The big question is, are you game? Sony recently said that PlayStation 4 games will cost anywhere from $0.99 to $60, but a vague statement like this does not rule out an upwards expansion in price.
Now, the latest word on the street is that console games could see a price increase to $70 a title. If true this would make it similar to this generation, which saw PS3 and Xbox 360 games increase in price from $50 to a lofty $60 per title.
Now analysts are speculating that on launch new video games for the next-generation consoles could end up coming in at $70 a title.
The reason for this price hike, you ask? Why, increased costs to develop games for these new consoles, of course, what else!
Last generational jump, for example, saw an increase in development cost by at least two to three times. Back in 2008 Ubisoft estimated that a high-profile title for the PS3 and Xbox 360 came in at anywhere from $18 to $28 million to develop.
Most gamers will probably be unwilling to pay $10 more than what they do so for the current generation titles — particularly when you consider the excess of promotions and price cuts bring the cost even further down.
Now obviously not many are taking some of the recent developers in video gaming. First off, both flagship consoles (at least the PS4) are said to feature an architecture similar to the PC, which essentially translates to easier and more cost effective development.
And then there is the increased focus on digital distribution, which results in saving channel fees, and more money going back in the publisher’s kitty.
Both these factors should potentially (and hopefully) offset the need to raise the price.
