Video games prices may increase this year. This is why no objection to paying more

If you are anxious or confused about how much you will be Spending on goods – Especially technology – You are not alone.

In the wake of the Trump administration tariff (first a A “mutual tariff” stoppedthen Exemptions for some technologyThen walking with the aforementioned exemptions), you are not the only one who has Whiplash from an attempt to keep up with.

But if you are a player, the unfortunate truth emanates from Cacophony from the news: No matter what the situation may be with the definitions, we expect to pay more for your hobby.

Nintendo Advertise 2 The control unit earlier this month, and some of its games are higher than people who used to: $ 80 per digit and $ 90 for materialism. However, does the price increase should be really unexpected?

Like most players, I was not completely happy with those signs. But I was paying $ 50 for PlayStation 1 and 2 matches for nearly two decades. The cost of current generation games is about $ 70. This is only $ 20 for 20 years. What is the other technical product that has this type of price stagnation?

The definitions are likely to increase the costs of devices, however the games themselves may not be directly affected. But this does not mean that prices do not rise.

Brad Hinders, CEO of Blind Squirrel Entertainment Inc. told me. He hopes that people will realize that developers and publishers do not raise prices to try to tear consumers. He said: “Getting a $ 60 or 15 -year -old price point is great, but the fact is that the cost of everything has increased.”

Squirrel Blind games are the studio behind the Bioshock: The Collection and has credits on the main games such as God of War 2018, World and New World.

There are many reasons why your games may cost you more. Let’s get into it.

Definitions and video games: What is happening?

I know that the question in the mind of every player now is “Will Trump’s tariff I mean, I will soon spend more on games? “Well, yes and no.

Hindrix said that the customs tariff “will definitely affect the devices.” “So Nintendo will have to raise the price point, is my gambled. This will be true for Xbox and PlayStation, as well as personal computers or anything else related to devices.”

So if the 145 % tariff on China – where PlayStations and Xboxes are mainly made – will be in place, you will end up paying more for these products.

but Transfer Nintendo Switch Console Production From China to Vietnam in 2019. Because the mutual tariff was temporarily suspended for all countries alongside China, you may not see a A significant increase in switching prices 2 in the United States At least during a period of 90 days of pause. This may be the reason Nintendo has chosen Preormers Place for the Hanging New Control Unit In the United States and China.

For physical games, they are everywhere:

• Most of them are manufactured in Mexico, which was exposed to a 25 % tariff earlier this year.
• PlayStation 5 games were made in AustriaIt is part of the European Union and at least only temporarily subject to the foundation line chain by only 10 %.
• Nintendo games are mainly manufactured in China, so Switch 2 games price It can be greatly affected by definitions.

Digital games, which do not have any material ingredients for import from other countries, will not be affected by definitions.

But Hendricks said that the definitions were not shocked by the news point of the Nintendo higher price. He believes that games in all fields need to see an increase in prices to calculate higher development costs.

“Before the entire group tariff discussing, there was a lot of conversation in the industry: When will publishers start moving the needle forward?” He said.

Currently, a new AAA game costs $ 70 before tax. Hindrix said that if the players want to see real drawings, innovative features and play they expect, they will need to be ready to show their support in their governor.

It may not be what you want to hear, but the game prices may need to go out

When the 2 key was announced at the top price point expected-along with higher prices for physical and digital games Paid Of the switch features – people’s reaction was negative. It is understood.

No one wants to hear that they will have to get rid of his favorite hobby. continuation Fears of inflation and stagnation We have all left us a bit cautious, and I have sent the windows Securities market on a roller trip.

Moreover, the minimum federal wage has not seen an increase since 2009, when it collided with $ 7.25 – which is not enough to live during these difficult times, not to mention an income that can be disposed of to spend on games. Therefore, if this is required to pay more for games, this is logical.

However, at the same time, cost Everything to everyone Ascends. Including game developers.

There are three basic types of games:

• Indie games, which are individual or small group efforts, were made by developers who produce headlines with a modest scope that is only digitally released and may be affected by definitions.
• AA (Double A) games, which are usually produced by smaller studios with medium -sized budgets.
• AAA (Triple A) games, which are offered by Ubisofts and activists – huge studios with budgets to suit.

The development of the game is not exactly an inexpensive industry.

