قد يواجه جيل جديد من وحدات ألعاب الفيديو تراجعًا كبيرًا في السوق إذا استمرت الأسعار في الارتفاع، مما قد يؤدي إلى انخفاض ملحوظ في الأرباح ومبيعات الوحدات. تقدم ألعاب السحابة بديلاً عمليًا، حيث تقلل الحاجة إلى معدات باهظة الثمن عن طريق تشغيل الألعاب على خوادم بعيدة - وهي استراتيجية يبدو أن مايكروسوفت تقبلها مع إصدار Xbox الراقي القادم. من ناحية أخرى، تُباع وحدة NS2 التالية لنيوندو عالية السعر، ولكن قد تظهر نسخة NS2 Lite أكثر رخصًا بحلول عام 2027.
بينما قد تجذب الوحدات الراقية أولئك المهووسين والمستهلكين الأثرياء في البداية، لا يزال اعتماد السوق الأوسع غير مؤكد. يمكن لفالف أن تلعب دورًا رئيسيًا من خلال إطلاق آلة Steam رخيصة الثمن، لكنها يجب أن تستفيد من أخطائها السابقة. للمنافسة بشكل فعّال، ستكون هذه الوحدة بحاجة إلى دعم قوي لأهم العناوين مثل *Call of Duty* و *Grand Theft Auto VI* و *EA Sports FC*. بدون هذا الدعم، فإنها تواجه خطر تكرار صعوبات Xbox Series S، التي واجهت دعمًا محدودًا من المطورين وتنافسًا من المعدات الجيل السابق.
I believe the current trend of games needs to become unprofitable for a course correction to occur. Developers should move away from massive budgets, seven-plus year development cycles, and the pursuit of graphical perfection. Instead, we need smaller budgets and quicker turnarounds that don’t require blockbuster sales to be profitable.
However, in today’s market, people often make financially irresponsible decisions. For example, many purchased PS5s with their stimulus checks and will likely buy the next big release even if it’s not the best choice for their budget. I’ve been guilty of this myself, and it’s a trend I’ve noticed in gaming and other hobbyist communities.
While live-service games were the trend of this generation, major companies have always sought the highest profits. They won’t abandon their biggest potential revenue sources.
For instance, Sony owns studios like Insomniac and Santa Monica, while Microsoft holds Activision Blizzard and Bethesda.
However, there are also noteworthy AA studios to consider. Sony has Asobi, the creators of Astro Bot, and Microsoft has Double Fine, which recently released Keeper.
They’re already too expensive, so yes, the next generation will likely be ridiculously expensive and digital-only. I’m not interested in that.
A new Steam Machine would likely be digital-only, while the PS6 will probably still offer an optional disc drive. I’m uncertain about the Xbox PC hybrid.
I believe AI will be the next major development and could significantly reduce costs. The real question is whether companies will pass those savings on to consumers, especially if cost of living issues persist. Most likely not. The shift to digital hasn’t lowered game prices, though sales are more frequent. However, people are buying less because they already have extensive libraries. Subscription services are becoming the new strategy.
As a former PC gamer, I find the PS5 quite affordable compared to PC hardware costs. Thankfully, the games-as-a-service model seems to be declining, though I do enjoy Marvel Rivals. People tend to lose interest in such games over time.
PlayStation Network offers many high-quality older games for a flat fee, reducing my need for new releases, which often disappoint anyway. I still have a backlog to work through.
Overall, it feels like we’re moving away from owning games and toward constantly paying fees to access them. AI could also enable longer games by generating complex worlds with extensive voice acting and quests, similar to Diablo’s random levels.
Streaming might make a comeback, particularly for online games, which could benefit from improved ping and networking if designed around it. However, single-player games wouldn’t gain the same advantages and should remain separate from such systems.
Lowering production costs benefits the companies, not consumers. Reducing retail prices would mean less quarterly revenue, which displeases shareholders. For a long time now, production savings haven’t led to lower prices for buyers. Instead, companies either maintain current prices or apply standard increases, so costs for customers only go up.
I initially thought they would need to fix the AI code, which would increase costs. However, I remembered that they often release broken code and don’t pay to fix it since they have no intention of addressing the issues.
You missed the “no” option. Markets will always adjust.
If the market’s solution is to stick with current-generation consoles, then next-generation consoles have essentially failed.
While I dislike it as a consumer, the current generation has shown that high prices don’t necessarily deter sales.
The market hasn’t flourished since the PS4 and Xbox One have proven difficult to phase out. For instance, Capcom even released a downgraded port of the Resident Evil VI Remake. The Xbox Series S failed because there was no compelling reason to replace a PS4 or Xbox One with it. Ultimately, there won’t be a next generation if everyone continues to stick with the current one.
You’re describing companies responding to consumer demand—that’s simply how markets work.
The market doesn’t aim to deliver the best possible product at the lowest price. Your question was whether games will become too expensive for people to afford, and the answer is no.
I don’t want the PS6 to just be an enhanced PS5, with every game also releasing on PS5 and compromising quality as a result.
However, you’re framing this as an economic issue, as if game sales are struggling, when your real concern appears to be product quality—which is a separate matter entirely.
I’m not advocating for the PS6 to be an upgraded PS5 Pro, but I’m skeptical that even a $700 console would succeed. Does that mean a potential “best bang for your buck” Valve machine would automatically succeed? No, which is why I keep mentioning the failure of the Xbox Series S.
