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[Robb]

So what's that mean for the future?

 

[zizou6971]

Haha you got me there, but book prices have not been immune to increases either.



Yes, I do. I have nearly 20 years of experience in the global Finance industry - most of it specifically dealing with research and data related to global macroeconomics (trade, currencies, logistics, policy, trends, history, forward looking guidance, etc.)

I'm not sure what you game market comment is supposed to mean.

However, I, like major decision makers at large companies, prefer to deal in facts and numbers.

So here are several:

• AAA game development cost has increased ~100x since the N64 era.
• Game prices have stayed largely the same at an average of $60.
• Inflation has pushed the price of nearly everything up, including labor (developers).
• Other forms of entertainment are generally much more expensive than even 15 years ago.

I don't like it, but the fact is game prices should be over $100 right now if they stayed on trend.

We're lucky they haven't been increasing like everything else for the past 25 years.

Why not include fee for online gaming? Season passes? MTX? etc. Publishers have much more revenue streams than in the 90s. You ever looked at the quarterly reports of Sony etc?

 

[Critical Hit]

games should never go up in price.

I didn't say that. 70-80 is ok for grand open world games without microtransactions, which you somehow forgot to add in your analysis.

I've already given you

I'm sorry, I didn't see the answer - "So it's unprofitable right now?". Can you repeat it, please?

 

[Negotiator101]

Gamepass says different don't tell anyone

 

[ArtHands]

Games dont exist in a vacuum in our lives. Many people need PCs for a variety of tasks, and when you take that into account, a gaming PC often comes cheaper than a console + PC combo.

Plus, although physical can indeed offer cheaper prices theoretically, in practice it runs into supply issues. Meaning things like simply living in the wrong place can make certain game disks not-so-cheap anymore, or the game in question isn't even available physically. Not to mention older games that stopped being printed and essentially became expensive collectors items.

I think its crazy you have to explain such simple concept.

In a way these console people are like photographers who don't understand why the mass market are switching to using smartphones to take photos, instead of using cheap point & shoot camera.
"but a budget camera take better photos and is cheaper than an iphone!" .

 

[Alan Wake]

Didn't Ryan just buy a $700 PS5 Pro just because he wanted the best GTA6 experience on day one and he was concerned about further price hikes? I highly doubt he is personally getting priced out of anything.

That's not the point they're making.

 

[gtabro]

At these prices piracy has to give (us joy).

 

[ReBurn]

Consoles are still cheap all things considered. $500 for a PS5 that is also a 4K blu ray player is an insane value. PC is a joke in comparison.

Being able to play 4K Blu Ray isn't the value add it once was.

 

[Fbh]

Not to defend corporations but if console gaming or gaming in general is getting too expensive for you (and don't take me wrong, it's getting too expensive for me too), maybe consider dropping the "I need everything on day 1" mentality.

Some of these arguments are presented as if you HAVE to buy every game at launch for full price and you have the buy a Ps5 pro or any mid gen refresh as soon as it's out.
You don't. Just wait 6-12 months and you can buy most games for considerably less than $70/80 with the added bonus of several months worth of updates and fixes. Nintendo fans are more screwed in this regard, but the games retaining their value means you can play most Nintendo games for next to nothing if you are willing to engage with the second hand market buying used and reselling your games when you are done with them.

You don't need the pro consoles. Your base console runs literally the same games. Yes, they don't look and/or run as nicely but paying more for a higher quality experience is basically a thing in every hobby I can think of.

Is waiting for sales and discounts good for the industry? Well...that's not our problem. If they keep rising prices and eventually price out most normal people and see their day 1 sales drop, they'll just be forced to adapt.

 

[Heisenberg007]

> "Xbox fails to sell"
IGN: "Console market is not growing."

> "Xbox raises prices"
IGN: "Console gaming is too expensive."

Why do they keep lumping Xbox's issues as industry woes?

