The biggest bombshell from the Nintendo Switch 2 launch event is that some games will be hitting an eye-watering price of $80—a first in gaming history. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, and it's easy to see why. Gamers were just starting to adjust to the $10 price hike per game with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and now they're facing another surge.
Although many people are frustrated with rising prices, the cost of developing games has indeed skyrocketed. Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden is well aware of this and has shared his thoughts on the increasing game prices.
Former PlayStation Boss: Game Prices Have Actually Gone Down
In a video interview with PlayerDrive, Shawn Layden pointed out that when adjusted for inflation, the cost of games has actually gone down. The former PlayStation executive also suggested that if game companies raised their prices by $5 with each new console generation, players might be more amenable to these incremental hikes.
According to foreign media reports, while Layden’s comments may sting a bit, he’s not wrong. Back in the days of SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) and Sega Genesis, games were priced between $60 and $80 per cartridge (with some even exceeding that), and these prices held steady through to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S generations—unchanged for 20 or 30 years. Had Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft increased their prices by just $5 each generation, gamers might grumble but would likely find it easier to swallow than sudden jumps from $70 to $80 or even higher within a single generation.
If Nintendo normalizes an $80 price point for games, what’s stopping Take-Two from charging $90 or even $100 for GTA6? Just thinking about it can make your head spin. But whether we like it or not, this seems to be where things are headed.
Would you still buy games if they were priced at $80 or even $100? It ultimately depends on whether the game itself is worth it and offers substantial content.