Recently Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald discussed the potential of retail video games dropping from their current average price tag of $59.99 back down to $49.99. The analyst predicts rocky economic times will force publishers to drop their prices in order to make buying games more appealing.
The analyst warns that a universal $10 price drop “would be fairly devastating for margins, as development and publishing costs would stay virtually flat, while sales would take a 20% hit.”
Here we gamers seem to find ourselves in a cache 22. We were all bummed when prices for new games rose from $49.99 to $59.99, and would love to see that price drop back down. But on the contrary, we don’t want the developers/publishers of our favorite games struggle to the point that they can’t make the games we love to play.
What do you folks think? Do you think that these developers/publishers have enough money as is, and that a $10 price drop wouldn’t hurt them too badly? Are you simply salivating at the prospect of cheaper new games? Would you be more likely to buy more games with a $49.99 price tag? Discuss!
Source: Gamer Daily
I’m excited that Mirror’s Edge already took a price hit. Anything to get more people introduced to the game. This is awesome news to anyone hurting for money for games. I would easily have bought a few more current gen titles for $50 upon release.
It’s something the gaming industry has to do at this point. They get hurt either way… if it stays that expensive, people won’t buy the game and if they lower it, people will buy it but they won’t make as much. It probably all evens out in the end. This is just how the world will be until things turn around in this economy.
I would love to see games lower their price, especially here in Australia where games are absurdly expensive. I don’t think the developers will struggle, some will just not make as much profit. It would help cushion the effect of the economic climate on the industry though.
It would be good for everyone if there was a price cut I think. And also, there is DLC so the devs can still make some money.