Is AAA gaming facing a reckoning? Maybe a crash?

[Mike S]

It's really more than just that. Raising the system prices is bonkers. The series s for 380? The x all digital 2tb 730? These prices are ridiculous for old tech at this point. I have to think that this is for one of a couple reasons. Either the next round of consoles are going to range 700 to 850 and they need a buffer to make it look like not such a big jump. Or it's a way to save some face to leave the console business. Well no one wants our systems so let's just focus on the other devices. The money is in the software, not the hardware.

As far as 80$ games, I agree it was inevitable. The issues I have are, one, can we get off this "economic conditions" nonsense? This is a play of greed, that's all. Things like tariffs don't affect digital games.

Second, There's been very few games in the last 10+ years that have been worth the $60 let alone now $80. Games have never been more broken and buggy than now. The amount of monetization is higher than ever. They say budgets are higher than ever. But then we see something like expedition 33 releasing for $50 from a 30+ people team on what I saw a 30$ million budget. And it seems to be on a lot of peoples short list for game of the year. So it doesn't have to be crazy like the latest Spider-Man with what, a 300+mil budget? This seems like it's a them problem and they want us to fix it.

Got it. I mentioned $80 games because you lumped in Nintendo and the price of the Switch 2 console is actually extremely reasonable when you consider what you’re getting for only $50 more than a base Steam Deck which is its closest market comparison.

A good amount of it is indeed greed but the tariffs will play a huge part especially for Sony and Microsoft as I don’t think they followed Nintendo to Vietnam. Digital $80 games may seem crazy but to play devils advocate there is a reason for it at least from a console manufacturers perspective. By increasing the margins on already high margin items like accessories and digital games it could help alleviate the need of how high to increase the price of the console. I have no idea what these numbers would actually need to be for the actual need vs. straight up greed but the logic makes sense. This is also why prices would increase worldwide rather than just in the US where the tariffs are actually in effect. It would be an absolute nightmare to keep the console price the same in Europe and increase it crazily just in the US.

You’re also spot on for worrying about the price of next gen. Theres no way all this economic stuff calms down enough in just the next two years for those prices to be reasonable. Even Nintendo left the door open for a potential price increase which makes me so happy that I was able to secure my preorder with an employee discount on top lol.

 

[erasure fan1]

Got it. I mentioned $80 games because you lumped in Nintendo and the price of the Switch 2 console is actually extremely reasonable when you consider what you’re getting for only $50 more than a base Steam Deck which is its closest market comparison.

Personally I do think the switch 2 is bit too high. Last I looked we haven't gotten official specs for the whole system. If I was to jump in the handheld market, the steam deck is what I would lean towards. Of course I'm not a Nintendo guy. Zelda is the only Nintendo property that I really care about. If switch 2 was fully backwards compatible and all the games were physical, not code on a card, I was going to do it. The price isn't necessarily a problem by itself. It's the whole strategy around it.

A good amount of it is indeed greed but the tariffs will play a huge part especially for Sony and Microsoft as I don’t think they followed Nintendo to Vietnam.

I think the issue for me on this set of increases is the fact that the system has received zero price reductions in 5yrs. I guess I just have a hard time believing most of the tech used hasn't come down at all. Prices surged because of covid because people were stuck inside and video games helped people stay together. We bought my son a Xbox one s the Xmas before covid for $189. Five months later they were back to $299. It just seems most of the "economic" stuff is a convenient excuse to raise prices. It's funny how none of the Xbox ones went down when the supply chain with chips... cleared up. And I highly doubt that they lower costs when the current situation is resolved.

Digital $80 games may seem crazy but to play devils advocate there is a reason for it at least from a console manufacturers perspective. By increasing the margins on already high margin items like accessories and digital games it could help alleviate the need of how high to increase the price of the console.

That's great in theory and makes good sense. If I'm paying 80 for games, then someone like Nintendo shouldn't make me buy switch online just to use voice chat. Something I've been doing on my Xbox for what, 25 yrs for free? I think $100 base games are not to far off. Grand theft Auto 6 I think will be more than $80. And I'm ok with it as long as the game justifies it. But like I said, very few have. There's a reason Oblivion sold huge, a near 20yr old game. Will Mario kart justify it? It's hard to say. But from what I've seen there's nothing there that screams it needs to be more expensive.

 

[Mike S]

Personally I do think the switch 2 is bit too high. Last I looked we haven't gotten official specs for the whole system. If I was to jump in the handheld market, the steam deck is what I would lean towards. Of course I'm not a Nintendo guy. Zelda is the only Nintendo property that I really care about. If switch 2 was fully backwards compatible and all the games were physical, not code on a card, I was going to do it. The price isn't necessarily a problem by itself. It's the whole strategy around it.

I think the issue for me on this set of increases is the fact that the system has received zero price reductions in 5yrs. I guess I just have a hard time believing most of the tech used hasn't come down at all. Prices surged because of covid because people were stuck inside and video games helped people stay together. We bought my son a Xbox one s the Xmas before covid for $189. Five months later they were back to $299. It just seems most of the "economic" stuff is a convenient excuse to raise prices. It's funny how none of the Xbox ones went down when the supply chain with chips... cleared up. And I highly doubt that they lower costs when the current situation is resolved.

That's great in theory and makes good sense. If I'm paying 80 for games, then someone like Nintendo shouldn't make me buy switch online just to use voice chat. Something I've been doing on my Xbox for what, 25 yrs for free? I think $100 base games are not to far off. Grand theft Auto 6 I think will be more than $80. And I'm ok with it as long as the game justifies it. But like I said, very few have. There's a reason Oblivion sold huge, a near 20yr old game. Will Mario kart justify it? It's hard to say. But from what I've seen there's nothing there that screams it needs to be more expensive.

