Featured Image Credit: Nintendo
Topics: Nintendo, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
If you’ve been on social media in the past couple of days, you’ve likely seen the hot debate that’s raging concerning game prices.
This all began after one industry analyst suggested that Grand Theft Auto VI charging $100 could help the industry rebound.
Veteran investment analysts Matthew Ball recently published a 219 page report titled ‘State of Video Gaming in 2025’.
He explained “there is hope” that Rockstar Games and Take-Two will price GTA VI at “$80, or even $100” as this could “save” what is a struggling industry.
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You see, while game prices are higher than ever, so too are development costs.
What’s caused a ruckus though is that gamers, rightfully so, don’t think that the recuperation of spiralling development costs is something that should be forced upon them.
Let’s face it, paying $70 for a AAA game is already an issue for many.
Plenty of people cannot pick up multiple new releases anymore, instead having to be far more selective.
If you continue to increase game prices, you risk pricing people out of their hobby.
GTA VI is yet to confirm its pricing, with fans awaiting a second trailer.
For now, the Nintendo Switch remains one of the more reasonable consoles.
You’ll still be set back £59.99 if you want to pick up a major new release via the Nintendo eShop but more often than not, physical versions can be picked up for somewhere in the region of £30 to £45.
The concern is though that the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 may see game prices fall more in line with those of PlayStation and Xbox.
“Nintendo better not do this with their games,” Reddit user Nintendo-X wrote in response to the ongoing pricing debate.
“Honestly, if games start costing $70, I'll already have a lot less games than I normally would, and if they cost more than that, I'll simply stop playing games,” replied Fragrant_Okra6671.
“If Nintendo did that, all they would essentially do is make people hack the console faster. People would rather pirate than pay 100 for every must have game,” commented HumanRubiksCube.
Trabless added, “I hope they won’t, I still can’t comprehend the fact games likely will cost $80.”
This is partly why I’m so against digital-only consoles as the chances of bagging a virtual bargain are far slimmer than they are of nabbing a physical deal.
We should find out what’s in store regarding the Nintendo Switch 2’s pricing during the console’s Direct, due to be held on 2 April.