Video prices have almost not increased after 20 years. This may soon change

Was a stressful time filled with concerns about How many goods will cost In the coming months – particularly technologicalS

Against the backdrop of Trump’s administration’s rates and now Pause of “reciprocal tariff”You may have gotten a whip, trying to keep up. But if you are a gamer, a unfortunate truth appears from the news of news: no matter what the situation with tariffs can be, you can expect to pay more for your hobby.

Nintendo advertised the switch 2 The console last week and some of her games are priced higher than people are used to: $ 80 for digital and $ 90 for physical. However, should the price be really unexpected?

Like most gamers, I was not exactly excited about these price labels. But I paid $ 50 for PlayStation 1 and 2 games nearly two decades ago. Current submissive games cost about $ 70. This is only $ 20 an increase in 20 years. What other technological product has this type of price stagnation?

Tariffs are likely to increase hardware costs, but the games themselves may not be directly affected. But this does not mean that prices do not increase.

Brad Hendrick, CEO of Blind Squirrel Entertainment Inc., told me that he hoped people would be aware of developers and publishers do not raise prices to try to break their users. “Having a price of $ 60 in 10 or 15 years is wonderful,” he said, “But the reality is that the price of everything is rising.”

Blind Squirrel Games is the studio behind Bioshock: The collection and has loans for big games like God of War 2018, Avowed and New World.

There are many reasons why your games can cost you more soon. Let’s get into it.

Tariffs and Video Games: What’s going on?

I know the question of every gamer’s mind is now: “Will Trump’s tariffs Say I will spend more on games soon? “Well, yes and no.

Tariffs “will affect the hardware for sure,” Hendricks said. “So Nintendo will have to raise the price, in my opinion. This would be true for Xbox and PlayStation, as well as for computers or something else that is about hardware.”

So if the 145% tariff for China – where Playstations and Xboxes are produced mostly – it remains in place, you will eventually pay more for these products.

But The production of the Nintendo movement console moved From China to Vietnam in 2019 and since reciprocal tariffs were stopped for all countries except China, you may not see a Significant increase in switch prices 2 in the US -Em during the 90-day pause period. This may be why Nintendo has decided to place pre -orders for his new detention console in the US and China.

As for physical games, they are made everywhere:

• Most are manufactured in Mexico, which was affected by 25% tariff this year.
• PlayStation 5 matches have been made in Austriawhich is part of the European Union and at least temporarily subjected to only the base rate by 10%.
• Nintendo games are produced mainly in China so that The price of Switch 2 games It can be more affected by the tariffs.

Digital games that have no physical components for imports from other countries will not be affected by tariffs.

But Hendricks said the tariffs or not, he was not shocked by the news of a higher price point for the Nintendo Games. He believes that games from all over the country should see an increase in prices in order to account for higher development costs.

“Before the full discussion of the tariffs appeared, a lot was said in the industry: when would publishers start moving the needle forward?” he said.

A new AAA game is currently worth $ 70 before tax. Hendricks said that if gamers wanted to see the realistic graphics, innovative features and gameplay they expected, they would have to be ready to show their support with their portfolios.

It may not be what you want to hear but game prices probably have to appear

When Switch 2 was announced at its price point with a higher one of which paid walk Switching features – people reacted negatively. It is understandable.

No one wants to hear that they will have to throw more about their favorite fun. Continues Inflation and recession fears have left us all a little cautious and back and forth of the tariffs send Stock exchangeS

On top of that, the federal minimum wage has not watched a step since 2009, when it has been accumulated to $ 7.25 – which is not enough to live during these experienced times, let alone have an affordable income to spend on games. So if you are asked to pay more for the games that upset you, it makes sense.

However at the same time the price of everything for All Go up. Including game developers.

There are three main types of games:

• Individual or small groups games, laid by developers who produce modes of modest range, which are released only digitally and can be minimally affected by tariffs.
• AA (double a) games that are usually produced by smaller studios with medium budgets.
• AAA (Triple A) Games that are released by your Ubisofts and assets – huge studios with budgets to match.

The development of the game is not exactly a cheap industry.

Hendricks said that when it comes to developing Triple Games, the low end is probably in the range of $ 20 to $ 60 million without including marketing and more. “So,” he said, “if you have a $ 100 million budget, it will usually cost – with (distribution), marketing and everything else – probably closer to $ 200 million.”

Hendricks said he was a developer, not a publisher, so there is not all the information. But what he has is more than 30 years of experience in working in the industry, with a unique look at what he deals with the creation of a game and the management of a studio, including hiring talent.

Creating a video game takes a team of artists, programmers, sound designers, QA testers, writers, actors and more. Maintaining these teams in the US is becoming more expensive.

“I think there must be a change in the minds of consumers,” Hendricks said. “Because some of the best developers in the world are currently fighting.”

Video players determine the price for games, but Hendricks said they were hesitant to raise prices for fear of the reverse response. The reality, however, is that if gamers want to continue to experience innovative innovative stories, they will have to be ready to support the studios that make them.

So when are the prices of the game likely to increase?

In addition to Nintendo, no other publisher has announced an increase in prices. But that will probably change after Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.

“At the moment everyone is holding their breath:” What will GTA do? “Hendricks said. The title developer, Rockstar Games, has “a little for nothing to lose to make it more expensive, because everyone will buy it, regardless of the price.”

The GTA 5, published in September 2013, is one of the best-selling video games of all time. As of February 2025, 210 million copies are sold, According to StatistaS

Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be released on June 5th, and the GTA 6 for this fall, the increase in game prices throughout the board is very likely to come shortly after these two main versions.

Hendricks said that if Rockstar appreciates his game at $ 129, $ 179 or even $ 200 – as was intended, she will pave the way for other publishers to do the same.

How can you afford to be a gamer in 2025 and then?

The hobby budget is not always the easiest thing, especially if you are in something as expensive as the games. I know I will still buy games, even if they rise. Hell, I’ll probably take the GTA 6 when it arrives – it’s not $ 200 anyway.

If nothing else, the price increase will make me more deliberate about the games I buy. I will not be able to buy every major title as soon as it comes out, but at some point I will take the games when I have money to burn.

It seems, I am inclined to use my credit card points to reduce game costs, with the warning that I will never go into the credit card debt just to buy the most game. For example, I used my card prizes to cover the cost of Assassin’s Creed: Shadowsand Called And the kingdom comes Liberation 2.

Each title was released at $ 70, so it took me a long time to save the points, but it was worth it. Knowing what games you want to buy facilitates the planning of pre -costs.

I use Blue Cash Preferred® card from American Express For basic costs such as gas and groceries, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* For eating and traveling purchases as well Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card* For everything else. If I want a game that I cannot cover with points, it will slow down eating out and other frivolous types of expenses to make room for it.

I also try not to throw myself into Fomo. The three games above are easily over 60 to 70 hours of content. Once I have worked with them, I will consider taking the next title on my list – which will probably be Doom: Dark Ages After arriving next month.

There are other ways to find a place in your budget for your hobbies:

• Create a sinking fund For your next game purchase.
• Add games as an item to your budget So you know how much you need to save or you can spend.
• Save games by buying used or trading old consoles and games that you don’t use for credit in the store. There may not be a great trade in things that you have spent good money for a lower price, but if they sit around dust collection and do not hold on to them for sentimental reasons and they are not part of a collection, this can help you limit your costs.

*All information on the preferred Chase Sapphire and Active Card Wells Fargo card is collected independently of CNET and has not been reviewed by the publisher.