Hiya!

One of the biggest news story in the gaming world right now focuses on Microsoft. More specifically, it’s all about their new pricing schemes for their Xbox Game Pass tiers. For those who are not in the know, Xbox recently changed the various subscription prices for their Game Pass brand. “Changed” is the nicest way of putting it. The more realistic way of describing it is Microsoft jacking up the prices for all of their Xbox Game Pass tiers!

They are trying to justify the price hike by seemingly including more stuff in each package and because they “listened to [our] feedback.” I do have to wonder who gave them this so-called “feedback.” I just don’t think anyone was asking for “more stuff” if it meant having to pay “more money” to get them.

While it’s easy to demonize Microsoft for acting like a money sucking succubus, they’re not the only video gaming company doing this. Nintendo, although it has a more family friendly aura around it, isn’t above trying to gouge their loyal fans for all their worth. Take a look at the price for Mario Kart World, the latest entry of the franchise and the flagship launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. The thing costs $79.99 US! Why is this game so expensive?

Another piece of video gaming news which really crackled my cockles doesn’t even have to directly deal with a video game. Rather, it’s how we watch people play video games. Capcom recently announced this year’s Top 8/Finals for the Capcom Cup, which is their big Street Fighter 6 tournament, will now be a pay-per-view event. This wouldn’t be so bad if the price to stream it was, I dunno, reasonable.

It’s not.

They put a price tag of $40 US to watch this year’s Capcom Cup! To be fair, they’re just adapting Japan’s pricing point. What makes this feel extremely unreasonable is the thing used to be for free! I know the eSports wing of Capcom is trying to make as much cash as possible. Still doesn’t make it feel scummy!

Look. I get it. Times are tough and companies are trying to make a profit to keep the lights on… allegedly. I also understand how developing games have become much more expensive so, allegedly, raising prices is a necessary evil because, once again, times are tough. However, that’s the thing! Times are tough! This isn’t the right time to go hog wild and bring up the prices for their products! People are struggling now! They are having problems trying to scrounge up enough money to buy video games precisely because times are tough! I can say this from experience throughout the year.

Way back during the very early part of the year, I wrote up a list of my hopes and dreams for 2025. One of them was to finally get a PlayStation 5. It’s been a long time coming and I am resolute to get one by the end of the year. Do you know why I haven’t been able to get a PlayStation 5 ever since it came out? The biggest reason is the feeling of impending buyer’s remorse.

The PlayStation 5 isn’t a cheap piece of equipment. No, at roughly $550 US, it definitely isn’t. Being raised to be frugal about money (thanks, mom and dad), I’m simply not someone who is going to readily spend that much without having second thoughts. I mean, I could use that money for other things! Now, with games becoming more expensive and things like paying the PlayStation Plus package at $10 each month just to play online, it’s getting harder and harder to justify dropping all that cash!

Besides, the monthly subscription isn’t the only thing we have to pay for on a regular basis. There’s also the matter of yearly DLC upgrades. Nowadays, the game you bought yesterday is going to come off as incomplete because game developers have figured out how to not only keep you playing an old game, but to keep you from buying stuff for this old game! Most modern games today have DLC packages and, while I’m weirdly okay with it as it does keep the game fresh, I just don’t like how they keep getting more and more expensive. Before you know it, there are going to be DLC packages which will be priced the same as the base game! You know I’m right!

The sad thing is there are going to be gamers who are going to bite the bullet or will have no issues with video gaming related products and services becoming more pricey. You know these kinds of gamers. The ones who have boatloads of cash or have gaming addictions. That’s not most gamers! Most gamers are just your one-of-the-mill Joes and Janes who are trying to eke out a life and just want to have fun with their favorite video games. Another portion of gamers also the ones who want to play video games but they can’t because they have other more important things to use their money on. You know, things like food, rent and whatnot.

So, what’s going to happen in the future? Will the price tag on video gaming spiral out of control? I hope not. One thing I do hope video game companies realize is they shouldn’t focus on increasing the prices but increasing the value. Not the fake “value” Microsoft is mentioning when they try to reason why they’re changing the Xbox Game Pass subscription prices. I’m talking about real value for their offerings. I do think some folks at Microsoft are realizing that as there are a lot of gamers who are cancelling their Xbox Game Pass subscription. So much so the website where you can cancel your subscription crashed! Then again, maybe they just removed the page so gamers couldn’t cancel their subscription? At this point, I wouldn’t put it past them!

This is an example of how increasing the price of stuff may not make you more money but actually make you less. They just assumed most Xbox gamers would be okay with the increase. This just proved them wrong. Now, not only does Microsoft have to try to regain their audience’s trust but they also have to deal with the fact they are now not going to make as much money as they thought.

I do hope this does show companies like Nintendo and Capcom to not be too greedy in the future. I’m not going to hold my breath though. Boo!

Byee!

What are your thoughts on video gaming becoming a very expensive hobby now? Let me know in the comments section below!