Pricing Strategy
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Upcoming soulslike Valor Mortis costs $40 as it's up against GTA 6 and the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake: "We want this to be a game that you can pick up alongside these other great games"
Valor Mortis, an upcoming first-person soulslike from Lyrical Games, will launch at $40 due to a crowded release window. Director Blake Rochkind stated the pricing is a strategic decision to position the game as a companion title alongside major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, aiming to be an "and" game rather than a direct competitor.
Valor Mortis is only $40 because its developer knows you'll be choosing from a lot of big games over this "stacked" autumn
Valor Mortis developer One More Level and publisher Lyrical Games have set the game's price at $40, explaining it as a strategic decision due to the "stacked" autumn release schedule. This pricing aims to make the ambitious first-person Soulslike more accessible alongside major titles, with Lyrical Games head Blake Rochkind expressing confidence in the game's quality despite the lower price point.
RuneScape Dragonwilds announces that its price won’t change when it makes its 1.0 launch
Jagex has announced that RuneScape: Dragonwilds will maintain its $30 price point upon its full 1.0 launch on September 15th, eschewing the common practice of raising prices after early access. The studio expressed pride in the game's development and thanked early access players. Future monthly updates and a content patch called Luminance are planned.
Don't expect a GTA 6 discount anytime soon, says Take-Two CEO: "We preserved our pricing on Grand Theft Auto 5…
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not receive discounts anytime soon, similar to how Grand Theft Auto 5 maintained its price for an extended period. While retailers may offer their own promotions, Zelnick indicated that significant price drops for Grand Theft Auto 6 are unlikely for several years after its release.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Won’t See Discounts or Price Cuts For a While After Release, Says Take-Two CEO
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not receive price cuts or discounts shortly after its release, citing the game's deliberate pricing strategy and historical precedent. While the company sets the price, Zelnick noted that retailers have the freedom to offer discounts on their own terms, potentially through bundles. He also discussed the marketing plans, including an extended look on Netflix and the unprecedented pre-order numbers.
A generous demo, a big expansion, and "pricing measures": What Capcom is doing to get Monster Hunter Wilds' sales to "surpass" Monster Hunter World
Capcom is implementing strategies to boost sales for Monster Hunter Wilds, aiming to surpass the success of Monster Hunter World. These measures include ongoing technical performance improvements, a generous free demo available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the upcoming expansion, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance. The company has also implemented a permanent price drop for the base game.
Halo: Campaign Evolved PS5 Launch Was Overshadowed by Black Ops 1 and 2, Says Analyst
Halo: Campaign Evolved saw underwhelming sales on PlayStation 5, selling only 351,000 copies in July, significantly overshadowed by older Call of Duty titles. Analyst Rhys Elliot suggests the $60 price point was too high for a graphical remake of a 2001 game, contrasting it with more successful nostalgic releases and Halo's own past sales trajectory.
Steam Deck sales are seemingly down an estimated 82% - Bear with me while I put on my surprised face
Steam Deck sales have reportedly dropped by an estimated 82%, with weekly unit sales falling between 1,400 and 3,000 following Valve's price increases. While the author acknowledges pricing as a major factor, they also suggest the age of the hardware and competition from devices like the ASUS ROG Ally may be contributing to the decline. Despite the dip, the author believes the Steam Deck remains a strong contender in the handheld market.
TSMC admits its 'jealous' of memory chipmakers' margins, but is limiting its own price hike because its customers would not survive price increases of 'four to five times'
TSMC, a leading semiconductor foundry, plans to increase prices by 5-10% in 2027 due to rising material costs and overseas expansion projects. While acknowledging higher margins in the memory chip sector, TSMC's chairman stated that drastic price hikes would be unsustainable for their customers. This follows recent price increase announcements from AMD, Intel, and Apple.
