EA predicts $70 (USD) price point for Playstation 4, next Xbox games

[Spaceman Spiff]

...at least, to start out.

http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...es-to-cost-70/

According to a post on Edge, Electronic Arts’ execs Rajat Taneja and Blake Jorgensen have stated that they expect games for the PS4 and the next-gen Microsoft console to cost about $69 each—a ten dollar increase from the current-gen’s industry standard of $59. The reason for the increase, it seems, is simply that the hardware and games will represent a technological leap forward, requiring a higher price.

The executives offered their insights at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, explaining that the new consoles higher power necessitate a price to reflect that.

"I think, typically, at the start of a cycle, you’ve seen the pricing raise, say, to $69 for a core piece of software. And then over the life of those, that’s drifted down to introduction price, typically now around $59. We haven’t yet set pricing on our gen 4s, but you probably see a similar trend to that during the start of the next cycle.”

Translation: "Because you sorry SOBs will pay it, at least at first. Enjoy."

Oh, and that's the "CORE" piece of software, as well. Let's not forget Day 1 DLC and Microtransactions on top.

[James]

And that irks me to no end.

[[PinPals]Apu]

Can't remember the last game I paid full price for. They can make them $100 for all I care, I'll still wait for a sale.

[Kamakazie]

No.

[monroeski]

I've only paid over $60 for something like 8 games since I started tracking such things in 2006 or so; two of those had accessory pack-ins (Rock Band 2 and Ace Combat 6 w/ stick), two were collector's editions, and two I regret, so I've basically only bought two games over that period of time that I would consider being worth the full price I paid.

[fastitocalon]

I don't really care at all. There are barely any games I was willing to pay $60 for so if it jumps to $70 the $10 difference isn't that big of a deal to me. And plus, it is still less than I paid for South Park 64 lol.

[taggart6]

95% of the time that I buy full price and new I find myself regretting the game. It either fails to live up to expectations or was a purely impulse buy that I really have to blame only myself.

This will most likely just give me greater reason to buy used, on sale, or PC games.

[Timman_24]

The list of games I paid full price for this gen:

Skyrim
Forza 4
Forza Horizon
FF13 (regretted)
Gran Turismo 5

That's all I can remember. What's annoying to me is that in the same briefing that the OPs quote is from it says that EA is happy to confirm that the PS4 will help lower development costs significantly due to the x86 hardware. So, in one line they say they will be massively reducing costs due to generic hardware while also claiming later that they will be raising the price to meet the needs of the next gen. I not be paying 70 for a game anytime soon. Dumb college bros will buy COD using federal loan money though, gauranteed.

[ImaNihilist]

This is not a "prediction".

[Timman_24]

This is not a "prediction".

You had some ties to EA, can you see them announcing this at E3 as fact? Oh boy, if they did that AND attacked used games...

[richardginn]

The list of games I paid full price for this gen:

Skyrim
Forza 4
Forza Horizon
FF13 (regretted)
Gran Turismo 5

That's all I can remember. What's annoying to me is that in the same briefing that the OPs quote is from it says that EA is happy to confirm that the PS4 will help lower development costs significantly due to the x86 hardware. So, in one line they say they will be massively reducing costs due to generic hardware while also claiming later that they will be raising the price to meet the needs of the next gen. I not be paying 70 for a game anytime soon. Dumb college bros will buy COD using federal loan money though, gauranteed.

They want to have it both ways... That is a good thing for them.

[SewerUrchin]

With my PC, Steam and a huge backlog full of insanely good deals I find myself both not surprised and not caring about this.

[Wurm]

So Sony makes the PS4 easier to develop for, so that means a price increase? lol

[Spaceman Spiff]

With my PC, Steam and a huge backlog full of insanely good deals I find myself both not surprised and not caring about this.

Problem is, depending on how prolific and widespread of a trend this becomes, it's logical to think it will impact used prices too, right? If the game is $70 new, getting it for $50 used is going to be considered a 'good deal', the same way picking up a $60 game for $40 used is now.
While it will vary game by game and obviously used retailer/seller by seller, it's not hard to imagine that a higher NEW price will likely mean a trend of higher USED prices too, for the same reason: People will pay that higher price.

[kpxgq]

im actually surprised by this as i thought they would go with the smaller upfront price along with microtransactions/DLCs which makes a ton more money