The age of $60 video games ended as soon as video game developers started hiking the price of their video games to $70. As part of the ongoing industry shakeup, SEGA has announced its potential plans to join others.
In an investor Q&A, SEGA Sammy president and vice president, Haruki Satomi and Koichi Fukazawa, respectively, suggested that $70 games are a possibility.
The planned move is currently being contemplated as part of a company-wide effort to address rising development costs and to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality gaming experiences.
SEGA is a pioneer in the gaming industry, having delivered iconic franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and Yakuza. Its latest title, Like a Dragon 8, is also on the horizon, stirring anticipation among fans.
THe decision to increase game prices by $10 is not something that any company takes lightly. Most acknowledge that it’s a seismic shift that could push customers away. However, it’s important to note that the price increase is important amidst a continuous rise in the costs of video game production. The gaming industry has gone through a considerable surge in the development costs in recent years, largely due to technological advancements and growing expectations from gamers for better and more immersive experiences.
While players will likely scoff at the price increase, SEGA will likely make sure that the quality of the games reflects the price premium.
If nothing else, players can expect better gameplay, more captivating graphics, as well as more intricate storylines, and an overall, more engaging gaming experience.
Only time will tell if SEGA will reap the benefits of this bold move when it happens.
SEGA has a couple of big games in the pipeline that could potentially sell for $70 like Like a Dragon 8, Persona 6, and the next Sonic the Hedgehog game.
Speaking of $70 video games, Sony was one of the first to jack up the prices of its PS5 exclusives to $70. For the most part, this hasn’t affected sales much. But, we can’t say the same for Xbox, which had several big misses in recent years like Halo Infinite and Redfall, among others. Finally, among the big three, Nintendo was the last to join the $70 trend with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
