Ex PlayStation boss defends $80 games and increasing AAA cost as gaming has become “amazingly affordable” overall

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Game prices are rapidly increasing. Following the debatable hike from $60 to $70 at the onset of the Xbox Series/PS5 era, games such as Mario Kart World and The Outer Worlds 2 are pushing prices even higher to $80. This price surge is seemingly accepted by former PlayStation leader, Shuhei Yoshida.

Recently, I had a chat with gaming veterans Kit and Krysta, ex-marketing heads at Nintendo of America, on their YouTube channel. During our conversation, Yoshida shared his thoughts that the $80 price tag for AAA games works well because other games offer “amazing affordability,” thereby striking a balance in the market.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but mention that over the last five years or so, PlayStation has been gradually increasing the costs of its consoles and the PS Plus service. They even have plans to make further adjustments to boost their profitability. On top of that, they’re currently facing lawsuits alleging that the prices at the PS Store are artificially high.

Yoshida defends $80 game prices for AAA

As a passionate gamer, I recently found myself expressing sentiments similar to Yoahisa on our podcast. You see, each game carries its unique worth, and it’s high time publishers embraced this diversity in their approach. This is something that resonates with the thoughts of Sandfall Interactive, the brilliant minds behind Expedition 33. They, much like myself, hope to encourage more developers to venture beyond the AAA realm, creating games priced at $40 and even $50, rather than having everyone focus solely on the high-budget, big-name titles.

The ex-PlayStation head clarified that not all games need to cost around $70, $80, or similar amounts, as each game is unique in its own right.

Speaking about video games in general, Yoshida pointed out that over the past ten years, they’ve become incredibly accessible financially, requiring little investment to start playing and offering numerous affordable options for gamers, totaling thousands.

Speaking of high-priced games like Mario Kart, Yoshida pointed out that their value lies in the numerous hours of enjoyment they provide, making their cost reasonable. However, he didn’t discuss the pricing of Sony’s costly first-party cinematic games in this context.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the worthwhile entertainment that titles such as Mario Kart 8 offer. Time seems to fly when you’re playing, and countless hours can easily slip away with just one purchase – or perhaps you’ve encountered fellow gamers who invested in additional tracks. This is a testament to the enduring appeal of these games!

In essence, the choice of the game depends on what kind of entertainment you’re looking for. You should evaluate different games to determine if the initial cost is worth it based on the entertainment they offer.

Furthermore, Yoshida discussed the high costs associated with extra cosmetics in games, a significant aspect contributing to the overall expense of modern gaming. Unlike games such as Call of Duty, which demand full payment for gameplay, they also monetize their games through costly cosmetic items that continuously increase in price.

In simpler terms, “The ex-PlayStation leader stated that some individuals recognize the advantage and choose to spend $100. Whether you perceive the worth or not is up to you.” Frankly, if I came across someone spending $100 on a cosmetic package, I’d be quite puzzled about its value.

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2025-06-30 14:10