A few weeks ago, we learned that the next-generation versions of NBA 2K21 will sell for $ 70 each, leading fans and analysts to wonder if console games are about to experience such a dreaded price increase.
While next-gen games can hit $ 70, Ubisoft isn’t ready to go up the price yet. All of the company’s PS5 and Xbox Series X games due out in 2020 will remain at $ 60 each.
The information comes from an earnings call from Ubisoft, which Jason Schreier of Bloomberg discussed on Twitter.
Big news: Ubisoft said in today’s earnings call that its next-gen games this fall will be priced the same as current-gen games ($ 60). Take-Two had announced that NBA 2K21 will cost $ 70 on PS5 and Xbox Series X. July 22, 2020
He also followed up with another tweet to clarify Ubisoft’s future plans and wrote: “Ubisoft did not respond when asked about next-generation pricing after this fall.”
There are two main points here. The first is that Ubisoft has no immediate plans to increase game prices. The second, however, is that the company reserves the right to do so in the future.
Ubisoft has two main releases planned for the end of 2020: Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Both games will be available on current and next-generation platforms, and Xbox players will be able to upgrade for free thanks to Microsoft’s Smart Delivery system. Watch Dogs: Legion will launch on October 29, while Valhalla will be released on November 17.
The subtext here is fairly easy to read. Ubisoft wants to leave the door open to increase prices in the future, but is not ready to commit to a $ 10 increase yet. Similarly, the company will not go bankrupt selling next-generation games for $ 60 just yet. So you don’t want to add additional confusion during the launch of a next-gen console, particularly since those consoles will be released around the same time as two of their biggest games this year.
As for whether Ubisoft would increase prices in the future, that probably depends on what other companies do. 2K, at least, seems willing to raise prices by $ 10 right away. If other companies do the same, Ubisoft will likely be one of the first to adopt the new pricing structure. After all, it is a great company offering very expensive games, and its franchises have a large dedicated fan base. For those players who want the next Assassin’s Creed or Watch Dogs entry, another $ 10 might not be a deterrent.
For now, expect to pay $ 60 for Ubisoft games in 2020, regardless of platform. However, what will happen next year is unknown.