 

[CoreyFlawless]

They just letting there team getting too damn big. That why games gotten so expensive. Don't worry tho, there still this great indie games that are made with 50ppl or less. Sometimes just 10 ppl and are fun to play. Tooo many trying to have these big ass games and expect big sales. They just need to start cutting back

 

[Deerock71]

If you bought five games a year, that is £400.

Or jump on a sale!

 

[Generic]

Because it offers a unique experience that some people think is worth it. Everyone has their own value system for the things they buy.


The average American spends over $1000 a year at Starbucks, $80 games and $500-$700 consoles is nothing. At least in America, people have far more disposable income than people here seem to realize. Cost isn't an issue, value is; the console manufacturers and publishers need to make their products worth the cost, and I think this is the real problem. So many modern games and even the consoles don't really justify their price for some people.

"Because it offers a unique experience that some people think is worth it."

It looks exactly like the previous games in the series. Nintendo is charging $80 for a Mario Kart 8 DLC with a filler open world with no campaign mode or a battle royale mode that could take advantage of it.

 

[boo]

I think we are finally seeing the negative side of the push from 480 to 720 to 1080 to 4K. People expected more. Better graphics. More power. Games become more and more expensive to make. Prices of game consoles and games can not avoid the price increases. We wanted more. We got more. But it will cost us.

 

[Edgelord79]

It is expensive. Most people would agree outside this forum. It may not be as expensive as other things, but it still adds up.

 

[DeepEnigma]

500$ per console
100$ per game
100$ per acssessories
200$ year for online feature.

And some here ll say that PC game is expensive

All that added up is still less than a video card worth a damn.

Besides, these game prices are coming to PC day one games too from these publishers. Now you can get keysite prices bumped up to the original $70 prices

 

[Robb]

"Because it offers a unique experience that some people think is worth it."

It looks exactly like the previous games in the series. Nintendo is charging $80 for a Mario Kart 8 DLC with a filler open world with no campaign mode or a battle royale mode that could take advantage of it.

So it looks exactly like Mario Kart 8 except for being a huge open world game?

And isn't Knockout Tour a battle royale-type mode?

 

[Neofire]

Lower game prices + no penalty fee for online gaming x ~6 years

Now to a casual gamer looking at this comment would think this is factual but anyone who has been gaming for a while knows this is far from true. No PC gamer is going to keep the same gpu or cpu for 6 years let alone be able to run 6 year plus games at optimal settings with 6 year old hardware.

 

[Cakeboxer]

Now to a casual gamer looking at this comment would think this is factual but anyone who has been gaming for a while knows this is far from true. No PC gamer is going to keep the same gpu or cpu for 6 years let alone be able to run 6 year plus games at optimal settings with 6 year old hardware.

As always it depends on your needs. There is no 100% this and 100% that. Not everbody needs 4k@120 and everything maxed out all the time. I never upgrade my CPU, just my GPU and you can always overclock before upgrading. Pc also gives you much cheaper options when it comes to accessoires like headsets, input devices or VR. Btw many console players did a midgen upgrade last and this gen as well.

 

[Knucklepux]

PC gamers stay winning.

PC gaming at a level of what consoles have is even more expensive. Tired of this narrative. As if graphics cards alone don't cost more than a console lol

 

[The_Mike]

Not true. IGN ripped the PS5 Pro. Called it a waste of money, and that you're better off building a PC. IGN Xbox "journalists" Like Ryan Mccaffrey and Destin Legarie both ripped the price. Only for Ryan to buy it a couple of days ago.

I see.

Guess it's because I just mainly read GAF

 

[Knucklepux]

Name one of the form of entertainment whose prices have gone up as little as games have.

Nintendo 64 games were literally $60 back in the '90s. Anyone who complains doesn't understand basic economics or how currencies work.

That's only half the argument though. Those games also didn't launch with predatory monetization in them, always online requirements or daily splash screens featuring ads. So even if games today still cost $60…their preorders, battlepasses, microtransactions, special editions, etc… have more than made up for inflationary costs.

