Ubisoft Says $70 Price Tag Will Now Be the Norm for Its "Big AAA Games"

[Android1]

This is surely going to become an industry-wide standard at some point.

As previously confirmed, the publisher’s first $70 release is the new-gen console versions of this November’s Skull & Bones, a game which won’t be available for last-gen systems.

And in an interview with Axios, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said this price point would now be the norm for the publisher’s big PS5 and Xbox Series X/S releases.

In August 2020, Take-Two’s NBA 2K21 became the first current-gen game to be priced at $70. Other companies followed suit including Activision, Sony, EA and Square Enix, with the Final Fantasy publisher even bringing the increased price point to some of its PC games.

Ubisoft said last year that it was undecided about whether it would pursue new software pricing opportunities, but its stance has since shifted.

“Some of the games will come at the same price as the competition,” Guillemot told Axios. “The big AAA games will come at $70.”

Source: Video Games Chronicle

[Ravens Nest]

This is surely going to become an industry-wide standard at some point.

As previously confirmed, the publisher’s first $70 release is the new-gen console versions of this November’s Skull & Bones, a game which won’t be available for last-gen systems.

And in an interview with Axios, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said this price point would now be the norm for the publisher’s big PS5 and Xbox Series X/S releases.

In August 2020, Take-Two’s NBA 2K21 became the first current-gen game to be priced at $70. Other companies followed suit including Activision, Sony, EA and Square Enix, with the Final Fantasy publisher even bringing the increased price point to some of its PC games.

Ubisoft said last year that it was undecided about whether it would pursue new software pricing opportunities, but its stance has since shifted.

“Some of the games will come at the same price as the competition,” Guillemot told Axios. “The big AAA games will come at $70.”

Source: Video Games Chronicle

I think its difficult for a games company to justify those sort of price tags, everything seems to be going in the direction of monthly subscriptions i.e. gamepass, PS plus premium e.t.c.

Hard to justify £70 per game when you can pay a similar amount for a years subscription and access to hundreds of games..

Also the world economy is in recession, less money about to spend on luxurys.

[Munkus]

My guess is that these price increases are a push to move people towards the subscriptions. They know PC gamers especially will balk at paying $70 for a game, but they'll pay $15 per month to play the same game + others. Subscriptions are where it's at for these companies.

[Mangler]

Thank you Sony!

[Android1]

The era of $60 games lasted over fifteen years. That’s a long time, and there has been a lot of inflation since then. Although an increase to $70 is unpleasant, it’s not unjustified.

In addition, you don’t have to purchase their games when they are brand-new. Those who wait can get a lower price through sales or permanent decreases.

You can also subscribe to services like GamePass, although you might end up playing more in the long run depending on how many games you play.

[Mangler]

The price went up by ~10€ each gen in the rest of the world though, and lets not forget the record profits that the whole industry has been enjoying.

The increase wasn't needed, they did it because they could.

[nutcrackr]

This would be okay if the games were structured more like in the 2000s. Instead they price it at 70 and then fill it with microtransactions and gamify everything. It's so obnoxious.

[Android1]

The price went up by ~10€ each gen in the rest of the world though, and lets not forget the record profits that the whole industry has been enjoying.

The increase wasn't needed, they did it because they could.

A fair point. Games are more popular than ever.

This would be okay if the games were structured more like in the 2000s. Instead they price it at 70 and then fill it with microtransactions and gamify everything. It's so obnoxious.

Another fair point. There is also post-release DLC (season passes).

[DeathKnight]

That and games release all the time that are still riddled with bugs. Early adopters are basically beta testers.

[Sasquach]

I suppose being an avid Nintendo fan im not actually upset about the prices...as we've already had these prices for AAA nintendo titles for few generations already lol.

[Meteor_of_War]

My guess is that these price increases are a push to move people towards the subscriptions. They know PC gamers especially will balk at paying $70 for a game, but they'll pay $15 per month to play the same game + others. Subscriptions are where it's at for these companies.

I wont do neither.

I'll continue to just wait for sales / deep discounts. They always come eventually, and in the meantime I continue playing my backlog.