Battlefield 6 publisher EA says “no dramatic changes are planned yet” for game prices — I’m glad it’s joining Xbox in avoiding $80 games

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As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been thrilled since Nintendo unveiled Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $80, as a launch title for this innovative handheld console. There’s a growing concern in the gaming industry that higher price tags like this might become standard. Yet, there’s one publisher that’s bucking the trend and isn’t planning to hike up its game prices — at least not yet.

It was revealed this week that the company in question is Electronic Arts (EA), known for publishing popular series such as Battlefield, Mass Effect, FIFA, and more. In response to speculation about possible price adjustments, CEO Andrew Wilson stated during a recent earnings conference with investors that there are currently no plans to alter pricing.

During our chat, I shared my perspective on how we approach our offerings – from free-to-play options all the way up to our premium products and deluxe editions. My goal is to cover a wide range of pricing tiers so that we can cater to players effectively and deliver them the maximum value possible.

We’re going to keep exploring ways to provide exceptional worth to our users by adjusting our pricing strategies in different ways as time goes on. However, for now, we don’t have any major shifts or alterations planned.

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it won’t change the prices of its games until at least March 2026, wrapping up its current fiscal year. This means that any games from EA published before then, including the anticipated Battlefield 6, will continue to retail at their standard price of $70.

Significantly, EA’s declarations emerged a week following Microsoft and Xbox admitted that the price of The Outer Worlds 2 at $80 was excessive. In response, they reduced the cost to $70, offered refunds for initial pre-orders, and promised to maintain their full-priced holiday releases at $69.99, aligning with current market conditions.

Initially, there were whispers that the upcoming looter shooter Borderlands 4 from 2K and Gearbox Software might retail for a hefty $80. Notably, Randy Pitchford, the CEO of Gearbox, had stated that “true fans” would manage to afford it regardless. Fortunately, the final price tag was set at $70, although its Deluxe and Super Deluxe versions turned out to be pricier than their predecessors.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of Battlefield 6, especially since its reveal trailer generated a lot of buzz and positive feedback. The exciting multiplayer reveal is happening tomorrow, July 31. While EA hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, a leak (thanks to Eurogamer for that) suggests that we might be seeing the game in just a few short months on October 10. I can hardly wait!

As a devoted fan, I’m brimming with anticipation that Battlefield 6 will reclaim the franchise’s glory days, shining once more in the limelight. After the less-than-stellar reception of Battlefield 2042 last year, it’s heartening to see the team focusing on elements that truly define the series – like the return of classes and an increased emphasis on environmental destruction, features that were conspicuously absent in 2042.

The game is expected to launch with a campaign, conventional multiplayer, a free-to-play battle royale, as well as the reintroduction of the Portal sandbox mode from 2042. EA aims for a staggering total of 100 million players throughout its lifespan. However, it’s been reported that the development process has been challenging, marked by high stress and extended working hours.

No $80 games for now — how long will that last?

Over the past few years, the cost of everyday expenses has been climbing higher and higher due to factors such as inflation and problems with global supply chains. As a result, it’s becoming more challenging to afford pricey video games when money is already tight.

The gradual increase in price from $60 to $70, which started in 2021, was already causing difficulties for many; a rise to $80 would make the barrier to entry even higher, making new games even more challenging for an average consumer to afford. Even though services like Xbox Game Pass offer valuable alternatives, not all titles are included in such platforms.

It’s pleasing to note that Electronic Arts (EA) is aligning with Microsoft and Xbox by maintaining its AAA blockbusters at the $70 price point, but it’s worth pondering how long this commitment will last and when other publishers might follow Nintendo’s lead in exploring the $80 pricing range.

It appears increasingly likely that, due to escalating production costs of video games, there will be a future adjustment in prices with the intention of preserving profitability. However, I fervently wish that $70 continues to be the norm for as long as feasible. Ideally, this should hold true until everyday expenses become less burdensome.

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2025-07-30 23:39