The gaming industry is facing a perfect storm of high prices and tariffs. With every year, the number of big-budget games being released only to be pulled or cancelled, along with layoffs and closures, it’s clear that something needs to change.
Recent months have seen publishers reconsidering price hikes for their titles, but experts say this might not be the end of the issue. In a recent statement, EA CEO Andrew Wilson assured investors that there would be no drastic pricing changes, citing their existing range of prices from free-to-play to subscription services like EA Play.
However, other companies are taking different approaches. Microsoft announced plans to increase game prices by $10, starting with consoles and games at $79.99. Gearbox’s Borderlands 4 sparked controversy when CEO Randy Pitchford suggested fans might need to pay more, only to backtrack after backlash from the gaming community.
One company that seems immune to price hikes is Nintendo. Despite breaking sales records for its Switch console, it has decided to raise prices for older models and standard games. The reasoning is unclear, but experts suggest that gamers are already accustomed to higher prices due to other consoles like the PS5.
Some analysts argue that a $100 price point could be feasible for big-budget games like Grand Theft Auto 6. However, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella points out that every game will have its own unique pricing strategy, ranging from $3 for Steam’s new releases to $49.99 for some indie titles.
Ultimately, it seems unlikely that a single price point will dominate the industry. With digital sales becoming increasingly popular, developers and publishers are likely to become more creative with their pricing strategies in response to changing market conditions.
Source: https://www.polygon.com/switch-price-increase-80-dollar-games-xbox-gta-cost