As time goes on, the gaming industry continues to push the boundaries of ambition, with development costs skyrocketing. Some publishers attempted to address this by raising game prices to $70, but it appears that this may not be enough.
Industry experts have been sounding the alarm about escalating budgets, with the CEO of Saber Interactive being the latest to express concerns. He believes that games priced at $70 are no longer sustainable.
In a recent interview with IGN, the CEO of Saber Interactive shared his perspective on the future of gaming, suggesting that developers may start focusing on more affordable titles to mitigate risks.
The era of $70 games is on the decline. It’s simply not feasible anymore.
He pointed to Ubisoft as a cautionary tale. Following delays in major game releases a few years back, the publisher has faced financial struggles and layoffs.
The CEO of Saber Interactive envisions a shift towards mid-budget games. He highlighted Helldivers 2 as an example of a quality mid-tier game that delivers high production value without excess.
Ultimately, he predicts that game prices will drop below $70.
Saber Interactive is not alone in raising these concerns. A Tencent executive recently suggested that AAA teams should stick to established IP to minimize the risk of failure.
Recent flops like Suicide Squad underscore the consequences of a failed $70 launch.
Despite challenges, both indie and AAA games are thriving today more than ever. The gaming industry is in need of a recalibration, and hopefully, this adjustment will occur organically, avoiding a catastrophic collapse.
Link from www.playground.ru