June 16th 2024.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the rising costs of video games. A reader wrote in to share their thoughts on the matter, suggesting that games need to be more expensive in order for publishers to stay profitable. They compared the current prices to those of the 16-bit era, where games could cost up to £110 with inflation, and argued that even with the recent price increase of £10, games are still a better value for money than they used to be.
The reader also referenced an interesting letter from a former Square Enix employee, who highlighted the challenges that game publishers face in today’s industry. They explained that these companies are set up to make big-budget games and that it’s difficult for them to shift to making smaller, indie-type games. The risk of not making enough money to cover costs is higher for these types of games, making it hard for publishers to justify the change.
While some may suggest that publishers downsize and decrease costs, the reader points out that this would require a complete shift in the business model. It’s not a viable option for these companies, as it’s like asking a major movie studio to start making TV commercials instead of films. It’s just not feasible.
The end result of this dilemma is that fewer triple-A games are being released and they’re taking longer to make. The recent Xbox showcase may have seemed impressive, but that’s because they acquired many studios. And most of the games shown were in development long before the current challenges arose.
It seems like there’s no easy solution to this problem. Some have suggested focusing on live service games, but the reader argues that this is just as risky as doing nothing. They propose a different solution – increasing the price of video games.
Despite the recent price hike, the reader points out that games have seen little increase in price throughout their entire existence. In the 90s, games could cost up to £70, which would be around £164 today. And yet, we’re paying less for games that offer much more content and better graphics. They suggest that if we want to continue getting high-quality games, we may need to accept a price increase.
The reader also compares the cost of games to other forms of entertainment, such as going to the cinema. They highlight that games offer much more value for money, even at the current prices. They suggest that if we want to continue seeing games of this caliber, we may need to accept a price increase of at least twice as much.
In conclusion, the reader argues that while it may be hard to accept, we may need to pay more for games in order to keep the industry afloat. It’s either that or risk seeing a future dominated by free-to-play games and live service titles. And for many, the trade-off is worth it to continue playing amazing games like Elden Ring and Zelda.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