Every Game Just $1: New Steam Publisher ‘OFFMOON’ Reveals Its First Lineup
Superfast has launched OFFMOON, a new Steam-focused indie game publisher aiming to make games more accessible with a $1 price point for all titles. The initial lineup includes four games across various genres, with plans to release up to 50 titles by the end of the year. OFFMOON's strategy focuses on discovery and value, leveraging Superfast's experience from its mobile subsidiary, 111 Percent.
Pokemon Company document shows wanting to increase price from $60, encouraging people to buy both versions
An internal document from The Pokemon Company reveals past discussions about increasing game prices beyond $60 and encouraging players to purchase both versions of a game. The document outlines three pricing patterns considered, with a focus on maximizing sales and DLC revenue. It also details consumer purchasing habits for dual-version games like Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, showing significant percentages of players buying both.
Another PlayStation Plus Price Hike Feared After Sony Statement
Sony has indicated a shift in strategy, prioritizing revenue from existing PlayStation players over monthly active users, leading to fears of a PlayStation Plus price increase. The company aims to increase Customer Lifetime Value and recurring revenue, suggesting that costs for servers and network infrastructure will be passed on to subscribers if they rise.
It's a dumb time to buy an Xbox, even with the coming price hike
The article argues that now is a poor time to purchase an Xbox console, even with an anticipated price increase. It suggests that current deals are not compelling enough to justify a purchase at this moment.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s Lack of Disc in Physical Release Won’t Impact Sales Expectations, Says Analyst
An analyst believes Grand Theft Auto 6's lack of a disc in its initial physical release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S will not significantly impact sales, citing the prevalence of digital-only consoles. Retailers may benefit from reduced second-hand sales, and the game's pricing at $80 is seen as a unique case due to Rockstar Games' established goodwill.
"This is going to be a niche device" – Analysts react to the $1,000+ Steam Machine price reveal
Industry analysts are reacting to Valve's Steam Machine pricing, which starts at $1,049, significantly higher than initially anticipated. This increase is attributed to global component shortages, particularly memory and storage, exacerbated by the generative AI boom. Experts believe this high price point positions the Steam Machine as a niche product and raises questions about the future pricing of upcoming consoles from Sony and Microsoft, with some predicting they will also exceed $1,000.
You can now save $10 on physical pre-orders for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Fire Emblem, Orbitals, more
Several upcoming Nintendo Switch games, including Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and Orbitals, are available for $10 off during pre-order. This sale effectively matches the digital price for physical copies at various retailers. Star Fox and Splatoon Raiders are also included in this discount.
Game Pass lost millions of subscribers as a result of last year's controversial price hike, Xbox chief strategy officer reveals
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball revealed that Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following a significant price increase in late 2025. This occurred despite the addition of Call of Duty to the service's day-one offerings. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma had previously acknowledged in a leaked memo that the service had become too expensive for players, indicating a potential shift in strategy.
Xbox Game Pass lost “millions” of subscribers from 2025’s price hike
Xbox has admitted to losing millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers following a significant price increase in October 2025. New CEO Asha Sharma has since lowered the price of Game Pass Ultimate to $23 per month, a move that may help to recover lost subscribers. The price hike was speculated to be in response to adding Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as a day-one release.
Xbox lost 'millions' of Game Pass subscribers after last year's massive price hike
Xbox experienced a loss of millions of Game Pass subscribers following a significant price increase in October 2025. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the prices were too high, leading to a subsequent reduction. While Call of Duty games will now be delayed in their addition to Game Pass, the price cut has reportedly improved subscriber acquisition and retention.
PS5 UK sales dropped by half in May following April price hike
PlayStation 5 sales in the UK reportedly dropped by 50% in May following a price increase in April, while the Xbox Series X saw a 12% boost driven by Forza Horizon 6. The Nintendo Switch remained the top-selling console. Sony's sales decline is attributed to the price hike and a lack of major upcoming exclusives, though Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to significantly boost hardware sales later in the year.
