The wait for GTA6 is almost over, and after years of speculation, we finally know how much the billion-dollar game is going to cost. Starting at $80 for the base version, many people are up in arms, worried that Rockstar has now opened the floodgates and set a new industry standard, but they are far from the first to hit that mark.
Is AAA Game Dev Too Expensive? | AAAnalysis
Is the AAA model sustainable? Time to take a look at that very question. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
Just in the last year or so, we have seen plenty of pricey games drop, across a range of consoles and genres, and it seems as though the dollar signs are destined to keep on rising. With that said, while it is fair to be hesitant about dropping $80 on GTA6, these games have already shown that we are more than happy to do so.
Mario Kart World
Casual Racing Just Got A Whole Lot More Premium
Details:
- Switch 2 exclusive at $80 (90 for the physical edition
- Free roam mode among other standard ones
Nintendo is no stranger to high prices, but Mario Kart World represents the start of an $80 video game wave. As the name suggests, you get to experience a large interconnected world that can be explored freely or experienced piece by piece in the traditional racing format, but many players, myself included, were still shocked at the new entry point.
What made the game’s price even more controversial was the separation between physical and digital pricing. If you are a physical collector, then you’re going to need to shell out a few more dollars for that cartridge, and while the amount of content certainly is broad, the question of whether it is worth the money remains talked about to this day.
ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
No Base Options Here
Details:
- Includes new content and DLC
- The only version available
Elden Ring for Switch 2 was announced a while ago, and in just a few months, it is going to become a reality. However, while this new edition does come with some brand-new content and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, for those who may want to just play the base version first, there is no option to do so.
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Just as the power of home consoles and high-end gaming rigs has increased in recent years, so too has the cost of developing cutting edge games.
It is nice to see a game like Elden Ring see a release on a newer console with some extra bonuses like skins for Torrent and even some new starting classes, but it does feel a bit unfair that you have to drop a full $80 just to get started. I personally think that the game is more than worth that amount, yet I can see why having a standalone version would make more sense for a lot of new players.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
Four Heroes, One Epic Adventure
Details:
- Four separate characters and stories
- Tactical RPG combat
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is another Switch 2 release that has quietly found its place in the $80 range with its physical version. The game is set in the capital city of Dagsion and has you playing as one of four heroes, each with their own unique stories to tell and ways of fighting on the battlefield.
Much of the gameplay revolves around training and exploring beyond the city’s walls, becoming stronger, and returning to battle in a series of tactical, turn-based encounters. All of that sounds great, but the feeling in the back of my mind questions whether Nintendo is capitalizing on the Fire Emblem name to justify such a high price.
Nintendo Switch 2 Editions
From Mario To Zelda
Details:
- TOTK, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Super Mario Party Jamboree, all $80 on Switch 2
- Better visuals and performance across the board
The Switch 2 brought a host of re-releases of some of this generation’s best Nintendo games, but with more frames and better visuals overall, the upgrade was never going to be free. Everything from Tears of the Kingdom, to Mario Party Jamboree, to Kirby saw a price bump with the Switch 2 versions, all while keeping the original at a premium as well.
When a new console drops, I always expect the games to be priced according to the updated specs and capabilities it offers. However, as great as these games are, pricing them as if they are brand-new does sting a bit, especially when the Switch version’s price remains unchanged.
Horror (Resident Evil And Silent Hill)
Modern Scares Come With A Price
Details:
- Silent Hill 2/f, and Resident Evil Requiem, $80 deluxe editions
Horror as a genre has evolved in multiple directions. At this point, it feels like you are either playing a funny yet scary co-op game or a big-budget release from a major franchise, and two of the biggest names in the business have proved that even horror can’t escape price inflation.
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Both Silent Hill 2 and f launched at $70, with a small deluxe edition including the artbook and some very small extras at $80, and RE9 took a similar route, albeit with a slightly more impressive bonus version. The debate about price versus content can go on for hours, but what I will say is that comparing what you get for $80 in these games versus other, far more replayable ones does make the price seem a lot scarier.
Forza Horizons 6
A Pricey Ticket To Japan
Details:
- Prices range from $70 all the way to $120
- Marketing FOMO hits hard
Forza Horizon 6 has been touted as one of the best racing games ever made, and certainly near the top of its own franchise. It is a big-budget, premium driving experience, and that kind of quality demands a premium, so at $70 for the standard edition, things look pretty normal from the outside.
However, it is the other version that caught my eye and many others: the deluxe edition charges you $30 extra per car released in the subsequent weeks, and if you wanted to play the game early, the cost was $120. That kind of pricing is nothing new, as DLC packs have always been included well before they even get dropped, but I think the bigger concern comes from the way things were marketed, with the version comparison showing a wide gap between versions, incentivizing on-the-fence players to take that extra deep reach into their wallets.
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Most games on Steam can be picked up for $60 or less, but there are a growing number of titles costing well over $100. These are the most expensive.
