The Pricing Paradox in Modern Gaming

In the UK, blockbuster video games typically cost £70. These are big-budget games with amazing graphics and long gameplay. However, some recent games with similar quality are priced at only £30-£40.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won an impressive 436 game of the year awards. Its publisher, Kepler Interactive, deliberately chose a lower price. CEO Alexis Garavaryan explained that while larger companies regularly increase prices, his team takes the opposite approach. They want players to feel they are getting a bargain and that their money is respected.

Recent studies show that most gamers are spending less on new games. Only 4% of US players buy new games more than once per month. Garavaryan believes players now care more about exceptional and novel experiences rather than just high-quality graphics and long gameplay hours. This shift might make it harder to justify expensive blockbuster prices.