints. "Lot of people asked for better deals on our digital marketplace, so we're testing some..." wrote Ybarra. 

More discounts are on the way for Ryse: Son of Rome after this sale ends. To help promote the Mars' Chosen Pack DLC being released for the game on Feb. 28,Microsoft will offer other special deals as the DLC launch approaches. After all the sales are concluded, fans can then buy the Mars' Chosen Pack and add new maps, a new character skin, and the Survival Mode co-op feature to the game.

This push to offer special discounts and reduce the price of digital games was brought on following a minor pricing controversy for Xbox One owners in the United Kingdom. In December 2013 Microsoft raised the prices of several games on the Xbox One Marketplace in the United Kingdom, causing many owners to vocally complain about the price hike. Microsoft claimed the original prices were part of a promotion, but gamers did not want to hear the excuses. Now under pressure, Microsoft has vowed to try and offer more competitive prices for the digital copies of games found on the Xbox One.

Those interested in playing Ryse: Son of Rome would be wise to take advantage of this offer while it is still available. Ryse is considered by many to be one of the best looking games available on the Xbox One, and while the game has a Metacritic score of 60, the lowered price should make up for this mediocre score for those curious about the game.

If this sale is as effective as Microsoft hopes that it will be, then perhaps the company will begin offering the digital copies of games at special prices to encourage sales on the Xbox One Marketplace.