Most gamers agree that the $500 next-gen console price tag is fair, considering what you get. As for the $70 you need for some PS5 games, that’s another matter. Now that more games are moving beyond the old $60 standard, some people are concerned.
When NBA 2K21 announced its $70 price tag in July, it caused quite the stir. Since then, Sony revealed that some PS5 games would cost $70 as well, possibly indicating a broader shift in the industry. This price hike doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise, but is it worth it?
Why Are Game Prices Rising?
Video games have cost $60 for 15 years, despite a considerable amount of inflation since then. Inflation isn’t the only factor behind the rising price of titles, either. Game production costs 200-300% more than it used to, so developers have to sell much more to profit from a $60 price.
In light of inflation and modern production expenses, a price jump seems overdue. At the same time, many games have cost more than $60 for quite some time now, albeit not upfront. Microtransactions and DLC have become standard for AAA titles, requiring players to spend more to get the full experience.
Even if games cost more to make now, the video game industry is more lucrative than ever. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V make hundreds of millions more than blockbuster movies. Given how profitable games are, even at an outdated $60, the price hike feels greedy.
The Good and the Bad of More Expensive Games
To be fair, the industry might not accept $70 as the new standard. Xbox boss Phil Spencer notes that gamers control the price by buying or not buying $70 games. If people keep buying cheaper games instead of expensive ones, the market won’t shift.
There could be some positives to $70 games, too. Charging more upfront could mean developers move away from paid DLC and microtransactions, creating a more honest pricing model. If the higher price brings in more money, it could also lead to better, more cutting-edge games.
Of course, there are downsides to the $70 model as well. A lot of people don’t have the budget for AAA games, even at their current price. If costs keep going up, it could make video games less accessible.
Pricing Models Are Changing for the Better
So, with all of that in mind, is the price of Series X and PS5 games worth it? That’s mainly a matter of preference, but for the most part, yes. While the price hike is an unwelcome surprise to some, overall, a change in pricing models is long overdue.
If a game charges $60 upfront and $10 for DLC, you need $70 to get the full experience anyway. By raising the initial price, video game companies are being more honest. You can see what the full game will actually cost all at once.
Keep in mind that $70 titles aren’t the only change coming to video game pricing models. Sony is moving that way with just some of its titles, and Xbox is moving towards a subscription-based model. Prices aren’t all going up, but the way we pay for games is changing.
The industry isn’t changing the standard of $60, but the very idea of pricing standard. Some games will cost more but will offer more for your money. You can access some games through a small monthly fee. Next-gen gaming provides more ways to play and pay than ever.
Gaming Is More Accessible Than Ever, Despite Rising Prices
Change is always uneasy, especially when money is involved. Changing next-gen pricing models makes for a fairer, more diverse industry, though. The shift in how we pay for games is a long-overdue step towards honesty and fairness.
All things considered, next-gen titles don’t cost that much more than current ones. With an increasingly diverse selection of how to pay for games, the industry is more accessible than ever.