EA Defies Trend: No Price Hike for Video Games Planned

In a reassuring move for gamers, EA has announced that it will not be increasing the prices of its games, despite recent price hikes by competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo, who have moved to $80 for some titles. During the latest financial call with investors, EA's CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value" to its playerbase. He highlighted the success of the co-op adventure game Split Fiction, which has now sold 4 million copies, as a testament to this strategy.

Wilson elaborated on the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting a shift from primarily selling physical copies to a more diverse range of pricing models. "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, but it’s a significantly smaller part," he said. Today, EA's offerings span from free-to-play games to deluxe editions, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and budgets.

"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 stated. He underscored that when EA successfully combines quality and value, the company experiences robust growth and resilience.

CFO Stuart Canfield added that there are no planned changes to EA's current pricing strategy. This decision comes at a time when the gaming industry is witnessing a trend of increasing prices, with Microsoft confirming it was raising Xbox prices for consoles, accessories, and some games. Microsoft's price adjustments have already taken effect, with new first-party games expected to cost $79.99 during the holiday season.

The trend of rising prices in AAA gaming has seen costs jump from $60 to $70 in the last five years, with Nintendo setting $80 prices 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 point that has sparked debate among fans, though analysts suggest it may be inevitable amid current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can anticipate that upcoming titles such as the next EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield games will adhere to the $70 standard edition pricing. This news comes on the heels of EA cutting around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, along with broader layoffs affecting approximately 300 employees across the organization.