Pricing
Ongoing coverage on Pricing.
Latest coverage
EA Sports FC 27 Leak Points to Sept. 25 Release — and an Early Head Start for Premium Buyers
A leak suggests EA Sports FC 27 will be released on September 25, 2026, with premium editions and EA Play subscribers potentially getting early access around September 17. Pricing is expected to remain consistent with previous years, with different tiers for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, including support for last-generation platforms.
Steam Deck OLED at $789: Should You Still Buy One in 2026?
Valve has significantly increased the prices of the Steam Deck OLED models, with the 512GB version now costing $789 and the 1TB version $949, reflecting global component cost challenges. This article explores whether the three-year-old handheld is still worth purchasing at these new flagship prices, considering alternatives like refurbished units, the used market, and competing devices, while also discussing the broader trend of rising prices in the handheld gaming market.
AppleCare+ prices just went up for Macs and iPads
Apple has increased the monthly and annual prices for AppleCare+ on Mac and iPad products by $0.50 per month or $5 per year. This price adjustment affects the extended warranty service for these devices.
GTA 6 price is 'ridiculous' says analyst: 'They should be charging $200'
An analyst suggests Rockstar Games should charge $200 for Grand Theft Auto 6, calling its current price of £69.99 for the standard edition 'ridiculous' given its perceived quality. Despite the analyst's comments, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has previously stated a desire for reasonable pricing, emphasizing value delivery to consumers. The game is set to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Capcom Gives Monster Hunter Wilds a 'Permanent Price Reduction' as New DLC Bundles Announced
Capcom has announced a permanent price reduction for Monster Hunter Wilds and introduced new DLC bundles. Certain versions of the game will also be discontinued.
MMO Business Roundup: Sony games discs, Monster Hunter Wilds’ price, and Ubisoft almost figures it out
This business roundup covers several key industry developments, including Sony facing antitrust scrutiny over its decision to cease physical game disc production in 2028. Ubisoft's latest financial report acknowledges that firing experienced developers can harm business, while Capcom announced a permanent price reduction for Monster Hunter Wilds, alongside new bundle offerings.
Former PlayStation Store boss says retail price is "set directly by the publisher" as digital draws ire for being more costly than the physical discs Sony is killing
A former head of the PlayStation Store, Gordon Thornton, stated that publishers, not Sony, set the recommended retail prices for games on the platform. This comes amid concerns that digital game prices are higher than physical copies and that Sony's move away from physical discs in 2028 will exacerbate this issue. Thornton's comments contrast with previous legal claims where Sony suggested it set retail prices under a wholesale model.
Lenovo's Legion C700 cloud handheld feels like the wrong response to a worsening handheld price situation
Lenovo's new Legion C700 cloud handheld, designed for Tencent's START streaming service, is criticized as the wrong response to current handheld market conditions. The article argues that cloud streaming devices, like the Logitech G Cloud and PlayStation Portal, are not the solution to rising handheld prices, especially when compared to more versatile devices like the Ayn Odin 2 or Steam Deck. The author expresses concern that this trend could normalize streaming-only devices, which is undesirable for handheld enthusiasts.
The New PlayStation Black Ops Ports Feel Like The Bare Minimum
The recent PlayStation ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are criticized for offering minimal improvements over the original games, with no 4K resolution or 120Hz framerate options on PlayStation 5. Digital Foundry notes that the ports retain visual blemishes and lack modern quality-of-life updates, while PC and Xbox Series X|S versions offer better value through mods or backwards compatibility. The high price of $40 per game, plus additional costs for DLC, is a significant point of contention, even with PlayStation Plus discounts.
Expensive and pointless? Black Ops 1 and 2 PS4 and PS5 ports cost a lot of money and barely offer any upgrades over the originals
Activision has released ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but players are criticizing the high price and lack of significant upgrades. The games do not support 4K resolution or 120Hz framerates on PS5, and offer minimal improvements over older versions. The DLC is also sold separately, increasing the total cost significantly, though discounts are available for PlayStation Plus members.
