Sega CEO Teases Potential Increase in Game Prices to $70, Aligning with Other Platforms

Sega’s CEO, Haruki Satomi, and CFO, Koichi Fukuzawa, have hinted at the possibility of raising game prices for certain titles to align them with the prices of other AAA games in the industry. During a financial earnings call, Satomi and Fukuzawa acknowledged the trend of game prices increasing to $69.99 and expressed their intention to review Sega’s pricing strategy accordingly.

While several publishers have already raised the prices of their AAA games to $70, Sega has been relatively late to join the trend. Sony’s God of War Ragnarok and Xbox’s Starfield are examples of games that have been priced at $70 for their respective platforms. Satomi and Fukuzawa emphasized that Sega is considering increasing prices but emphasized that no final decisions have been made yet.

One game that already follows the higher price point is Sonic Frontiers, with its Digital Deluxe Edition costing $70 and the Standard Edition priced at $60. This suggests that Sega may adopt the new pricing structure for future Sonic titles.

The decision to raise game prices comes as development costs continue to rise, necessitating adjustments to ensure the financial viability of game production. However, the news of price increases may be met with mixed reactions from gamers. Many players recall a time when AAA games were priced at $40, and the new $70 price tag could present challenges for gamers, particularly younger generations who may have limited access to top titles.

While Sega has held off on increasing game prices for some time, industry standards and economic factors have pushed the company towards considering this adjustment. As the gaming landscape evolves, it remains to be seen how Sega and other publishers will strike a balance between ensuring profitability and maintaining accessibility for players.