EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call with investors, EA's CEO Andrew Wilson made it clear that the company has no intention of increasing game prices despite moves by competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo to raise theirs to $80. Wilson emphasized EA's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" for their playerbase, highlighting the success of their co-op adventure game Split Fiction, which has now sold an impressive 4 million copies.

Wilson explained that the gaming industry has evolved significantly over the past decade, moving away from the traditional model of selling physical copies in retail stores. "In a world where everything we did 10 years ago was about selling shiny discs in plastic boxes on retail shelves — well, that’s still a *part* of our business, it’s a significantly smaller part of our business, and we now have pricing representing everything from free-to-play all the way to deluxe editions and beyond," he stated. This shift allows EA to offer a range of pricing options, from as low as a dollar to as high as $100, all while maintaining their focus on delivering high-quality experiences and value to players.

"At the end of the day, whether we're doing something that costs a dollar, or we're doing something that costs $10, or we're doing something that costs $100, our objective is always to deliver incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase," Wilson reiterated. He noted that when EA successfully combines quality and value, their business remains strong, resilient, and continues to grow.

EA's CFO Stuart Canfield added that the company's current pricing strategy remains unchanged, reflecting no adjustments in their guidance to investors.

This news will be a relief to many gamers, especially following Microsoft's recent announcement of price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some games. Microsoft has already implemented higher prices for consoles and accessories, and plans to charge $79.99 for new, first-party games during the holiday season.

The trend of rising game prices is evident across the AAA gaming industry, with prices jumping from $60 to $70 over the last five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 pricing for upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 Edition games. The Switch 2 itself is set to launch at $450, a price that has drawn criticism from fans, though analysts argue it's inevitable given current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can expect the next EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield games to maintain the $70 standard edition pricing.

In other news, EA recently cut around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, along with broader layoffs affecting approximately 300 individuals across the organization, as reported by IGN last week.