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There are times in the history of games when big events occur and change the gaming landscape forever. Some are good and usually benefit gamers. However, there are also other cases where one company, developer, studio, or whoever you want does something that might not be in the gamers’ best interest, which is what happened with Nintendo‘s latest reveal. While we are all excited about the Nintendo Switch 2, the fact that its games will cost $80 means that the $100 price tag for GTA 6 that many have speculated will happen seems even more likely now.
Nintendo Has Opened the Floodgates for More Expensive Games
In truth, we all saw this coming miles away. When the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles launched, which are now the “current-gen,” we saw a price increase in video games from $60 to $70. Since Nintendo Switch 2 will be the newest console in the block, a price increase for this “next-gen” platform seems like an expected move. Then why the big fuss about it? We all know how game prices work whenever a new console appears. The real reason is because of the shadow looming over many developers, studios, and even gamers: GTA 6.
So far, many experts have predicted or speculated that GTA 6 will cost $100, and with the $80 price tag for the new NSW2, this seems plausible. However, some were skeptical about it. So far, $70 is already a high entry cost for many gamers. Most prefer to wait for a sale, look for the game on a subscription service, or skip it altogether. That’s not including the already costly deluxe editions, which sometimes can go above the $100 price mark. So, $80 becomes the new standard, and GTA 6 goes above that cost just for its standard version, gaming will become more expensive than ever.
On The Other Hand, a Game’s Production Value Could Justify the Price
Let’s play the devil’s advocate now, shall we? GTA 6 at $100 is a lot, just like $80 for a new Nintendo Switch 2 game. However, if the quality is up there, it may justify the price. Nintendo has always released great first-party titles, and the price increase in some of them isn’t new. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom got its price increase at launch, but the game’s content justified the cost. In this scenario, the same could happen with Mario Kart World and the other games coming with Nintendo’s new console.
Still, Sony, Microsoft, and many publishers might now be analyzing their games’ prices. Will they wait for a PS6 and whatever new Xbox console’s name is to increase them? Will we see PS5 Pro games at an $80 mark, too? It’s all uncertain. What is certain, though, is that the barrier has been breached, and there is no going back. Again, the titan that may shake things up even further is GTA 6, but assuming Rockstar wanted to keep the price at $70, now that won’t likely be the case. GTA 6 could be the most expensive game of the year. But let’s face it. Whether it is Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, or anyone else, as long as a game looks great, gamers will always find a way to buy it. The thing is, the price increase got here sooner than we expected.