This is a result of poorly managed developments, increasing greed amongst the executives and a need to pay 10x to investors

 

[Lokaum D+]

All that added up is still less than a video card worth a damn.

Besides, these game prices are coming to PC day one games too from these publishers. Now you can get keysite prices bumped up to the original $70 prices

Why ppl is this dumb ?

You dont need to buy a 5090, you dont need to buy a 9700x3d, you dont need 128DDR5 RAM for PC gaming.

I can play 90% of games for FREE on PC If i want, i can emulate, i can play old games with true nextgen experience without the need of a patch, i can play online for FREE.

Now lets see how much a PC that ll runs pretty much everything at 1440p@60 using DLSS + every old game at 4k@60 + any old console via emulation.

now you can aways continue to be stupid thinking that PC game just work above U$2k price tag

 

[rofif]

Games dont exist in a vacuum in our lives. Many people need PCs for a variety of tasks, and when you take that into account, a gaming PC often comes cheaper than a console + PC combo.

Plus, although physical can indeed offer cheaper prices theoretically, in practice it runs into supply issues. Meaning things like simply living in the wrong place can make certain game disks not-so-cheap anymore, or the game in question isn't even available physically. Not to mention older games that stopped being printed and essentially became expensive collectors items.

there is a computer in every single household. be it laptop or pc.
We are talking about gaming alone.
choosing a console, does not take that "tasks" computer away from your home

 

[DeepEnigma]

Why ppl is this dumb ?

You dont need to buy a 5090, you dont need to buy a 9700x3d, you dont need 128DDR5 RAM for PC gaming.

I can play 90% of games for FREE on PC If i want, i can emulate, i can play old games with true nextgen experience without the need of a patch, i can play online for FREE.

Now lets see how much a PC that ll runs pretty much everything at minimum 1440p@60 using DLSS + every old game at 4k@60 + any old console via emulation.

now you can aways continue to be stupid thinking that PC game just work above U$2k price tag

Ah yes, the ultimate PCMR machine.

You're all insufferable with these copy/paste trash builds no PCMR that loves to war against console would touch.

 

[rofif]

Why ppl is this dumb ?

You dont need to buy a 5090, you dont need to buy a 9700x3d, you dont need 128DDR5 RAM for PC gaming.

I can play 90% of games for FREE on PC If i want, i can emulate, i can play old games with true nextgen experience without the need of a patch, i can play online for FREE.

Now lets see how much a PC that ll runs pretty much everything at minimum 1440p@60 using DLSS + every old game at 4k@60 + any old console via emulation.

now you can aways continue to be stupid thinking that PC game just work above U$2k price tag

This is trash. Awful trash. not a pcmr pc.
PC in order to make sense, must deliver a lot more than console can. Either good pc or nothing

 

[Plies]

PC gaming at a level of what consoles have is even more expensive. Tired of this narrative. As if graphics cards alone don't cost more than a console lol

You can't be this ignorant.

PC gaming is pound-for-pound a far better value than consoles, given the immense versatility afforded to the platform.

The only two things console gaming had going for it were a relatively cheap price of entry and ease of use.

And those advantages are effectively null and void.

-Console gaming is no longer cheap.
-PC gaming is easier to get into now than ever before.

 

[DeepEnigma]

This is trash. Awful trash. not a pcmr pc.
PC in order to make sense, must deliver a lot more than console can. Either good pc or nothing

Bingo.

 

[Walter Matthau]

So it looks exactly like Mario Kart 8 except for being a huge open world game?

And isn't Knockout Tour a battle royale-type mode?

It is and also takes advantage of the open world.

The mode where you can drive the map at your leisure and take on challenges for secret collectibles is Free Roam.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Ah yes, the ultimate PCMR machine.

You're all insufferable with these copy/paste trash builds no PCMR that loves to war against console would touch.

