By In relation to alternative forms of entertainment, regardless
Ex-PlayStation leader Shuhei Yoshida opines that $70 and $80 games are a “bargain” when stacked against other entertainment options
The newly independent figure addressed the audience at Gamescom LATAM, where he was inevitably questioned about the escalating costs of games. Almost all publishers raised their prices to $70 at the beginning of the PS5 era, while both Microsoft and Nintendo have recently revealed plans to hike some of their software costs to $80.
In a discussion with Critical Hit Games, Yoshida advocated for flexible pricing: “Each game has its unique value or budget size. I firmly believe it’s at the discretion of the publisher – or developers who self-publish – to set a price that reflects the worth they believe they are delivering.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 recently achieved noteworthy success at $50, despite having the production quality of a much larger release.
“Regarding the actual cost of $70 or $80 for truly exceptional games, I believe it remains a steal, especially in relation to the entertainment value that high-quality games deliver compared to other entertainment forms,” he further elaborated.
While we recognize Yoshida’s perspective – games can provide hundreds of hours of enjoyment compared to a cinema ticket, for instance – it’s challenging to rationalize such hefty price tags amidst the availability of free-to-play options. It will be fascinating to observe the effects these prices impose on the industry.
[source youtube.com, via tech.yahoo.com]
As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy brings over 15 years of expertise in dissecting the PlayStation landscape, from PS3 through PS5 and beyond. He’s a specialist in PS Studios and industry trends, in addition to sports titles and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he finds the time to engage with them and is somewhat of a gacha enthusiast.