Sega Eyes $70 Game Pricing: A New Industry Standard?

Sega, a big name in the gaming world, is considering following the path of other giants like Nintendo and Ubisoft by potentially raising the price of their upcoming games to $70. In a recent financial call, Sega Sammy's CEO and CFO hinted at this possibility, noting that $69.99 games have become more common over the past year. They mentioned wanting to review their prices to stay in line with the market and ensure fair pricing. While nothing is set in stone yet, Sega is thinking about a $10 increase, which would be a departure from their pricing tradition over the last decade.

This move by Sega is partially unexpected, given the recent trends in the industry. Companies like Sony, Xbox, Ubisoft, and Take-Two have already bumped up their game prices from $60 to $70 due to inflation. This price hike has hit several major titles, including Gotham Knights, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and even Nintendo's latest release, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—a surprising move for a company known for being cautious with pricing.

Interestingly, Sega has already tested the $70 price point with Sonic Frontiers' Digital Deluxe Edition. However, this edition came with extra content for collectors and fans, while the standard version stayed at $60. So, it looks like the next Sonic game could cost players an additional 10 Rings.

While Sega's potential price increase isn't final, it mirrors the industry's response to economic challenges. Do you think these higher prices will become the new standard, or will the industry find a better way to balance costs and affordability?