This is trash. Awful trash. not a pcmr pc.
PC in order to make sense, must deliver a lot more than console can. Either good pc or nothing

"Lol poor Pc dosent count, this pc is trash"

Proceds to buy a u$600/700 console that will run most games at 540p30/60 FSR or 1080p with poor man DLSS, also cant play old games at 4k@60 or even emulate Nintendo at 4k while the "trash Pc " can.

When someone ask me for an example of stupid ppl i ll show them this.

 

[DeepEnigma]

"Lol poor Pc dosent count, this pc is trash"

Proceds to buy a console that will run most games at 720p30/60 FSR or 1080p with poor man DLSS, also cant play old games at 4k@60 or even emulate Nintendo at 4k while the "trash Pc " can.

When someone ask me for an example of stupid ppl i ll show than this.

It's a trash build and not worth one's time or money.

 

[Lokaum D+]

It's a trash build and not worth one's time or money.

 

[cireza]

I don't think that seems like a terrible situation, it sounds pretty good to me. But for whatever reason, companies are using 3rd party engines like Unreal etc presumably because it costs less and gives them more flexibility when hiring from a limited pool of skilled developers.

You said yourself that people will keep expecting better visuals, but these engines are wasting the power at our disposal. When we will not be able to make more powerful hardware at the same price anymore, then what will be the only way forward ? Dumping these engines and going back to optimizing games for the hardware. That's my point.

 

[Raven77]

That's only half the argument though. Those games also didn't launch with predatory monetization in them, always online requirements or daily splash screens featuring ads. So even if games today still cost $60…their preorders, battlepasses, microtransactions, special editions, etc… have more than made up for inflationary costs.

This is a result of poorly managed developments, increasing greed amongst the executives and a need to pay 10x to investors

Most of that you say in the last part is false. Greed is not new to this industry. What is new, and maybe what you were trying to get at, is that a lot of these companies are not publicly traded so they have a legal mandate to their investors to maximize profits.

And all of those monetization things you mention is the AAA game development answer to the fact that game prices haven't gone up in 35 years.

Research it and you'll see that this widely considered to be the case.

 

[DEAD ORIGINAL]

Not many games I'll buy day one this year bought both Oblivion Remastered and Forza Horizon 5 both I'll get 100 plus hours, I plan to buy DEATH STRANDING 2 day one every thing else I can wait till it goes on sale also let PS Plus run out only play Warzone & Fortnite online.

 

[QLQ]

The default response to anything concerning Xbox should be either one of these:

Clearly MS doesn't give a shit, why should you?

 

[Mr Reasonable]

You said yourself that people will keep expecting better visuals, but these engines are wasting the power at our disposal. When we will not be able to make more powerful hardware at the same price anymore, then what will be the only way forward ? Dumping these engines and going back to optimizing games for the hardware. That's my point.

My point is that the reason that 3rd party engines are used is because everyone knows how to use them. If you don't then development is slower due to onboarding and you have to draw from a smaller talent pool when you lose members of the team. This means that development is slowed. Development time is one of the main things that defines cost of development.

 

[Cramoss]

Why ppl is this dumb ?

You dont need to buy a 5090, you dont need to buy a 9700x3d, you dont need 128DDR5 RAM for PC gaming.

I can play 90% of games for FREE on PC If i want, i can emulate, i can play old games with true nextgen experience without the need of a patch, i can play online for FREE.

Now lets see how much a PC that ll runs pretty much everything at 1440p@60 using DLSS + every old game at 4k@60 + any old console via emulation.

now you can aways continue to be stupid thinking that PC game just work above U$2k price tag

 

[Sooner]

we just had a goty contender with an AA budget

Which is amazing, because nothing about Clair Obscur Expedition 33 feels AA. If that's AA, sign me up for all AA games.

 

[Ebrietas]

Being able to play 4K Blu Ray isn't the value add it once was.

