Microsoft and Sony confirm Next-Gen game pricing to remain the same.

Microsoft has announced it will sell its first-party games on Xbox One for $59.99, which is the same price most new releases are currently sold for.

(...)

While nothing official has been said about the price of PlayStation 4 games, Sony America CEO Jack Tretton suggested back in February that they too would be retailing for $60. He told CNBC, "We're going to welcome free-to-play models, games from $0.99 up to those $60 games."

[zerocrossing]

Good to know. Gaming is an expensive enough hobby as it is, so at least while prices remain reasonable most of us can continue enjoying it.

[Muerte2494]

this is the kind of thing people are mad about. You want to be like Steam yet you're still charging people full price for games. If you want to push people to digital, then lower the price of your games. If you're still charging the same as retail then there is literally no benefit to it. This is just Microsoft being too greedy.

[I_am_Batman]

It's funny how both Sony and MS are basically saying the same thing but It's good news from Sony and bad news from MS. A lot of people have hoped that MS will charge less for new games because of the DRM. But to be honest who really thought they will?

[medman]

I chuckled recently when some Xboner's said that with the direction Microsoft has chosen to take with drm, always online, and the cloud that would allow them to sell the games for less. A good chuckle indeed. Especially considering Microsoft is selling a less powerful hardware system for 100 dollars more than their competitor. Not to mention the fact xbox live gold is ripping people off and has been for years now compared to what PSplus offers, not to mention Sony not charging to access your own internet for online play this gen. Microsofty likes their money, they like your money. No way the games were going to see a reduction, no way. The only reduction will be from indie developers pricing their own self-published games on PSN, while many of those games will never see the Xbone due to the fees Microsoft charges. Enjoy. PS4.

[Polysix]

http://www.xboxonevspsfour.... 75% (over 40k votes to PS4).

To be 'fair' MS would have to sell their games at least at half the price Sony charges to make their DRM be justified. MS = BS!

[MysticStrummer]

Where's EliteGamer? He's been promising lower prices on One games because of MS's policies.

[ShaunCameron]

Gaming was always an expensive hobby. They were charging $60 and more back then. People made less money, so a $60 game would eat up a good chunk of their paycheque.

[Moonman]

Sony has been up-front about everything so far. Microshade has been so shady that I won't believe anything. Even this!

[PraxxtorCruel]

How have they been shady? They came straight out with DRM, the used games issue, compulsory kinect and its other features! So how is that being shady?

[Godmars290]

Hell, having to and the way you pay for online. Putting everything behind a paywall, which then legitimized Sony doing it but not to the extent MS did.

Or you can just look at how XBO is built around online DRM and shuts out non internet users.

I mean, know its a luxury item, but there's an inherit flaw in shutting out potential customers while trying to expand the market base.

[Gazondaily]

@Godmars

Yeah but that doesn't mean their shady. PraxxtorCruel is right; they came out and explained the restrictions regarding the platform, regardless of the damage limitation in light of the disclosure.

[creatchee]

@Godmars290

"I mean, know its a luxury item, but there's an inherit flaw in shutting out potential customers while trying to expand the market base."

That's how business works though. Companies do not try to appeal to everyone - they have a target audience or demographic. Microsoft is going for the internet connected household that embraces new tech and methods, wants games, likes the second screen experience, and who prefers digital content.

It boils down to this: Microsoft is targeting gamers and non-gamers, Sony is only targeting gamers. Both methods work. In fact, Sony's may work better if there isn't the mass adoption of consoles that there have been the previous 3 generations.

But Microsoft's is much more of a risk-reward proposition. For the non-gamer, there is no advantage of the PS4 over a PS3 or 360. They all have streaming apps, the PS's have Blu-ray, and all have DVD. Basically, a non-gamer who asks what does the PS4 have FOR ME that the PS3 doesn't already have will be met with "not much."

However, on Microsoft's side, there is the Kinect and the TV integration. This is where many gamers (including myself) groan. However, while those things could end up being cool for us as gamers if executed well, they are really there for non-gamers and casuals. There is more of a jump from the previous generation for non-gamers.

Unfortinately, the price point is high. Non-gamers aren't buying a One at launch. I don't think there will be many people who aren't of the hardcore set buying it until it hits 399 or 350. However, when it does get down there, I can see casuals and non-gamers heavily considering it. We shall see.

[Moonman]

@PraxxtorCruel

No they DIDN'T. Every media website brought it out for them. They haven't said the word DRM. And they haven't said shit (in a clear way to everyone) about their used games policy.

