Why is $60 the full price and not $50, as was the standard for AAA titles before that?
When accounting for inflation, both a $60 game purchased in 2021 (just 5 years ago, when that was still the norm for AAA games) and a $50 game purchased in 2001 are more expensive than buying a $70 AAA game in 2026. Meanwhile, AAA game budgets have exploded.
Another way to look at it: Galactic Racer in 2026, at $60, would be $49 in 2021 or $32 in 2001 when accounting for inflation.
Galactic Racer feels like a AA game, and has a modern AA price, both relative to new AAA game prices for the last few years and relative to prices in the past when accounting for inflation. It is fair to not like that or feel it is overpriced, but it does line up.
masterspace@lemmy.ca 6 days ago
Bud, this isn’t up for debate. They charge what they charge. You can refuse to buy games at that price and you have every right to do so, but your personal decision to not buy games on release does not change their price on release.
Doc_Crankenstein@slrpnk.net 6 days ago
Nah. There’s always pirating.
masterspace@lemmy.ca 5 days ago
Games were $60 in the 00s, literally just calculate $60 plus inflation and you’ll be at $95.