I think it is becoming more useful with streaming services getting shittier and more expensive by the day. Starting to build up a nice collection.

 

[Ebrietas]

Not to defend corporations but if console gaming or gaming in general is getting too expensive for you (and don't take me wrong, it's getting too expensive for me too), maybe consider dropping the "I need everything on day 1" mentality.

Some of these arguments are presented as if you HAVE to buy every game at launch for full price and you have the buy a Ps5 pro or any mid gen refresh as soon as it's out.
You don't. Just wait 6-12 months and you can buy most games for considerably less than $70/80 with the added bonus of several months worth of updates and fixes. Nintendo fans are more screwed in this regard, but the games retaining their value means you can play most Nintendo games for next to nothing if you are willing to engage with the second hand market buying used and reselling your games when you are done with them.

You don't need the pro consoles. Your base console runs literally the same games. Yes, they don't look and/or run as nicely but paying more for a higher quality experience is basically a thing in every hobby I can think of.

Is waiting for sales and discounts good for the industry? Well...that's not our problem. If they keep rising prices and eventually price out most normal people and see their day 1 sales drop, they'll just be forced to adapt.

People also discount the sheer amount of f2p content there is nowadays. This just didn't exist with older consoles.

 

[Guilty_AI]

there is a computer in every single household. be it laptop or pc.
We are talking about gaming alone.
choosing a console, does not take that "tasks" computer away from your home

And that computer/laptop either A) Is slow, old and in serious need of replacement already or B) is good enough to play games even if not necessarily a gaming one, meaning through it PC gaming becomes that person's easiest entry point.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH

 

[The Pleasure]

PC gamers stay winning.

Not 4k at 240 fps with full ray tracing. And I want it on my KFConsole.

 

[Knucklepux]

Most of that you say in the last part is false. Greed is not new to this industry. What is new, and maybe what you were trying to get at, is that a lot of these companies are not publicly traded so they have a legal mandate to their investors to maximize profits.

And all of those monetization things you mention is the AAA game development answer to the fact that game prices haven't gone up in 35 years.

Research it and you'll see that this widely considered to be the case.

Well the real question is…. And will prove that greed is indeed a major factor

If games became $100 standard, do you foresee them reducing the amount of monetization within them?

Of course not

 

[Raven77]

Well the real question is…. And will prove that greed is indeed a major factor

If games became $100 standard, do you foresee them reducing the amount of monetization within them?

Of course not

I agree that is what would happen, and I don't like it, but what is your point?

 

[Knucklepux]

I agree that is what would happen, and I don't like it, but what is your point?

Well you were denying that greed is a factor in rising costs. I'm pointing out that it definitely is

 

[Plies]

THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH

You need to calm down, sir.
This is a Wendy's.

Not 4k at 240 fps with full ray tracing. And I want it on my KFConsole.

 

[EverydayBeast]

1st time console prices INCREASED mid gen.

 

[Durin]

The platform warring is pretty needless, when the reality is across the board we're seeing the hobby cost more.

What only specifically sucks with consoles is we're seeing machines that have been out for years now cost more, instead of every other gen where they drop.

The real thing that sucks for PC gaming isn't high-end cards being rip-offs, it's the better value mid-tier (AMD RX9070XT) and budget (Intel B580) options aren't available at MSRP because of demand. My friend was able to land with luck a RX9070XT at a local store for $600 MSRP, and with other parts could do the mid-tier build at $1250. He avoided the dumb things like buying overpriced motherboards for overclocking no one uses, went with a mid-tier AMD CPU that will eat any game using just a modest air cooler, 32gb of RAM is all you need, a Crucial ssd, a basic mid-size Fractal Design case, and a budget evga power supply.

Games going to $80 sucks too, but you have flexibility to avoid these problems by waiting on price drops, sub services that give away games, library game rentals, sales, etc. Avoid day one hype for games, and enjoy less bugs/performance woes by waiting.