[medman]

Creatchee, you say Microsoft is targeting gamers and non gamers, and that may be true, but it's not like the PS4 won't have many of the same functionalities that the One will, other than switching between live tv and your game. And considering some folks, such as myself, already control their A/V setups via a laptop, tablet, smartphone, and/or smart TV, that makes what Microsoft is offering moot because we already have that functionality customized with proprietary apps that function to a level of depth that Microsoft's One cannot offer. That is a problem if you are trying to sell your console as a multimedia device to control every other device when it can't do the job as well. It seems rather half assed, to be frank. If you're going to go that route, you better swing for the fences and be better than what is currently available, but they are not. Instead, it seems like they hit a routine pop fly to the infield.

[Godmars290]

@creatchee:

MS is expecting non-gamers to invest $500, with subscription fees, into something which might enhance their cable interface. In some cases do less than what their cable box and even TV already does. Then they're telling one segment of gamers that they have to give up how they've done things and do it MS's way, while another who were about half their current console user base that they have to get online whether they can or not.

Really what it all boils down to is that while MS imposes all the inadvertent restrictions in the hopes that everyone in the narrowing market they're trying to appeal to sees what they're doing, They're going to have no right to complain when/if sales numbers don't meet whatever expectations they have.

Their fan camp certainly wont have any bitching rights should PS4 sales numbers outstrip the XBO's like pre-orders currently are.

[Hicken]

Shady is paying third parties to not show their games on PS4.

Shady is having all their demos- tech and otherwise- running on PC and not even dev kits.

Shady is blaming media outlets for getting the message wrong... when the message was exactly what the media said.

Shady is forcing an always-listening, frequently-watching peripheral AND an internet connection into your console after already having been busted for spying on your customers, and being heavily implicated to have cooperated with recent government attempts at data mining.

No, on second though, I guess that's what ALL gaming companies do...

[The Meerkat]

With all the DRM and no used games this was the last way MS could have redeemed themselves, but having all the games costing 50% of PS4 games.

Oh well, guess I'll have to stick with my launch day PS4.

[extermin8or]

You make that sound like the bad option lol don't sound so glum :p I'm sure the ps4 will be excellent over it's lifetime, and have great games :)

[mitchell1188]

True, gaming is a VERY expensive hobby. That along with my Martial arts, kendo training, dirt biking, and rock climbing. Thank God I can get used games for my ps4.lol Whether Xbox was honest or not ps4 gives me the option to not drop any of my hobbies because I buy lots of games....just not at 60 dollars a game.

[josephayal]

paying $50 for a new video game is too much

[Foxgod]

Well, depends on who you are i suppose.
Some people find it too expensive, but for me personally, its either worth the full price, or i just dont buy it.

I rather spend time on illustrating, then playing games that aint worth the full price to me.

[MysticStrummer]

Depends on the game. Some are worth much more than $60 and some are worth much less.

[ShaunCameron]

Only if you're kid dependent on your parents' allowance money or the stereotypical gamer looking for a handout.

[Foxgod]

Good news, then they will still be up for 45 Euro's on some shops in the NL's.

XB1 + 3 games gonna be a chunk out of the wallet, but itl be worth it.

[Hicken]

It wouldn't have mattered to you if the games were $100.

[Foxgod]

Well, wrong, A console is an one time investment, games are recurring expenses.

[o-Sunny-o]

Yay!

[JW1080]

I was waiting to hear this. It's been in the back of my mind for a while. Good to know. $60.00 is expensive enough.

[Mikelarry]

sweet this is good news because if it did go up gamers would have been really cautious when making purchases

[Funky Town_TX]

Xbox one games should follow PC games and Steam price models.

[b_one]

where the hell is "we wanted to make DRM and prices like on steam sales."

[Enigma_2099]

At least wait until the economy improves before you hike up the price...

[ShaunCameron]

I think they'll jack up the price regardless of how the economy does. After all the bad economy didn't stop the PS3 from launching at $659 CAD or Activision from selling games at $59.99 plus tax which later became the industry-wide standard retail price we're now paying.

[medman]

I'm going to be honest here folks. I'm kinda surprised Microsoft did not come out with an announcement saying their games would now increase in price to 69.99. Sixty nine seems like the right number for what they are trying to do to their customers. Or maybe 68.99, they don't seem like the type to reciprocate.

[DivineAssault]

Thats good news.. Devs should actually have an easier time developing games this time around.. Especially on PS4

[NeloAnjelo]

For some reason most next gen titles at retailers in the UK are priced from £50 upwards. With exclusive PS4 titles priced at £55. Not sure why... Demand?

I really hope this is lowered to the RRP.

[extermin8or]

They are place holders, most have little notes- like say amazon has a notice saying that's just a placeholder price.

[NeloAnjelo]

Cheers man! I was nervous there!

[Belking]

This is just more proof that games are going digital.

[Nocando]

At this point the article could be about anything and we will see negative comments about Xbox One.