Unpopular opinion: Capcom boss believes video game prices are too low

A hot potato: Capcom President Haruhiro Tsujimoto is certain to seize flak from the gaming community after proclaiming that video game costs are too low. During the latest Tokyo Game Show, Tsujimoto said development expenses are about one hundred instances higher now than they had been in comparison to the Famicom [Nintendo Entertainment System] technology, but software prices have now not accelerated a lot.

"There is also a need to elevate wages," Tsujimoto said. "Considering the truth that wages are rising inside the enterprise as a whole, I assume elevating unit fees is a healthful choice for enterprise," the government added.

As a great deal as gamers in all likelihood do now not need to listen it, Tsujimoto has some valid arguments. It become no longer unusual for AAA video games to sell for $50 or extra inside the generation he speaks of. Factoring in inflation, this is towards $one hundred twenty in present day cash but contemporary AAA games are just now flirting with the better $70 charge factor.

Today's games are also far more complex, and some of the top titles do certainly have massive production budgets. Studios want some way to recoup their investment and make some income at the top. Without charging substantially greater for games, publishers have had to provide you with other ways to get extra cash out of game enthusiasts such as microtransactions and DLC.

Either way, itis clean that some thing has to give because the current version feels unsustainable for tons longer. What is probably to manifest is that AAA recreation expenses will hold to inch beyond the $70 mark… slowly, of path, as to not rock the boat too much right now. Unfortunately, microtransactions and paid DLC are in all likelihood right here to live as nicely.

Another region of problem is remakes and ports to other platforms years after an unique launch. Both are becoming an increasing number of costly to the point in which full-size pushback feels impending.

The enterprise is at a crossroads and it's miles uncertain precisely what is going to take place next. That stated, how would you want to peer things proceed? Would you be alright paying barely greater up the front to put off microtransactions and DLC? How lots is too much to invite for a AAA recreation?

Image credit score: Thomas Despeyroux