Why are games so expensive now?

[76561198095142420]

I was looking at the price of starfield $70 and DLC for Total War warhmmaer 3 which is $25. There was a time when bug-free games were $25-30. There wasn't anything as internet updates and games did not feel broken or crash that much. This may have to do with the cost of running a studio now and people spending exorbitantly on high-end GPUs. Personally, I am still running a gtx 1080 and refuse to buy expensive games. I just wanted to know what does the community think about this.

[-vűļçåņőqųąķė-]

Anything over $50 is wait for sale. Will not support the increase.

[Paratech2008]

Usually within 6 months to a year there are solid sales. Except Early Access where games cost more after leaving Early Access.

[bigman]

Probably because of inflation

[D. Flame]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από n0tabl3_p3rs0n:

Probably because of inflation

False, greedflation in the cause.

[Brian9824]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από n0tabl3_p3rs0n:

Probably because of inflation

False, greedflation in the cause.

False, as they aren't more expensive at all. Repeating false statements doesn't make it true

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/are-video-games-really-more-expensive

Very nice easy to read graph showing the average prices of games adjusted for inflation in it and linked right here - https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/sam_naji_pricing_2.jpg?width=720&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp

The ACTUAL facts are games were at an all time high starting back in 1977. Here are a few price points of the average cost adjusted for inflation of the dollar per 2022 value

1977 - $200
1985 - $123
1995 - $97
2000 - $86
2006 - $88
2013 - $76
2020- $80

Shows a very clear pattern that the cost of the games has been dropping at a steady rate. A few small upticks but the overall trend is VERY clear. Sadly some people just don't understand that $1 in 2000 is worth far more then $1 today.

We are lucky as gaming as a hobby has never been more affordable then it is now

[Ganger]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από brian9824:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

False, greedflation in the cause.

False, as they aren't more expensive at all. Repeating false statements doesn't make it true

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/are-video-games-really-more-expensive

Very nice easy to read graph showing the average prices of games adjusted for inflation in it and linked right here - https://assetsio.reedpopcdn.com/sam_naji_pricing_2.jpg?width=720&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp

The ACTUAL facts are games were at an all time starting back in 1977. Here are a few price points of the average cost adjusted for inflation of the dollar per 2022 value

1977 - $200
1985 - $123
1995 - $97
2000 - $86
2006 - $88
2013 - $76
2020- $80

Shows a very clear pattern that the cost of the games has been dropping at a steady rate. A few small upticks but the overall trend is VERY clear. Sadly some people just don't understand that $1 in 2000 is worth far more then $1 today.

We are lucky as gaming as a hobby has never been more affordable then it is now

People don't want to believe facts and truths brain9824, easier to follow the narrative. I remember console games costing £50 - £60 (uk pounds) back in the 90's. PC/computer games have always been cheaper tho, but even back in 1999, PC games were costing anywhere up to £35. Infact I remember purchasing brand new Amiga 500 titles back in 1990 for £29.99.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από n0tabl3_p3rs0n:

Probably because of inflation

False, greedflation in the cause.

False, you were already shown how it isn't multiple times.

[Kava]

Everything is getting expensive; The world is going to ♥♥♥♥.

[D. Flame]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από SlowMango:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

False, greedflation in the cause.

False, you were already shown how it isn't multiple times.

I have debunked your statements multiple times. Then you just ignore that and repeat the same line again, so either you are just hoping other people forgot, or you have the memory of a gold fish yourself.

[Brian9824]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από SlowMango:

False, you were already shown how it isn't multiple times.

I have debunked your statements multiple times. Then you just ignore that and repeat the same line again, so either you are just hoping other people forgot, or you have the memory of a gold fish yourself.

Actually an industry expert debunks your claims and even provides actual graphs plotting out the average price of games from every system to atari adjusted for inflation showing the prices have been decreasing - https://media.tenor.com/l_4IRLusM1AAAAAC/theater-arts-circus.gif

You've said "trust me bro" and have failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to back up your claims. It doesn't seem you have any concept of how to properly analyze prices in relative terms, and keep making rookie mistakes in assuming $69.99 today is cheaper then $49.99 20 years ago. A mistake often made by people who have no knowledge of economics.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από brian9824:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από D. Flame:

I have debunked your statements multiple times. Then you just ignore that and repeat the same line again, so either you are just hoping other people forgot, or you have the memory of a gold fish yourself.

Actually an industry expert debunks your claims and even provides actual graphs plotting out the average price of games from every system to atari adjusted for inflation showing the prices have been decreasing - https://media.tenor.com/l_4IRLusM1AAAAAC/theater-arts-circus.gif

You've said "trust me bro" and have failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to back up your claims. It doesn't seem you have any concept of how to properly analyze prices in relative terms, and keep making rookie mistakes in assuming $69.99 today is cheaper then $49.99 20 years ago. A mistake often made by people who have no knowledge of economics.

He thinks that additional revenue streams means that developers are supposed to lower prices so they have the same margin.

Not only does he not understand inflation, apparently, but he also doesnt understand even Business 101.

[Brian9824]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από AmsterdamHeavy:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από brian9824:

Actually an industry expert debunks your claims and even provides actual graphs plotting out the average price of games from every system to atari adjusted for inflation showing the prices have been decreasing - https://media.tenor.com/l_4IRLusM1AAAAAC/theater-arts-circus.gif

You've said "trust me bro" and have failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to back up your claims. It doesn't seem you have any concept of how to properly analyze prices in relative terms, and keep making rookie mistakes in assuming $69.99 today is cheaper then $49.99 20 years ago. A mistake often made by people who have no knowledge of economics.

He thinks that additional revenue streams means that developers are supposed to lower prices so they have the same margin.

Not only does he not understand inflation, apparently, but he also doesnt understand even Business 101.

Yeah, whether a business is making more money or not isn't relevant to the question "are games more expensive now"

We are literally at a 40 year LOW POINT in terms of game pricing. Most goods and services have tripled in price (or more) over the last 30 years as the value of the dollar and wages increase, games have increased at most 20-40%.

[TWPanda77]

My thoughts are that games are not expensive. Perhaps you are just financially challenged OP.

[Paratech2008]

It's not like people have to buy games day one. The last "day one" game I purchased was a remake of Wizardry and it had a $6 loyalty discount as I had other Wizardry games on GOG (and Steam.)

I nearly beat the game on the C64 30 years ago and my C64 broke before I finished it.

I still have the floppies of the trilogy.

[Eagle_of_Fire]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Paratech2008:

It's not like people have to buy games day one.

If you want to get the "real"experience then yes you do. The modern way to handle a game is to make DLCs and then cripple their game for the rest who don't bother following thru. They always excuse this as an improvement but in reality they always tweak the base game to fit with the DLC content, which invariably mean that someone who don't buy the DLC get a modified experience which always derive further and further away from the balance of the game that the devs created at launch. And that base experience is invariably always worse.

So, yes. You can find games which don't sell any DLC or don't have any plan to update their games further. Good luck with that though. All other games either ask you to pay for DLC to get the real experience or leave you in the dark with a lesser base product. Those who don't charge for your updates are considered the lesser evils but how many times have you seen games which seem to have drastically changed in their core gameplay over updates that most people don't ask or are not even aware about?

This is always case by case in every scenario but saying that it don't matter is just not understanding how the gaming industry is operating right now. All the AAA companies are working extra hard to make sure to wrench more money out of you and forcing you to buy the overpriced DLCs is just another way to do this. And it is very sad that most people don't realise that it is akin to a tax and that the price of gaming is steadily rising thru the roof...