State of Decay 2's $29.99 Price Could Be the Future of Microsoft Exclusives

Not too long ago it was revealed that Microsoft’s newest exclusive video game for Windows 10 and Xbox One, State of Decay 2, would cost $29.99 at retail when it goes on sale in March of this year. The price came as a surprise to some, but there’s a chance Microsoft is testing the waters for something big.

[Thatguy-310]

Highly doubt that. This game was never a AAA franchise and setting it up with that price tag would've made it hard for it to stand out. Don't expect Gears, Forza, Halo or any of MS AAA to carry the 30$ price tag.
With an attractive price, this game can easily bring in new players with ease.

[theXtReMe1]

I agree. It would lessen the value of Game Pass. Because it would take 4 games at $30 each to equal the value of Game Pass, which means Microsoft would have to guarantee 4 first party titles a year on the service to make it worth more than just buying the titles at retail. At $50 or $60 each, it makes Game Pass look like a steal. Though, the $30 price tag would appease retailers as long as they still make the same cut, because the choice would still bring gamers who prefer physical into their stores without feeling like they are being railroaded by Game Pass. Though I guess retail can still sell Game Pass and Xbox Store cards.

Though I do think you are right and this is just for this game.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

They’ll be on game pass though

[CitizenFour]

I agree, this game was never intended to be a AAA franchise. Undead Labs is a relatively small team. The first game sold for cheap but it sold well. I think they figured why change that?
I found more value in that first game, than I have in many AAA games. I was actually prepared to pay more for the sequel, but I'm glad that they are sticking with a lower price point. I don't think this game will have trouble selling and I hope Undead Labs has major success with the second game this year.

[rainslacker]

It's weird that despite a number of mid-tier games games being released for less than $60, no other game until this one has been some indicator that game prices across the board were somehow going to go down. When R&C released for $40, it was because its budget wasn't the same as a full AAA game. Same applies here. It's not an indication of anything other than mid-tier games are likely to be cheaper instead of just pushing them out for $60.

Absolutely nothing in the industry points to game prices as a whole going down. If anything, they'll go up.

MS would lose a lot of revenue by releasing something of the caliber of Halo or Gears at $30. They'd have to sell twice as many copies at $30 to make the same amount of revenue, and actual profit margins would be reduced due to distribution costs. They won't make it back with Game Pass either, because individual title's profits aren't calculated in such ways for business. There is nothing to suggest that a game like Halo or Gears would sell twice as many copies at that price, because there comes a point where you just don't sell a significant amount more. On top of that, it's well proven that people are willing to spend $60 on it, so why not maximize profits.

Sure, it'd be well received if their bigger games came out cheaper....and rightfully so, but such a thing wouldn't be in any way sustainable. So for all the consumer good will it would bring, they'd actually be throwing away potential revenue.

[ZaWarudo]

People are looking into this far too much. The first game was $20 on 360. It's one of those xbla (they still have that right?) games

[FallenAngel1984]

When was State of Decay ever a AAA franchise? You can’t equate this upcoming game with all of Microsoft’s other AAA releases like Halo, Gears of War & Forza.

Sony for example releases some titles for $39.99 but you don’t see them doing that with all of their titles because it wouldn’t make sense. Not every game is made with the same budget, and those with lower budgets often have lower retail costs.

[FlyingFoxy]

AAA does not mean a game is great to everyone, just like film taste it's all subjective. I can think of at least a few popular titles i don't like.

[Heelix]

not really
SOD2 might just be a low budget title
probably more replay value than most 'full priced' games

[maybelovehate]

Between GamePass and this new pricing scheme Microsoft is really setting a nice precedent. Let's hope it becomes the normal.

[Goldby]

Ms will never sell a forza or halo game at 30$

[maybelovehate]

They will both be included with Game Pass.. 9.99

[Goldby]

Ok... You still don't own the game.

Sea of theives is proof enough that the 30$ price tag isn't and wont be the norm

[Pancit_Canton]

$30 for the game + $70 for the DLC + Over $9000 for Microtransaction. lol

[KillBill]

DLC version of the game is $49.99. So $20 more for the later 2 DLC that are expected to drop for it.

Also, no micro-transactions... but keep trolling.

[jronj]

SOD2 will not have microtransactions but I could see a company offering a lower retail price and adding microtransactions to make up the difference.

[ninsigma]

Doubt it. The games coming out at that price definitely don't look like full price worthy games. Halo and gears on the other hand will have the production value to warrant full price and I expect them to sell at that price. Would love if that weren't the case though. Would be amazing for game prices to drop to that price and hopefully encourage others to lower the price. Can't see that happening though.

[Minute Man 721]

$24.99 with Best Buy Gamers Club. Day One for me

[343_Guilty_Spark]

The game looks surprisingly good now

[GamingSinceForever]

This should be the case for all games heavily focused on online with MTs. If Incan’t get the full intended experience for $60, then it shoild be cheaper.

[corroios]

This isnt a Triple AAA game

[danny818]

Slow news day? the original came out for 30 bucks

[TheDriz]

I don’t think the writer of this article did his research

[InTheZoneAC]

Great price point, sets up a lot of tech demos to be sold and viewed as acceptable by MS and its herd.

[Yetter]

Original was 20$ on XBLA so no this isn't a surprise. Damn it looks good though.

[Gh05t]

So this author has no ability to actually do any research? WTF has gaming articles come to? Everyone is a damn blogger and no one is willing to actually do some work.

Are we just ignoring that a MS exclusive game that has yet to be shipped is $60 (Sea of Thieves)?

Are we ignoring that State of Decay wasn't $60 when released?

At what point in time do people stop making BS content just to make content. This is hollow holds zero value. Who is the lead editor over at techweh because they need to wrangle in the authors.

[KillBill]

Wouldn't be shocked if they weren't one and the same as most other fake game pages.

[sampsonon]

remember, you get what you pay for.

[darx]

Who cares I'll be playing it.

[Miacosa]

Makes sense the past game was a AA arcade game and this new one seems on par with that but less buggy.