Hindrix said that when it comes to the development of Triple-A games, it is likely that the low end in the range of $ 20 million to $ 60 million, including marketing, etc. He said: “Thus, if you have a budget of $ 100 million, it usually costs it – with (distribution), marketing and everything else – perhaps closer to 200 million dollars.”

Hendrix said he is a developer and not a publisher, so he does not have all the information. But what he has is more than 30 years of experience in working in this industry, with a unique vision of what is happening in making a studio game and driving, including the use of talent.

The creation of a video game takes a team of artists, programmers, audio designers, quality assurance laboratory, writers, actors and many others. Maintaining these teams in the United States has become more expensive.

“I think there should be a shift in the minds of the consumer,” said Hendrix. “Because some of the best developers in the world are now struggling.”

Video game publishers have set the price of games, but Hendricks said they were hesitant to raise prices for fear of the reverse reaction. However, the reality is that if the players want to continue to try pioneering and innovative stories, they will have to be ready to support the studios you make.

So when will the game prices be likely to increase?

Regardless of Nintendo, no other publisher has announced an increase in prices. But it is likely to change as soon as the Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.

“Everyone keeps their breath now:” What will GTA do? “Rockstar Games, has a little loss to become more expensive, because everyone will buy it regardless of the cost.”

GTA 5, which was released in September 2013, is one of the best -selling video games of all time. As of February 2025, it was sold 210 million copies, According to Statista.

With the expectation of Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, GTA 6 is likely to come in this fall, and it is very likely that the price increase for games in all fields will come shortly after these two main versions.

Hindrix said that if Rockstar prices played it at $ 129, $ 179, or even 200 dollars – as expected – he will pave the way for other publishers to do the same.

How can you be a player in 2025 and beyond?

The budget status of hobbies is not always the easiest thing, especially if you are in something costly like games. I know I still buy games even if they rise. Heck, perhaps I will capture GTA 6 at some point – as long as it is not $ 200, anyway.

If anything, the high prices will make me more intended for the games I buy. I will not be able to buy each major title as soon as it appears, but I will take the games when I have money to burn it. Try these tips to carry the upcoming games.

Use your credit card points

As I tend to use my credit card points to reduce games costs, with warning that I will not go to credit card debts only to buy the latest game. For example, I used my card rewards to cover a cost Filter of belief: shadowsand advertiser And the Kingdom comes salvation 2.

Each title was issued at a price of $ 70, so saving points took me a good time, but it was worth it. Knowing the games you want to buy makes planning for expenses easier.

I use Blue Cashpred® Card from America Express For basic spending such as gas and groceries, Chase Sapphire Preferred®* To eat and travel, and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card* Everything else. If I want a game that I cannot cover with points, I will slow down eating abroad and other trivial spending to make room for that.

Again, you should not go to credit card debts to get the latest game. But it is good financial tools if you use them carefully. For example, the advantage of some credit cards 0 % preliminary purchase offers For several months. This means that your new purchases will not accumulate the benefit of a specific range of time. During this window, you can pay the balance without increasing size.

Think about buying now, pay later

Buy now, pay later The plans usually allow you to divide one into four, distributed over a month, but be aware that the plans differ.

“Buy now, the driving software later can be risky-the missed payments can increase the fees or affect your balance. So read microscopic printing and weighing whether the element is really worth it,” said Rita Solid Fernandez Polo, Personal Finance Coach and Founder of the Wealth Paer Todos.

She added that people finance all kinds of expensive things that can bring joy. So, if the video games are doing it for you, you will not be shy to use the financial tools to support your hobby. “The key is the mind,” she said.

Create it in your budget

Knowing the upcoming games you want to spend on money can help you prepare for expenses. Consider the start of a Drowning – A separate savings account that adds money specifically to finance your games or other hobbies. Your box can grow faster by earning interest in it High -yield savings account.

However, sometimes the advice is simply not buying. If you do not have things like Emergency Fund To cover unexpected expenses, you should stop before making an expensive purchase such as a game or console.

Buy or have been renewed

Save games by buying used, or trade in old keyboards and games that you do not use to obtain store credit. You may not feel the wonderful trade in things that have spent good money for a lower price, but if they are sitting around dust collection, this may help reduce your costs.

I also try not to get Fomo. The three games that saved them easily exceeding 60 to 70 hours of content. Once I am working on it, I will consider taking the following address on my list – which is likely to be Torment After arriving next month. I have already started collecting points to try to reduce this cost.

*All information was collected about the SAPPHIRE, and the Wells Fargo CAM was collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the source.

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