Economy is bad, but these game prices are insane

Let’s get real: 2025 hasn’t exactly been kind to our wallets. Inflation is high, bills are piling up, and yet somehow, the price of the games we need to escape into hasn’t budged — it’s gone up. Welcome to the era of $70 AAA titles, deluxe editions that cost an arm and a leg, and microtransactions lurking in every corner of your favorite games.

$90? That’s the New Normal

It wasn’t too long ago when $60 was the gold standard for a new triple-A release. But with rising development costs, more ambitious graphics, and increasingly complex game worlds, publishers have quietly nudged that number up to $90 — and players are feeling it.

Meanwhile, indie games offer a breath of fresh air with their affordable price tags, but the big-budget blockbusters that dominate marketing campaigns are where the real sticker shock hits.

Want the “full experience”? Prepare to pay extra. Deluxe editions, season passes, and battle passes are now par for the course — sometimes costing as much as the base game itself. And don’t get me started on loot boxes and microtransactions, where a cosmetic skin can cost more than your morning coffee.

Publishers argue this model funds ongoing content updates and keeps games “alive.” Players? Many are frustrated, feeling nickeled and dimed after already dropping serious cash on a game.

1. Inflation and Supply Chains: The same economic forces hitting groceries and gas stations don’t skip over game studios and hardware manufacturers.
2. More Expensive Development: Games now have huge teams, massive worlds, and advanced tech that’s costly to build and maintain.
3. Market Expectations: Gamers expect longer-lasting, more immersive experiences — but those come with higher price tags.

Could we see a rollback? Unlikely. But there’s hope in emerging models: cloud gaming, better indie discovery, and evolving subscription platforms that shift cost from ownership to access. Gaming isn’t getting cheaper. But knowing the why can help you make smarter choices about where to spend your hard-earned coins. And remember: sometimes the best games don’t come with a $90 price tag.