Unfortunately, I believe cloud gaming and subscription services like Game Pass and PS+ will make people overlook the rising costs, similar to how Netflix still feels like a better deal than buying Blu-rays. Personally, I wait for old games to go on deep discount because I’m frugal. But if you think people won’t rush to buy GTA 6 for $100 or even $120, despite what they say online, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
The gaming industry relies heavily on strong sales during launch periods or the holiday season, much like how movies depend on box office performance. For instance, Activision Blizzard consistently achieves 30% profit margins, not necessarily due to game quality, but because they operate as a highly efficient business.
If a major video game doesn’t sell well at full price, there’s little room for profit. Cloud gaming serves as a final option for generating revenue and repurposing older titles, similar to Nintendo’s Classic apps.
As a consumer, your priority should be securing the best deal for yourself.
Cloud gaming serves a similar purpose to discounted older games and the shrinking market for used physical copies: it supports an accessible gaming culture at a lower cost than new releases. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it prevents major game publishers from restricting access based on price. On the other, it allows companies to focus financially on “whales”—players who spend heavily—and cater mostly to them.
Without streaming and subscriptions, lower-income gamers would have to save up, wait for sales, or even give up the hobby. With services like Game Pass, I pay $15 a month instead of buying a new $80 game, and Microsoft still gets data on what I play. This benefits me by making gaming affordable and helps Microsoft gather feedback without needing a full sale.
However, games not on Game Pass that launch at full price must work harder to capture my attention. Why would they, when they can target a market of high-spending players? I use “whale” loosely here, including anyone who buys games like Elden Ring and its expansion at full price rather than waiting for discounts. Bandai Namco, for example, doesn’t depend on the Game Pass or sale-waiting segment for immediate sales. They rely on those willing to pay full price upon release—$80 for the base game or $50 for the expansion.
(Prices in CAD)
I hope for a market crash that leads to more affordable games with smaller budgets. This could shift the focus from high-end graphics to solid execution and more varied gameplay, rather than standardized formulas. While I may be overlooking complex factors, I sometimes wish the industry had stayed at the AA level in terms of budget and scope.
Nintendo’s catalog is largely made up of AA games that present themselves as AAA, with major investments reserved for flagship projects like 3D Zelda titles. Sony’s Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 also embody that AA spirit.
Yet, GTA V remains a consistent bestseller—not just historically, but it continues to sell well year after year. Major titles like GTA V and the upcoming GTA VI significantly influence the market. It’s no coincidence that the PS5 Pro is often jokingly called a GTA VI machine. In fact, GTA VI may arrive just in time to give the PS5 a major boost.
Take this with a grain of salt, but a potential PS6 downturn could involve:
– Annual blockbuster titles like Call of Duty and EA Sports FC remaining cross-gen for an extended period.
– Poor sales of PS6 exclusives, such as God of War, Spider-Man 3, and Gran Turismo.
– Lengthy development cycles for major future releases like GTA VII.
What was the budget for Astro Bot?
Officially, we know it took three years to develop with a team of 60 people.
Take this with a grain of salt, but ChatGPT estimates the budget was between $100 and $150 million. Most AAA projects exceed $200 million.
I’d like to see Sony rebuild their Japan Studio line of games, particularly after the early previews of reviving IPs like Gravity Rush, which seemed aimed at film adaptations.
I’d prefer a soft market correction similar to when Microsoft supported smaller indie-sized studios a decade or two ago.
Sony has shown renewed interest in collaborating with Japanese game studios. While Asobi probably won’t be expanded back into Japan Studios, Sony has invested in Palworld (developed by Japanese studio PocketPair) and partnered with Arc System Works on Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls.
Regarding Xbox, they’ll likely continue supporting cost-effective indie developers such as Double Fine.
I’ve never quite understood GTA’s massive success, since I found it somewhat boring. But I’m probably an outlier—I didn’t even enjoy RDR2. Maybe Rockstar’s style just doesn’t resonate with me. Personally, I’d rather spend $80 on two $40 games that offer unique experiences than on one expensive title that simply does what others do, just on a larger scale.
I completely agree with your analysis, by the way. Thanks for sharing these game-related posts—they always spark great discussions.
Where is the option for “they can charge whatever they want, but I don’t have to buy them”?
I would select “see results” or “other” since the previous poll asked what you personally plan to do next generation, and the top response was PC gaming.
My immediate thought when I noticed the shift toward digital-only releases was that if things get too expensive, I could always learn to pirate games and store them on an SSD. It’s the closest alternative to having physical copies.
A Steam console wouldn’t need to worry about game ports since it would run the Windows versions of games through SteamOS.
Sony will likely price their console based on what the market can bear, probably around $700. Even at that price, they might still sell at a loss, but if customers accept it, they’ll come out ahead.
Meanwhile, Xbox is taking a different approach by building a high-powered PC using off-the-shelf components and a Windows-based OS. They’ve confirmed free online multiplayer and are expected to support third-party stores like Steam and Epic.
The tariff war initiated by Trump has further exacerbated the issue.
Video game companies likely welcome the trend, as it could increase digital sales.
Many people will likely give in to the fear of missing out, especially when their friends have the latest console. The Switch 2 is a good example—some influencers claimed they wouldn’t buy it, only to impulsively pick one up a week later after spotting it in a store.
Many people will likely still give in to the fear of missing out, or FOMO, and buy the newest console because their friends have one. The Switch 2 is a good example—many influencers claimed they wouldn’t buy it, but then quickly caved when they saw it in stores. Nintendo’s strategy of ensuring ample stock has clearly paid off.
The PS5 Pro faced similar criticism over its price and lack of a disc drive, yet it still sold extremely well.
If you need to game at 4K and 60fps, the PS5 Pro is currently the only console that can do it. However, very few titles fully support the Pro’s capabilities. In most cases, you’ll see better performance simply because the Pro is more powerful.