With Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon, gamers across the internet have sparked a fresh debate about the rising cost of video games.
An analyst, Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew), suggested in a detailed presentation that Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, might increase the price of Grand Theft Auto VI to $80 or even $100.
In his report, he also noted that if Take-Two takes this initiative, it could help publishers offset significant losses from their subpar games, encouraging them to raise prices to boost revenue.
The report also highlighted key issues, such as the decline in the quality of some AAA games over recent years, particularly with the rise of the mobile gaming market and China’s growing influence in the gaming industry.
This move isn’t about making gaming an exclusive and expensive hobby; rather, it stems from concerns about the video game industry’s waning economic foothold despite major successes like Fortnite and Call of Duty.
The collapse of live-service, games-as-a-service models has caused upheaval for both consumers and companies.
But the central question remains: do video games deserve a $100 price tag? How feasible is this for the average consumer? I’m no expert in economics, but speaking as a consumer, I see this as a pivotal moment that could shape the future of gaming.
A $100 Pricepoint Is Not Ideal
One takeaway from this debate is that increasing game prices doesn’t guarantee a great product. This is a valid concern for consumers, particularly those who save up only to be disappointed by a game plagued with bugs or poor optimization.
Keeping it at $60 could risk the industry becoming stale, pouring out unoriginal projects and remaking age-old IPs.
This issue is even more pronounced for players in third-world countries, where the high price is compounded by limited access to online platforms like PlayStation Network or Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass.
A $100 AAA blockbuster is a double-edged sword affecting companies and consumers. Recent disappointments, like Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Square Enix’s Forspoken, highlight how rising costs can alienate players, especially when the final product fails to meet expectations.
This has deepened the rift between gamers and game companies, and rebuilding trust with massive gaming conglomerates will take time.
Could The Higher RRP For Games Benefit Consumers?
Here’s the kicker: as much as we hate to admit it, increasing game prices to $100 could improve quality. However, as noted earlier, this isn’t guaranteed.
An $80 or $100 price tag might please shareholders and CEOs, but it could also incentivize them to create games worth buying. This might lead to better post-launch content, such as DLCs and expansions, possibly at no additional cost. Call me optimistic and naive, but hey, there’s a chance, right?
Higher prices could also impact job security for developers. If a game sells well, it might reduce the risk of layoffs. That said, the keyword here is could — there are no guarantees.
Overall, $100 video games are a risky proposition that divides opinion. We'll see whether the industry is prepared for this major change when Rockstar announces the official price for the base Grand Theft Auto VI (hopefully this year).