Inflation
Ongoing coverage on Inflation.
Latest coverage
WoW: Forever has a new kind of ban to deal with real money trading
Blizzard Entertainment has introduced a new 'Temporary Economy Hold' system in World of Warcraft to combat real money trading (RMT) and gold buying. Accounts suspected of RMT will face restricted access to trade, mail, and auction house functions. This measure aims to stabilize the game's economy, which is particularly important for persistent MMOs without expansion resets, and prevent issues seen in games like Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Harmony mint exploit wipes 40% off ONE, but Bitcoin holds near $64,000 with U.S. CPI in view
The Harmony blockchain experienced an exploit resulting in the minting of approximately 4 billion ONE tokens, causing the token's value to drop by 40%. Despite this significant event, Bitcoin's price remained stable near $64,000, indicating the market's focus on upcoming U.S. CPI data and broader economic factors rather than the Harmony incident. The exploit's limited impact on Bitcoin suggests a compartmentalization of risk within the cryptocurrency market.
'Pricing Has Not Kept Pace With Inflation' — Take-Two Boss Insists Rockstar Got GTA 6 Standard and Ultimate Edition Price Points Right
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick defended the $80 price point for Grand Theft Auto 6's standard and ultimate editions, stating that pricing has not kept pace with inflation. He believes Rockstar Games has set the correct price for the upcoming title.
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns She’ll Back Rate Hikes If Inflation Stays Hot
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook stated she is prepared to support raising interest rates if inflation does not show signs of improvement, citing concerns that persistently high inflation could become entrenched. While acknowledging a recent dip in energy prices, she cautioned against overreacting to single data points and highlighted ongoing pressures from tariffs, energy supply shocks, and AI buildouts. Cook indicated that the central bank does not have the luxury of waiting if disinflationary trends do not continue.
With a AU$769 price tag looming, grabbing a Switch 2 for AU$624 now is the closest thing gamers get to beating inflation
The article discusses the rising cost of gaming consoles, particularly the Nintendo Switch, which is set to increase in price. It highlights a current deal on the Nintendo Switch 2 at Amazon for AU$624, which is significantly cheaper than its upcoming AU$769.95 price and its original AU$699.95 price, presenting a rare opportunity to buy before inflation impacts it further. The author expresses personal temptation to purchase due to upcoming games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Metroid Prime 4.
$80 Games Are Already Here
The video game market is already seeing $80 games, with Nintendo leading the charge on titles like Mario Kart World and upcoming Switch 2 releases. This trend is fueled by rising development costs and inflation, with analysts predicting more publishers will adopt higher price points. While some companies like Sony and Microsoft have maintained $70 prices, others like Take-Two Interactive have successfully implemented price hikes, suggesting $80 could become the new standard for AAA games.
LOTRO Legendarium: Appendix A, on Hobbits and subscription price increases
Standing Stone Games has increased the prices for multi-month subscriptions for Lord of the Rings Online, marking the first hike since the game's 2007 launch. While the one-month subscription remains unchanged, longer-term plans now offer significantly reduced savings compared to the monthly rate. This change, attributed partly to inflation and potential pressure from parent companies Daybreak Games and EG7, has caused community concern, though players with existing multi-month subscriptions can lock in old prices until the end of 2027.
Now Even Refurbished PS5 Consoles Cost a Fortune
Sony has increased the price of refurbished PlayStation 5 consoles by $100 through its PlayStation Direct store. This price hike means a refurbished disc-based PS5 now costs $549.99, and the Digital Edition is $499.99, making affordable options for the console increasingly scarce amidst global economic challenges.
Take-Two CEO wants to ensure GTA 6's price 'feels very reasonable' but also says that games aren't expensive as they could be right now
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto 6's price will feel 'very reasonable' to consumers, emphasizing value delivery over cost. He also commented that game prices have remained relatively low compared to inflation over the past decade. Zelnick also expressed his 'terror' regarding the immense success expected for Grand Theft Auto 6, focusing instead on creating a spectacular entertainment experience.
Even GTA 6's price needs to feel "reasonable", says Take-Two boss: hiking past $70 to match inflation "doesn’t make a whole lot of sense"
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto 6's price should feel reasonable to consumers, pushing back against the idea of simply matching inflation. He emphasized delivering value and ensuring the price feels fair for the experience. The discussion around GTA 6's pricing is significant as it could set a precedent for future game releases.
Former Nintendo sales lead believes Switch 2 price will inevitably go up
A former Nintendo employee believes the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 will inevitably increase due to global economic factors like inflation, tariffs, and rising costs for components such as memory and helium. He suggests that Nintendo might be using software pricing strategies to make a potential hardware price hike more acceptable to consumers.
Why A Switch 2 Price Increase May Be "Inevitable"
A former Nintendo retail lead believes a price increase for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is inevitable due to rising costs of components and global inflation. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has not ruled out the possibility, and recent price hikes for Sony's PlayStation hardware are cited as precedent. The article suggests that Nintendo may use lower software prices to offset consumer backlash to a potential hardware price increase.
Former Nintendo Sales Lead Thinks Switch 2 Price Increase Is "Inevitable"
A former Nintendo sales lead named Sean believes a price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 is inevitable due to factors like inflation, tariffs, and rising oil prices impacting semiconductor and cartridge manufacturing. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has previously stated the company would carefully consider any price changes based on market conditions.
Nintendo Switch 2 price hikes are 'inevitable', says former Nintendo sales lead — and that's not an…
A former Nintendo sales lead suggests that price increases for the Nintendo Switch 2 are inevitable due to inflation, tariffs, and economic struggles. This follows similar price hikes for the PlayStation 5 and general trends affecting PC hardware, indicating that consumers may face higher costs for the upcoming console.
Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 Could Follow PS5 and Increase Prices, Says Analyst
Sony has increased the prices of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro due to rising component costs, a move that analyst Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis suggests Microsoft and Nintendo may follow for their respective consoles. These price hikes, coupled with inflation, could negatively impact new game sales, despite anticipated major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6.
After PS5 price hike, Xbox and Nintendo could be next
Analysts suggest that Sony's recent PlayStation 5 price increase may signal a broader trend across the industry due to rising component costs, inflation, and supply shortages. It would not be surprising if Microsoft and Nintendo also implement similar price adjustments for their consoles in the near future.
Feature: PS5 Price - Why Does It Cost So Much in 2026?
The PlayStation 5's price is increasing significantly in 2026 due to a confluence of factors including the pandemic's impact on supply chains, global inflation, and increased tariffs. Component costs, particularly RAM, have also surged due to high demand from AI companies like OpenAI. These economic pressures are affecting other hardware manufacturers like Nintendo and Valve, and are expected to impact future console generations and development budgets.
The PS5 is increasing in price yet again. So, what’s going on with all these price hikes in gaming?
Sony has announced another price increase for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal in several global markets, citing economic pressures and the need to deliver high-quality gaming experiences. This follows previous price hikes for PlayStation and Xbox consoles, with factors like inflation, increased tariffs, and the demand for AI-powered hardware contributing to rising costs across the tech industry.
Sony announces price hikes for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal
Sony has announced price increases for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal, effective April 2026 globally. The company cited rising global costs, inflation, and supply chain challenges as reasons for the adjustments. These price hikes are unusual for this stage in the console lifecycle and highlight broader economic pressures affecting the gaming industry.
