As the gaming community anticipates the June launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, heated debates have reignited over rising video game prices — especially with rumors of $80 titles becoming the new norm. While some gamers argue over the value proposition of premium-priced releases, Shuhei Yoshida, the former head of PlayStation Indies and one of the most respected voices in the gaming industry, offers a different perspective: he believes that expensive, high-quality games are not just justifiable, but necessary.
“Almost Too Late” for Price Adjustments
Speaking at Gamescom Latam in a recent video interview with Critical Hits Games, Yoshida acknowledged the shift in pricing but emphasized that video game prices have remained unusually stable compared to other consumer products.
“When you look at life in general, other products in price have increased way more than the game price,” said Yoshida. “So I think it was almost too late for the video game companies to start looking at the pricing structure.”
This statement echoes a sentiment felt by many in the industry — that despite inflation and increasing production costs, game prices have been slow to catch up.
Pricing Should Reflect Game Value
Yoshida also stressed the importance of flexible pricing models based on the scope and value of individual games. “I don’t believe that every game has to be priced the same,” he said. “Each game has different value it provides, or the size of budget. I totally believe it’s up to the publisher — or developers self-publishing — to price their product to the value that they believe they are bringing in.”
This aligns with Nintendo’s approach, as explained by Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America’s VP of Product Experience. In a recent IGN interview, Trinen stated, “We just look at each individual game and we look at the content and the value of that game, and then we say, ‘what is the right price for the value of this entertainment?’”
A perfect example of this strategy is Nintendo’s pricing of Welcome Tour, a tutorial game for the Switch 2, set at $10 — a stark contrast to PlayStation’s free Astro’s Playroom for PS5.
$80 Games Still Offer a “Steal” of Entertainment
Yoshida didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: the idea of $70–$80 titles becoming more common. “In terms of actual price of $70 or $80, for really great games, I think it will still be a steal in terms of the amount of entertainment that the top games, top quality games bring to people compared to other forms of entertainment.”
He compared the cost of a game with the value it delivers over time, arguing that the hours of engagement provided by a great title often far exceed the time-to-cost ratio of movies, concerts, or sports events.
A Call for Thoughtful Spending, Not Complaining
Ultimately, Yoshida believes that as long as gamers make informed decisions, price hikes shouldn’t be cause for outrage. “As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money,” he said, “I don’t think they should be complaining.”
With trusted veterans like Yoshida advocating for a nuanced look at game pricing, and companies like Nintendo setting varied price points based on value, the conversation is clearly evolving. Whether fans will embrace the $80 era or resist it remains to be seen — but the industry seems to be moving forward with confidence.