Call of Duty Black Ops 1 + 2 PS5 Are a Complete Mess
Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for $39.99 each, with Season Passes costing an additional $29.99. These ports are criticized for their high price, lack of modern features like FOV sliders or 120fps support, missing original game modes, and technical problems including input delay and server issues. The situation is particularly notable as Microsoft, which owns Activision, has not released comparable native versions for Xbox players.
Handheld gaming PCs are cooked
The market for handheld gaming PCs is facing significant challenges due to rising component prices, particularly memory. Devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Steam Deck are becoming less affordable, with even budget options like the Steam Deck OLED seeing substantial price increases. This trend, coupled with the strong performance of consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, suggests a potentially shrinking market for high-performance handheld gaming PCs, possibly relegating them to a niche for enthusiasts with deep pockets.
PlayStation and Xbox are both dead, they just don’t realise it yet - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that both PlayStation and Xbox are in terminal decline due to recent layoffs, a move away from physical media, and increasing prices. The author believes that in ten years, only PC and Nintendo consoles will remain dominant, with Xbox and PlayStation potentially becoming third-party publishers.
Blaze's affordable Super Pocket handheld has been hit with a price hike due to AI component demand, despite absorbing "rising costs across manufacturing, components, and freight for as long as possible"
Blaze has announced a price increase for its Super Pocket handheld and Evercade cartridges in the UK and Europe, citing rising costs for manufacturing, components, and freight, particularly due to demand for AI components. The Super Pocket will now cost between £59.99 / €69.99, and Evercade cartridges will be £24.99 / €29.99. Prices remain unchanged in the US due to recent tariff reductions.
Black Ops ports are 50% cheaper on PS5 but not Xbox as fans fume over price
Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, featuring single-player, multiplayer, and Zombies modes without graphical updates or included DLC. While priced at £34.99 each, PS Plus members receive a 50% discount, bringing the cost down to £17.49 per game. This pricing is significantly cheaper than the Xbox versions, despite Microsoft's ownership of Activision, leading to fan frustration over the cost of older titles.
Call of Duty: Black Ops & Black Ops 2 PS4/PS5 Price — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are priced at $39.99, with a limited-time discount for PS Plus subscribers bringing the cost down to $19.99. The article notes the lack of cross-play between the two console generations and questions the value of these ports given their age and lack of new content.
Games are almost always cheaper in shops, says new report, just as Sony announces an end to PlayStation discs and brings retailers' futures into question
Sony Interactive Entertainment will cease manufacturing physical PlayStation discs in January 2028, shifting exclusively to digital formats. A report by Tweakers comparing historical retail and PlayStation Store prices indicates that physical games are statistically cheaper over time, with digital titles often retaining their full launch price. This move is expected to increase game costs and eliminate the second-hand market, though retailers may still sell digital vouchers.
A rubbish Silent Hill game that's free on PS5 is £52 for the physical edition
Limited Run Games is releasing a physical deluxe edition of the free-to-play PlayStation 5 title Silent Hill: The Short Message for $69.99, shipping in January 2027. Despite including art cards, a poster, and a keychain, the high price is criticized given the game's short length and perceived low quality, especially when compared to other recent Silent Hill releases and upcoming titles like Silent Hill: Townfall.
'It Has Become a Success Beyond Our Wildest Dreams' — Palworld Dev Pocketpair Decides Against Raising the Price of the Game for 1.0 Launch
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, has announced that the game's price will not be increased for its 1.0 launch and will remain at $29.99. This decision comes as the game has achieved success beyond the developer's expectations.
Somehow, the $1,000 Asus ROG Ally Xbox X is the best value gaming handheld I can think of right now
Despite its initial high price, the ASUS ROG Ally Xbox X is now considered the best value handheld gaming PC due to current market conditions and rising prices of competitors like the Steam Deck OLED, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. The article highlights the ROG Ally's strong performance with its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU and Windows operating system as key factors in its current appeal.
