Inflation spares no one, and unfortunately not video game enthusiasts. After Sony, Ubisoft, and Take-Two, it is now Microsoft’s turn to announce a price increase for its games from 2023.
A significant increase for big Xbox games
In three weeks, the Tech giant will therefore increase the price of its flagship Xbox Game Studios titles to $70 instead of the current $60. The Redmond firm suspects that the pill will be difficult for gamers to pass, and accompanied this announcement with a comment:
We’ve withheld price increases until after the holidays so families can enjoy the gift of gaming. , will launch at $69.99 across all platforms.
And Microsoft to justify itself: “This award reflects the content, breadth and technical complexity of these titles. Like all games developed by our teams at Xbox, they will also be available with Game Pass on the day of their launch. »
Inevitably, the news of a price increase is never pleasant, but it is not in itself really surprising, if we observe what is practiced on the side of the competition. So, Sony has already endorsed charging some of its big triple-A games for $70.
The Japanese giant has also increased the price of its PlayStation 5 from 500 to 550 euros last August. A significant but “necessary” increase according to Jim Ryan, Sony’s chief financial officer, who explained: “High global inflation rates, as well as unfavorable currency trends, are having an impact on consumers. Based on these difficult economic conditions, SIE has made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price”.
Towards an increase in the Xbox Series X?
At Ubisoft, the CEO, Yves Guillemot has already warned that the big games produced by the French studio “will be at the same price as the competition”, or $70. One can in particular think of the titles of its flagship franchise Assassin’s Creed.
For now, Microsoft has not yet announced a price increase for its Xbox Series X, but it seems to be coming soon. Last October, Phil Spencer, the boss of Xbox admitted that his company could not “keep forever” this price of 500 euros.
