The $70 Price Hike Is Preferable to More Microtransactions

KeenGamer: "As Sony and Microsoft announced an increased price ceiling for PS5 and Xbox Series X games, there was some debate on whether it was preferable to pay more upfront, or deal with a AAA gaming landscape increasingly dominated by in-game storefronts. In a hypothetical where we get a choice, let's lay out an argument for the upfront price raise."

[Phoenix76]

Anyone who's supports the idea that a price hike in games from so called AAA devs and publishers as being justifiable is an idiot.
These companies are already raking in millions upon millions of £'s every year whilst claiming games cost more to make, yet largely remain the same. And year on year those profits are increasing already. With a price hike and push towards digital format, which cuts out huge amounts of costs already, they'll make even more ludicrous amounts of money whilst find new ways to monetize their games.

[Atom666]

All true.

But they're not running charities. All you can do is speak with your wallet where you can.

[Aussiesummer]

Yet we will all pay it won't we.

[Seraphim]

there will be at least 100 games I do not buy next gen. Very likely even more. Games I would have normally bought for $50-60. There will likely be at least another 100 that I do buy but only on sale for $50 or less. It's likely by next gens end I will be able to count the game I paid full price for on my fingers and toes. As apposed to 200-400+ full priced games, each generation, from the PS2 generation to present.

Even $60 games took a toll. I had over 400 PS2 games alone plus a bunch of Gamecube and Xbox games. PS3 that number dwindled to maybe 150-200 over the course of the generation between 360 and PS3. PS4 that number has dropped as well I believe. Whenever I do get my hands on a PS5 I might buy 1 game. For $60 I would've bought at least 3 off the top of my head. Unfortunately this is where I need to make a stand. All those extra $10 bills on all those games is something I simply can't afford anymore. An extra $1,000 for 100 games. 3 games for $150 or less (PS2), $180 (PS3) and now $210 for 3 games. If they're that hungry they can eat their own greed far as I'm concerned. yes, it's a business, blah blah, blah. doesn't mean shite to me. there's a lot to be said about pricing items reasonably and unfortunately over the past decade companies have lost sight of that and passed on to much onto already struggling consumers.

[Steppenwolfmother]

@Seraphim I get your point, gaming is an expensive hobby if you really go all in, but you do realise that games are just rising for inflation right? PS2 games retailed for $50 which is the equivalent of $76 now. Plus games usually go on sale and reduce in price pretty quickly in the months after release.

I have no issue with the price of games going up especially if it helps the developers who aren’t EA and Activision etc. there has been a lot of great studios that have closed over the years because their game didn’t take off. Also publishers can go nuts with cosmetic micro transactions for all I care. If you don’t like them just don’t buy them. Loot box’s and pay to win MT can fuck off but we don’t see those as often anymore.

[ChasterMies]

Phoenix76 speaks true. If you look at inflation then you an see how games are cheaper now than in 1995. But wages have remained flat while expenses like college, housing, and healthcare have risen much, much higher than the rate of inflation. This means discretionary spending for games is down. And yet more people buy games today than ever before. The market for games of fantastic and publishers are making more money than ever. My recommendation for consumers is hold out. If you don’t buy games for $70, the publishers won’t push the $70 price. Vote with your wallet.

[PS-Gamer-1986]

Well, IF mt went away then i would agree. But i doubt that the majority of publishers won't take profits from both, micro transaction AND price hikes

[SirCharles]

For your next trick, rationalize Activision locking premium gun skins in Modern Warfare behind $25 cosmetic packs.

[Ruegrong]

Remember when we thought digital would be cheaper

[1nsomniac]

**cough** you mean remember when we were told digital would be cheaper **cough** **Sony** **cough**

[russo121]

This time around price will have a surge due to greedy other than piracy. The obvious part is everybody can predict the industry will be impacted by an increase on piracy, we just don't know how much.

Note - Piracy is all digital and it's cheaper /s.

[Yi-Long]

The price hike already made me decide to postpone next-gen till next year, when some of these games might have big discounts and/or complete editions.

I don't plan on spending 70 bucks on ANY video game. It was already rare for me to drop 60, considering so many games these days are already flouting how they'll nickel & dime us post-release through DLC and MTs.

Most likely this will make me extra critical about which games I'll pick up, and will result in me spending LESS on games, not more.

[Stanjara]

Me too. Just saw the ps5 game prices on the new ps store and the are about 100 euros.
I mean Sack boy is cool, but not that cool.

[CrimsonWing69]

I’m definitely waiting for more price drops. It’s more so just to vote with my wallet. I’m hoping more will do so because if the industry sees a drop in sales they will adjust the price according to consumer command.

Unfortunately, you know we’ll be the minority and it won’t matter in the end except that we’ll be saving money.

[1nsomniac]

I don’t think it will be the minority. I think for once it seems like the majority are quite happy not to buy release day at these prices but I guess we’ll see.

[anast]

It's $70 + MTs + DLC + any other live service charge there might be. They are raising the price to please investors. Actually, I would be extremely surprised if the devs. and other workers saw any of the $10 price hike. This stuff is about as in your face as it gets.

[1nsomniac]

Suit yourself, I won’t be choosing either of them. I’ll manage just fine.

