The word is out that some publishers are changing that once-sacrosanct price point of $60 to $70 for the next-generation. The waters since the days of pulling a paper slip off the wall at a retailer and walking it up to the cash register have been muddied quite a bit. Often you’re not even getting the “full game” anymore with that initial price tag, as DLCs, battle passes, and other cash-gated experiences are part of a full-price title.
So where does it end? If you could know for sure that you could get an “entire game” for $100, would that be a good price? How about $150? Is it better that the initial cost of the game is kept down under the $100 price tag to keep them affordable, keeping addons and additional content available for purchase? The future is rife with possibilities where technology becomes its own arbiter of content and control, so perhaps there are other alternatives to simple price increases.
The beast of microtransactions has been wild and loose for years now, and I doubt any kind of tranquilizer can put it back in its cage, but the hypothetical price tag for a full experience is a fascinating topic. No DLC, no loot boxes, no bonus pack content, everything comes on day one. What does that price tag look like to you? $200? Would anyone even consider paying such a thing for a game or are we far more comfortable with other monetization options layered on the upfront cost?