Are games becoming too expensive?

Are we being ripped off or paying the price of costly development? Our team voice their opinions

MILFORD COPPOCK

MANAGING ART EDITOR

There’s no doubt that for some publishers the cost of making a game has soared. A title like The

Last Of Us Part II can take five years to make with a team of 500. While some developers chase headlines and pay over the odds for Hollywood talent, often the high cost comes from new tech, revisions, scrapped content, and… perfection. What we’re missing this gen is a strong double-A scene to sit between indies and the big devs; more games such as A Plague Tale, for example. Expensive games are fine if we, as fans, have choice. Let’s rebalance.

OSCAR TAYLOR-KENT

GAMES EDITOR

What will I do if I ever need to pass out on command? I’ll simply look at the receipts to see how much I’ve spent on games over the years. Gaming can be expensive. I’d love to see benefits for buying games new besides the likes of rubbish special weapons. How long has the PS Store existed, and how few times have we received loyalty rewards? PS Plus Members should get better rewards than 10% off, like a voucher system or the ability to earn discounts for regular play. It’s good to feel rewarded and valued with truly special offers.

JESS KINGHORN

STAFF WRITER

My gaming habits before entering the industry were charmingly retro, not just for the hipster cred but because that’s what I could personally afford. Don’t ask me what year I finally got a PS4 – you won’t like the answer. For many people, forking out 70 quid for a triple-A release is at best a rare treat and more often a big ask. Thankfully, smaller studios are offering new-gen thrills at a fraction of the cost, with PS5 launch title Bugsnax a case in point at less than £20 (or free if you’d subscribed to PS Plus last year at launch).

Could this competitive edge from the historically daring indie scene be the shakeup we need? This year some of the more interesting games are coming from small teams at pocket-friendly prices – games such as Solar Ash, Seasons, and Oddworld: Soulstorm could surprise. It’s a thought to snax on.

IAN DEAN

EDITOR

Games have got more expensive just at a time when life has become harder. But nowadays there are more ways to play than buying into the latest triple-A hype. I remember the days of renting from Blockbuster, scouring its aisles for a weekend’s play. These days we can get free games from PS Plus – Destruction AllStars and Control Ultimate Edition have already made it worthwhile this year, and last year we had the 20-game PS Plus Collection for PS5. Include a sub for PS Now and for just over £10 a month you can fill up on hits. Include free-to-play in the roster, such as FFVIX Online, and you’re good to go. Does it justify charging £70 for a new PS5 game? No, but it is a workaround we never had in past generations.

I CAN STOMACH HIGH PRICES IF I HAVE THE CHOICE TO BUY CHEAPER.

AS GAMES GET MORE EXPENSIVE, IT’S NICE TO FEEL REWARDED FOR LOYALTY.

What we’re missing this gen is a strong double-A scene.

WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THAT TRIPLE-A TO HIT THE SALES, PICK UP AND PLAY AN INDIE.

EMBRACE THE SPECTRUM OF WAYS WE HAVE TO PLAY, AND SAVE MONEY.