Games were set at the $60 MSRP for many years. However, with the 9th generation of consoles, PlayStation announced a bump to $70 prices. This encouraged other publishers like Activision and Nintendo to follow.
Ultimately, the hobby is more expensive than it was a few years ago. Fans have also noted that this new price tag is discouraging when considering new purchases that don’t belong to their favorite franchises or genres.
Why it matters: Variety is at the heart of what makes games so enjoyable. However, with the growing expenses of new releases, the industry is quickly losing this charm for some.
Does the $69.99 price of new games make you less likely to try something new?
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One user recently took to Reddit, claiming that the $70 price tag has made the user cautious about new purchases that may not deliver.
As an example, the Redditor pointed to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, claiming that this price tag has led to doubts about a return to the series. The post has gone viral on the platform, and many have agreed with this opinion.
Others have pointed to the deteriorating quality of new AAA releases. Many games are released unfinished, leaving fans to deal with months of patches. Recently, a game like Cyberpunk 2077 has undergone a massive overhaul, but it highlights this unfortunate trend.
Some also believe there is no point in buying games at release anymore. Waiting for several months can lead to a better version for a lower price, encouraging gamers to simply wait a few months for AAA titles.
It appears a combination of factors has led to caution among gamers.
Unfortunately, this problem also extends to game developers. Due to the risk of each new project, studios are likely to play it safe and use a tried-and-true approach instead of something that may fail altogether.
Nonetheless, the $70 price tag is unlikely to change. Developers appear satisfied with this price tag, with studios like Capcom stating that games are still too cheap.
Therefore, gamers have resorted to waiting for sales, relying on subscription services, and waiting for reviews. This ensures an educated decision before a purchase, eliminating the chances of buying a poor game due to a lack of information.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