[SegaGamer]

If anybody seriously believes this industry needs to raise the prices of their games, then they are either stupid, naive or both. The games industry is booming, they could sell their games for less and be perfectly fine.

It's funny how they need to raise their prices the exact same time a new console generation arrives. What convenient timing. They aren't raising the price of games because they need more money, they are doing it because they WANT more money. A want and a need are two very different things.

[Yppupdam]

That is why it is always wise to never preorder games, and NEVER pay full retail. Getting older has made me very patient, I have no qualms about waiting for a price drop or even getting the game used if the price i worth the ROI. That is the best way to deal with this situation, Only time will tell is the market will bear the price increase but, not "going all in" with the new pricing will definitely affect the bottom line of the big publishers. Don't be persuaded by the dummies who tout verbal diarrhea about "supporting the devs" by paying full price. At the end of the day, Patience is your best play, because even if the release price doesn't change, it will definitely drop in price or sell for a lower price later.

[CrimsonWing69]

I wonder if the pandemic had any sway in the decision as well.

[addictedtochaos]

It would be incredibly naive to think there won’t still be micro transactions.

[MadLad]

Hah! Yeah, ok.
No.

What is happening here is we're going to sit and watch game prices rise, as devs/publishers continue finding new and interesting ways to milk their audience; thus proving the "microtransactions are there simply for those who want them, helping to subsidize the rising costs of game development, keeping game prices lower for the average consumer who just wants to play the game" complete horse s**t.

I'd happily see the standard cost of your typical big budget release exceed that $70, if it meant all the greedy microtransaction strategies went away, or the hundreds of dollars worth of dinky little cosmetics were just updates added to titles over time. Or, you know, having every "AAA" release not try to be a retail priced GaaS title, and actually be feature complete at launch, with only potential add-ons/ proper expansions after release.

Christ, take me back to the late 90s/early 2000s, where games were still just freaking games.

[CrimsonWing69]

You’re an idiot if you think that $70 price hike will replace micro-transactions.

I don’t care how they spin it, the fact that not every publisher is charging $70 for next-gen games shows me this is the industry trying to make more money and not adjusting for the economy/development costs like they’re claiming.

Let’s put it in this perspective: Game sales make millions whereas micro-transactions make billions. They are going to test the market with these prices, of course consumers will give in, and it’ll be the norm until they hike it up to $80.

[addictedtochaos]

I’m just going to wait for sales/price drops next gen.

[agent4532]

I am confused regarding game prices. For one Xbox Series X game "The Medium" for $50.00 and Little Hope, I got it pre-release for $25.00. I strongly believe that there won't be games at standardized prices anymore. My dear is that game prices rise to $70.00 plus tax but still have to deal with microtransactions

[1nsomniac]

I don’t buy MT’s and I won’t ever pay above £45 for a game. I’ve done just fine. No need to pay £60 for a game at all.

[Yppupdam]

Props! You dictate the price you want to pay, Don't ever let those greedy bass turd publishers muscle you!

[Aussiesummer]

Um that's not how it works.

[jBlakeeper]

Gaming companies make way too much off microtransactions for them to ever not be a thing. They are here to stay unfortunately.

[RonsonPL]

i can't stand the stupidity of people who defend that.
Please, learn what people like Jim Sterling or Yong Yea, or Az from heelsvsbabyface have to say. I can't present arguments as well as they do, especially when I'm angry and reading the title pissed me off already ;]

No, two steps forward doesn't mean you are to cheer for one step back. You're still one step too far.
And this stupid "arguments" for "games are more expensive to make" were debunked so many times, with recent examples making it so painfully obvious that I feel like people who defend price hikes, microtransacions or whatever other crap publishers push, are insulting my intelligence.

[mrkibbles]

just means I have a wait a bit longer for sales. :)
With some games selling $15 skins...they should be making plenty of money

[The7Reaper]

The new CoD is gonna be $70 and I guarantee you the battlepass will still be $10 and the "Legendary" skins will still be over $20

AAA games still nickel and diming the consumer isnt going anywhere until the sheep can put their credit cards down.

[Kavorklestein]

Is it really instead of microtransactions?
No. It's in addition to the price hike.
There was never a promise of 0 microtransactions.

What idiots.

[MadLad]

Digital is overtaking physical in terms of how people acquire their content, thus they're saving a lot on manufacturing, transportation, and paying retail stores to hold their product. Also with digital, you see a lot of the bigger publishers pushing their own stores/programs, thus keeping almost all the profit. Microtransactions are now a billion dollar industry, and typically require little in the way of manpower and resources to pump out.

If anything, a lot of these larger companies should be charging us less for games. Not more. At least for a number of franchises.
It's the large publishing houses making more and more money every year that are the ones pushing for a larger price tag going forward, as they cry poverty and development costs.

[Inverno]

How can you write an article like this after weeks of knowing that despite the price hike microtransactions will still be very present in games? I swear I lose brain cells with reading the ish these journalists put out

[gleepot]

It's not replacing microtransactions, it's coinciding with them.

[loxim]

If you think developers won't make anymore microtransactions after bumping up to $70, you are out of your mind.

[milohighclub]

Dw people my game will be under a tenner and there's nothing a micro transaction in sight!! ;)

[hangdang]

You think microtransactions are going away?