The panorama: Gamers can expect a price hike for next-gen console titles, as research firm IDG reports that more publishers are exploring the idea as development costs have increased two to three times in recent years. , with the $ 60 baseline for AAA games virtually unchanged. There are reasonable arguments to be made from both sides of the fence, but if the plan goes ahead, it will be a difficult pill to swallow for players who already have to keep up with existing industry practices of releasing multiple editions of the same game. , microtransactions, pay-to-win scenarios and loot boxes.
Microsoft and Sony have yet to disclose the prices of their upcoming consoles, but they are widely (and understandably) expected to be more expensive than their current-generation models. Now it seems that the software side might see an increase in costs as well, ultimately increasing the price of admission to next-gen console games even further.
AAA titles have been holding steady at $ 60 for quite some time, meaning if you don’t count nickel and dampen consumers through microtransactions, loot boxes, cosmetic updates, and ‘deluxe’ or ‘ultimate’ editions that are guaranteed to have more features marked below its column than the ‘standard’ version. There’s also the weird ‘Collector’s Edition’ that can cost several hundred dollars, but it’s still a rarity and is generally chased by hobbyists.
However, video games have also become much more complex and ambitious, with delays now a common occurrence for highly anticipated titles that developers have worked and worked on for months, or sometimes years. Combine this with the rising costs of research, technology, marketing, and post-launch support, and it’s a bit surprising that the $ 60 base price for the modern AAA title has held up for so long.
Former Sony President Shawn Layden recently commented on this ‘unsustainable’ production model and it now appears that publishers, who share the same sentiment, are considering raising prices for their next-gen console games.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, gaming research firm IDG noted that development costs for next-gen titles have risen by between 200% and 300%, which could lead to a $ 10 increase in titles. of the current generation. IDG President and CEO Yoshio Osaki explained that the price of games had been stable since 2005 when it jumped from $ 49.99 to $ 59.99 during the PS3 / Xbox360 era, while TV and movie costs increased significantly during This weather.
“Even with the increase to $ 69.99 for the next generation, the next generation’s 2005 to 2020 price increase is only 17%, much lower than the other comparisons,” he said, adding that although an increase of $ 10 for next-generation software won’t cover cost increases entirely, “moving you more in the right direction.”
We recently saw the first signs of this trend (which will soon be common) with NBA 2K21 from 2K Games, whose standard edition of the game on next-gen consoles will cost $ 70. “IDG works with all major game publishers, and our verifications of Channels indicate that other publishers are also exploring the possibility of increasing their next-gen pricing in certain franchises, “Osaki said, noting that while not all next-gen games should be released at the new spot price,” iconic AAA’s like NBA 2K deserve this. price more than others. “
It remains to be seen how this increase in costs will affect game subscriptions in the future. Services like Xbox Game Pass, PS Now, Uplay +, and EA / Origin Access could also revise their fees once the expensive $ 70 titles start populating their libraries.
There’s also Microsoft’s Smart Delivery, which is a boon for gamers looking to get a free upgrade from the game to next-gen systems, but even that could lose its appeal in the future as publishers and console gamers invest. more and more of your time and money exclusively on the PS5 / XBSX.
