Analysts: Next-gen games won't cost more to buy

With next-gen games demanding even-better graphics, many are openly wondering: how much will next-gen games cost? Thankfully, we won't be entering the era of the $70 game--at least based on analyst predictions.

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Games jumped to a $60 standard when the industry transitioned from the PS2 era. With next-gen games demanding even-better graphics, many are openly wondering: how much will next-gen games cost? Thankfully, we won't be entering the era of the $70 game--at least based on analyst predictions.

"I don't think the publishers have the collective will to charge more," Wedbush Securities' Michael Pachter said. "My guess is that $59.99 will be the price point."

In a new feature on GI.biz, numerous analysts chimed in on what they think will happen in the coming year. "The $59.99 price point in the United States for next-generation games are unlikely to change," EEDAR's Jesse Divnich said. He believes that an increasing focus on DLC will keep retail prices down, while still increasing revenue. "I'd expect publishers to keep the $59.99 price point intact, but expand on their digital offerings with more in-game content and expansion packs," he concluded.

IDC Research's Lewis Ward also agrees with his colleagues. "I'm not projecting that the PS4 or next-gen Xbox will raise the typical 'AAA' game disc to $70," he said, saying that publishers will reserve higher sticker prices on fancy collector's and limited editions.

Sony's Jack Tretton recently stated that games will be priced "up to $60," suggesting that the platform holder is also uninterested in raising the average price of games in the next-gen.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 22, 2013 2:00 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Analysts: Next-gen games won't cost more to buy.

    With next-gen games demanding even-better graphics, many are openly wondering: how much will next-gen games cost? Thankfully, we won't be entering the era of the $70 game--at least based on analyst predictions.

    • reply
      February 22, 2013 2:33 PM

      I was definitly going to say that they dont need to charge more for the base game when they can charge $10-$20 for DLC or some lame season pass, all day long. Now it's normal to hear about DLC before the games even come out.

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      February 22, 2013 2:36 PM

      People still pay 60$ for games? They drop in price so fast.

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        February 22, 2013 3:23 PM

        Agreed! Borderlands 2 popped in and out of $39 deals for a while before I picked it up during one.

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        February 22, 2013 4:39 PM

        With GMG, I usually pay max $40 per new release title, get it on release day!

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        February 23, 2013 12:00 PM

        I used to pay full price for games, but in the past 5 years, I've been paying less and less...from $40 down to an average of $5-$10. The only exception was Skyrim, where I splurged the $60.

        With DLC's being so frequent and common, in excess of 8 DLC's for some of my games, I'd be a fool to pay full price on a game anymore. That, and I prefer waiting until ALL the DLC's are released, then buy everything at once so that I can actually have the "full" experience on my first playthrough, since I usually don't do multiple playthroughs with story based games, with the exception of Alpha Protocol.

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      February 22, 2013 2:43 PM

      These analysts have never met Bobby Kotick.

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        February 22, 2013 3:14 PM

        If we could rate comments I'd give this five stars.

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      February 22, 2013 2:51 PM

      The audience for gamers is way bigger, too.

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      February 22, 2013 4:43 PM

      Development costs have just shrunk with x86s adoption. So many tools are already available for PCs, this is a huge win. Once we get third gen titles, those engines will be quite primed for PC adoption.

      Less money to develop for the new platform and easier ports larger audiences. Seems a very big win for Sony and consumers.

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        February 22, 2013 5:38 PM

        No, they did not. Next gen development costs will increase by virtue of the increase in visual fidelity possible on the lowest common denominator platform. If you're a studio/publisher that has been doing lead development on consoles, your content creation costs will jump substantially in order to meet the higher bar.

        On the flip side your graphics engineers will have slightly less heartburn from getting data to fit on PS3 SPUs, but their job with respect to performance optimization will still exist under a different guise. Tim Sweeney agrees: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-13-epic-expects-next-gen-game-costs-to-double

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          February 24, 2013 4:40 AM

          I disagree, with the new consoles coming graphics will still be behind PC graphics and the price of PC games has relatively stayed the same for the past couple of years. The tools are already there, and for console quality graphics, the tools have been around for the past ten years. 99% of the gamers using a console are going to be limited to 1080, so anybody saying otherwise is miking the system for money. Can you really blame them? Nah, they are there to make money. I just despise when they sugar coat it.

          Besides... Epic studios? LOL. Like I'm going to believe anything they sputter out. I think you all (Not poster I'm responding to) are in for a shock when you see the graphics these consoles are going to be putting out are minimal if not equal what the PC has been having for ages. As a PC gamer I'm happy the devs are finally entering the century we PC gamers have been in for the past 13 years. They have a ton of catching up to do. Hopefully the coding will be better optimized.

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      February 22, 2013 5:39 PM

      [deleted]

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      February 22, 2013 7:16 PM

      [deleted]

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      February 22, 2013 9:40 PM

      I more on the fence about calling these games next-gen.

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      February 23, 2013 1:41 AM

      the pre-orders on the sites here (England) say they're going to be close to £50 which what they were when ps3 first came out.. and I remember back when I wanted tekken 2 for ps1 and it was like £45!! :O

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      February 23, 2013 5:41 AM

      How many years did it take for games to go from 50$ to 60$? Pretty safe bet there Mr. Analyst. Plant the seed early for profit?

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      February 23, 2013 5:59 AM

      so $60 for the game, and $30 for the season pass. Or $10 each for 4 dlc packs. Ive always felt that we passed the $70 threshold years ago.

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        February 23, 2013 6:00 AM

        Call of Duty still gets away with $15 DLC packs, and usually four of them.

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      February 23, 2013 6:18 AM

      I'd be happy for more content over graphics.

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      February 23, 2013 10:25 AM

      Just going to cause people to be more choosy in what games they buy with budgets being tight and all. GG!

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      February 23, 2013 4:21 PM

      Games are already over $60, if you count DLC, Special Editions, in-game purchases and micro transactions, and expansion packs. If you want the entire experience of a AAA right game now, chances are you will pay more than $60, and the experience includes playing everything on the release date.

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      February 23, 2013 4:34 PM

      Games are Euros 70 on Spain. That's 92 USD. DLCs are also very expensive.

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        February 23, 2013 4:35 PM

        Who is to blame? The spanish distribution morons?

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      February 23, 2013 9:51 PM

      I only probably buy at less than $50.

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        February 24, 2013 8:40 AM

        Same. I've got so many games I've barely played I can afford to wait for the new ones to drop in price.

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      February 24, 2013 7:06 PM

      Will be interesting why dynamics change when the Steambox hits the console market.

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