I got the bundle so I only spent $50 for Mario Kart lol.

We don’t have actual specs but everything I’ve seen seems to put it definitively above the Steam Deck especially with features like DLSS and the ability to go up to 120fps for certain games. The base Steam Deck only has a 60hz screen and the OLED is 90hz. The Game Key Cards are a pretty big shame but at least for me like 90% of my library will be Nintendo games that will seemingly always be fully on the cart. In a way it’s not surprising though considering how big third party games are and not all of them having the same attitude as CDPR. At least Nintendo figured out a way to make a somewhat physical version that could still be traded, loaned, and sold and isn’t just a glorified eShop download.

 

[Mike S]

Xbox is a joke lol

Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

Microsoft is closing down The Initiative, after 7 years. The partnership with Crystal Dynamics will end, and "Perfect Dark" will be cancelled.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[erasure fan1]

Xbox is a joke lol

Microsoft is closing down Xbox studio The Initiative, with Perfect Dark killed as well — joining Everwild and ZeniMax's new IP, and other unannounced projects

Microsoft is closing down The Initiative, after 7 years. The partnership with Crystal Dynamics will end, and "Perfect Dark" will be cancelled.

www.windowscentral.com

I've stuck up for Xbox since the og Xbox. At this point, I'm not sure how anyone is still running defense for them. This last year or so has been Microsoft taking one step forward and then 4 steps back. It really is a sad time in gaming. All 3 companies seem to be actively trying to blow up the industry.

 

[Mike S]

I've stuck up for Xbox since the og Xbox. At this point, I'm not sure how anyone is still running defense for them. This last year or so has been Microsoft taking one step forward and then 4 steps back. It really is a sad time in gaming. All 3 companies seem to be actively trying to blow up the industry.

I don’t think Nintendo’s nearly as bad. They still stand by their developers and let them cook otherwise Retro Studios would’ve seen multiple layoffs and probably even be shuttered by now.

 

[erasure fan1]

I don’t think Nintendo’s nearly as bad. They still stand by their developers and let them cook otherwise Retro Studios would’ve seen multiple layoffs and probably even be shuttered by now.

Agreed. They have played it relatively smart from a hiring standpoint. They never extended themselves like sony and Microsoft during covid. Where they are missing, at least in my eyes, is the consumer friendly side of things. They've unfortunately fallen into the, we've done so great that everyone will just support us no matter what syndrome. Not so different than Disney. So yea, Nintendo is the best of the worst, then sony then Xbox. At this point, I don't see how we don't see some sort of significant crash.

I found it interesting while on my ebay account looking at the switch 2. Scalpers bought a lot of them and it seems they aren't selling for near what they would like. They're easy to get, at least the stores by me have them. So they're really not making much after

 

[Mike S]

Agreed. They have played it relatively smart from a hiring standpoint. They never extended themselves like sony and Microsoft during covid. Where they are missing, at least in my eyes, is the consumer friendly side of things. They've unfortunately fallen into the, we've done so great that everyone will just support us no matter what syndrome. Not so different than Disney. So yea, Nintendo is the best of the worst, then sony then Xbox. At this point, I don't see how we don't see some sort of significant crash.

I found it interesting while on my ebay account looking at the switch 2. Scalpers bought a lot of them and it seems they aren't selling for near what they would like. They're easy to get, at least the stores by me have them. So they're really not making much after

Difference between Nintendo and Disney is that by all accounts Nintendo’s product is still good enough that people want it during their “we can get away with it” attitude (same sort of goes for PlayStation). Disney drops so many bombs they should be charged with a war crime.

 

[erasure fan1]

Difference between Nintendo and Disney is that by all accounts Nintendo’s product is still good enough that people want it during their “we can get away with it” attitude (same sort of goes for PlayStation). Disney drops so many bombs they should be charged with a war crime.

True. But Sony did grace us with Concord and cancelled like 12ish live service games. Lol so they're heading in the same direction as Disney.

Nintendo has always really been on an island. In my opinion the quality of Nintendo games has dropped. But like you said, it's still good enough. It will be interesting to see how they continue to play this out. I think with $80 games, they have to be great, not just ok. Or they might end up with a lackluster generation.

 

[Mike S]

True. But Sony did grace us with Concord and cancelled like 12ish live service games. Lol so they're heading in the same direction as Disney.

Nintendo has always really been on an island. In my opinion the quality of Nintendo games has dropped. But like you said, it's still good enough. It will be interesting to see how they continue to play this out. I think with $80 games, they have to be great, not just ok. Or they might end up with a lackluster generation.

I actually didn’t really mean “good enough” in the negative sense. I meant that for a lot of people Nintendo’s current output still justifies buying in. Donkey Kong looks great and I’m actually really enjoying Mario Kart’s open world. Nintendo hasn’t reached the point that Disney has where they’ve soiled almost all of their treasured IP.

 

[erasure fan1]

I actually didn’t really mean “good enough” in the negative sense. I meant that for a lot of people Nintendo’s current output still justifies buying in.

Oh I didn't mean negative either. There has been a drop in quality in my opinion. But if you're a person who loves those core Nintendo ips, the drop is nowhere near the "that's it, I'm done!" Stage.

Nintendo hasn’t reached the point that Disney has where they’ve soiled almost all of their treasured IP.

That's Xbox that has done that. Lol
I've never been a giant Nintendo fan. As I've said, zelda is my main Nintendo series. So for myself, I was out at $70 games let alone now at $80. But I get people who are invested in the brand, that the games are still worth it. For myself, I just don't see the reason for the increase other than they can. But I get what you are saying.