With NBA 2K21, a first publisher has announced today a higher price for the PS5 version of the game. The publisher Take-Two is obviously not alone in this, because others want to follow suit.
Instead of the usual $59.99, the PS5 version of NBA 2K21 for the release costs $69.99, which could be the new standard price for next-gen games. Therefore, in an interview with GamesIndustry, the games research firm IDG Consulting confirmed that other publishers with whom they work are considering to increase game prices for next-gen consoles.
“IDG works with all major game publishers, and our channel checks indicate that other publishers are also exploring moving their next-gen pricing up on certain franchises, for the same reasons outlined above. Not every game should garner the $69.99 price point on next-gen, but flagship AAAs such as NBA 2K merit this pricing more than others.”
A price increase is also seen as an overdue, which was last seen in the generation leap to the PS3 and Xbox 360. Back then it was around 17 percent, which is still less than that in other entertainment areas.
At the same time, the cost of game development has increased and will continue to do so on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, which has never been considered since 2005.
Whether or not you have to get upset about this meager $10 increase remains to be seen, as long as more and more users voluntarily purchase through the $69.99 price ranges for a digital copy on the first day in the PlayStation Store. There is absolutely no competition there, let alone the resale value.
