Sony sales dip during new-gen pricing crisis
It looks like gaming fans simply aren't buying games as much as they used to from PlayStation, as a new-gen price hike could be affecting sales.
04th May 2023 09:40
Sucker Punch Studios | Insomniac Games
Sony sales dip during new-gen pricing crisis
It looks like gaming fans simply aren't buying games as much as they used to from PlayStation, as a new-gen price hike could be affecting sales.
04th May 2023 09:40
Sucker Punch Studios | Insomniac Games
The cost of living has amplified everything for everyone across the globe, unless you hoard from the national grid or keep mining for oil. So, it's no surprise to see that same price amplification spread to video games.
After all, we can't have nice things in this economy, and as video game prices steepen to roughly $70 a go, it has gotten even tougher to enjoy the pastime. Yes, we know that classic game cartridges went for similar sums when adjusted for inflation, but that doesn't keep it from being incredibly expensive in the first place.
Unfortunately for Sony, this price hike isn't working as intended. We bet Jim Ryan regrets saying he thinks $70 is fair for new-gen releases.
PlayStation's $70 games are selling worse
As a result of the new typical pricing for video games coming up to $70, it seems as though Sony is struggling more than ever to actually sell games.
Some new data from Twitter user DeekeTweak suggests that players aren't buying games as much as they used to, and while console revenue is increasing, players aren't as willing to shell out for AAA titles.
According to new charts, game unit sales have been on a decreasing trend since 2020, while the video game pricing structure is going hand in hand with this.
These numbers don't include PC ports for Sony first-party titles, as they have been on the increase - but that's likely down to the fact that there are simply more ports available with Returnal, Spider-Man and The Last of Us Part I arriving recently.
Players aren't getting new games whatsoever
Plus, what's also incredibly interesting, is that subscriptions to PS Plus are about the same as they once were - certainly not heightened enough to make up for the gaps in game sales - so they're not even replacing game sales. The implication is that some players are simply going without.
It's a fascinating phenomenon, as it looks like video game fans are accepting that video games are out of their budget, meaning they're simply going back to not playing new games at all.
It's a huge shame that the rise in the cost of living is boxing people out of a means to forget about their financial woes. It's about time we return to the days of simply borrowing a mate's copy of a game.
About The Author
Joseph Kime
Joseph Kime is the Senior Trending News Journalist for GGRecon from Devon, UK. Before graduating from MarJon University with a degree in Journalism, he started writing music reviews for his own website before writing for the likes of FANDOM, Zavvi and The Digital Fix. He is host of the Big Screen Book Club podcast, and author of Building A Universe, a book that chronicles the history of superhero movies. His favourite games include DOOM (2016), Celeste and Pokemon Emerald.
