“Patient Gamers” Won’t Let $80 Games Become the New Norm

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“Patient Gamers” Won’t Let $80 Games Become the New Norm

It’s fair to say that price is the current hot topic in the gaming industry. Once, we all thought that $60 was the standard, but then developers pushed it towards $70, and now we’re reaching the $80 tag. It all started when Nintendo revealed Switch 2 and its launch title, Mario Kart World, which is set to cost $79.99.

Gamers flooded every post related to Switch 2 and rallied for a price drop. However, the Japanese gaming giant opened a can of worms. Even

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stepped in, raising the prices not only on Xbox consoles and accessories but also on first-party games, establishing that $80 is the new standard.

Developers and publishers want gamers to get used to paying more for everything in the current landscape. However, few in the community aren’t willing to give up that easily and are planning to hold on against this price hike wave.

Gamers fight back against Xbox and Nintendo price hikes

Well, you might be wondering, what exactly is the reason behind these gaming giants ramping up prices out of nowhere? Well, it’s apparently due to the current state of the global economy. Due to the tariffs imposed on China by the United States, there is increasing instability in the world economy.

With such conditions, gaming companies state that there’s bound to be a rise in development and manufacturing costs. Obviously, companies such as

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and Nintendo wouldn’t give up on their profit margins. So, they’re pushing the increased costs upon gamers and making $80 triple-A releases a reality.

As time goes on, we’re likely to see other major companies, such as EA and Ubisoft, explore the idea of $80 games as well. It’s something completely inevitable now, but over on

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, the community isn’t willing to pay full prices for games that are half-baked and filled with endless microtransactions.

As user

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says, more and more people will become “patient gamers” and wait for prices to drop rather than buy at full launch prices. It’s a practical thing, as there’s no need to rush in and get games for $80. Eventually, big gaming companies are forced to discount their titles in seasonal sales. The waiting game always pays off.

Others, such as user

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have also chimed in, revealing that they always “wait to buy” games. Almost all titles get discounted within time, dropping from their steep price tags to the $10-$20 range. The only downside to waiting for discounts is for multiplayer games that are best enjoyed right after their release.

Clearly, developers have forgotten about the existence of free-to-play games. As user

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says, these sorts of games are “prominent and high quality,” which allows millions of players to access them. If paid games continue to jack up prices without justifying their costs, players will ignore them in favor of free alternatives.

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might be one of the only few games that justify its high price tag. (Image via Rockstar Games)

Forget the $80 price tag. Some in the community stopped purchasing triple-A titles when they reached the $70 price tag. User TyLion8 states that unless “it’s GTA 6”, which is literally a once-in-a-decade franchise at this point, they aren’t planning to purchase such expensive games ever. However, even GTA 6 might surpass the standards set by Xbox and Nintendo, as it’s rumored that it could cost up to $100.

Gamers have more choices than ever. There are tons of indie titles and subscription services, making high-quality gaming more accessible. There’s no urgency to throw away $80 on new releases that don’t offer good value and are packed with frustrating issues.

Xbox and Nintendo can raise their game prices. However, as long as gamers are willing to play the long game and are patient, these companies will be forced to look at their pricing strategies.

Will PlayStation also follow the new $80 price trend?

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Nintendo’s decision to increase prices for games started a chain reaction in the industry, and

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followed as well. As we’ve said before, it won’t be long before other publishers and companies jump aboard this ship and make gaming expensive.

Since the announcement of price hikes, fans have been waiting to see if Sony will follow the trend. Many have been hopeful that Sony will take advantage of this moment and establish the PlayStation brand as one that’s friendly for gamers and doesn’t succumb to corporate greed.

However, that’s unlikely to be the case, as PlayStation will undoubtedly announce price hikes as well in the upcoming weeks. The higher costs of manufacturing and tariff wars unleashed by Donald Trump will be enough for Sony to step in and state that it’s going to have to meet the current economic realities as well.

Sony has always held up the premium value of its first-party games, which the company believes is the benchmark for quality and innovation. We’ve seen first-party PlayStation games such as The Last of Us and Marvel’s Spider-Man enjoying immense critical success, and that gives Sony enough ammunition to justify higher prices.

Let’s not forget what happened with Returnal. The PlayStation title decided to launch at a $70 price tag despite not feeling like a triple-A game and having more indie roots. Sony’s decision to stick with that pricing proves that it’s overconfident about its intellectual properties.

In Sony’s view, reducing the price of its first-party games would slash the value of its brand in comparison to Xbox. That’s a hit it certainly can’t afford, as Team Green has been on a roll in recent months and outclassing PlayStation in almost every aspect.

It’s sad that even Sony is going to chase the industry trends. However, the only way to fight back is by voting with our wallets. There’s no need to purchase these $80 games, as waiting out for discounts and opting for other quality low-cost games is the right choice.

With that said, what do you think about the gaming industry establishing $80 games as a new norm? Let us know in the comments below.

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