Former PlayStation Executive Believes Game Prices Would Have Gone Up Sooner or Later

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In a conversation with PlayStation Insider, Shuhei Yoshida (former Sony executive) expressed his opinion that video game prices might increase eventually. Regarding the potential $80 cost of first-party Switch 2 games, Yoshida shared he wasn’t anticipating such an increase from Nintendo in the market.

In simpler terms, Yoshida stated, “It was inevitable that something like this would occur eventually, though perhaps not from Nintendo. The current situation we find ourselves in is one where inflation is high and prices are rising, yet there’s an expectation for games to be increasingly complex and costly to produce, but still priced the same. This presents a challenging paradox.

Yoshida also discussed how improvements in game creation, particularly in terms of visual quality, have simultaneously resulted in higher development costs. He cited remastered and remade versions of games as well as PC ports as instances where they are frequently produced to support budgets for creating new AAA titles. It appears this trend is true in these cases too.

Yoshida stated that video games today are more advanced and technologically complex than ever, which means they need more resources. While each game’s publisher or manufacturer determines its price, it’s important to note that these costs are primarily driven by production. This is why the industry is focused on finding various ways to generate income, so they can continue producing high-quality AAA games, which consumers prioritize over other products.

Previously, Yoshida discussed the strategy of utilizing PC versions of games to boost income for development. In February, he emphasized that this approach also broadens the game’s reach to a new demographic and expands the market overall due to the increased accessibility of PC gaming in various regions around the world.

Yoshida mentioned that launching on PC provides several benefits: it allows us to tap into a fresh group of players who don’t have consoles, particularly in areas where console usage is less common. This could potentially create new fans for specific franchises, and when a subsequent game in the series launches, they might consider buying a PlayStation.

According to Yoshida, turning a game into a PC version is usually less expensive than creating an entirely original game. He analogized this to something akin to “printing money,” with the extra earnings then being channeled towards future game development. As he put it, “This approach allows us to invest in new games now that the cost of making games has gone up.

As a gamer, I understand that releasing games on PC platforms can significantly expand their reach, especially in markets like China where PC gaming is more prevalent than console gaming. Yoshida, a fellow gamer, puts it perfectly: “China’s PC game market is massive, whereas the console market is growing but still relatively small.” He emphasizes that to tap into this audience, it’s essential to distribute games on PC platforms. In my view, PC versions can indeed introduce us gamers to a whole new world of gaming enthusiasts.

Regarding contemporary video games and their pricing, one of the initial games slated for release on June 5th with the Nintendo Switch 2 is “Mario Kart World”. Notably, this game will be priced at $80, making it the most expensive standard edition of a game since Sony increased the price for its first-party AAA titles in 2020, coinciding with the launch of the PS5.

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2025-05-06 16:11