EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call, EA (Electronic Arts) has made it clear that it will not follow the trend of raising game prices, even as competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo increase their prices to $80. CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to providing "incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase," citing the success of their co-op adventure game, Split Fiction, which has sold an impressive 4 million copies.

Wilson highlighted the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting that while physical sales remain a part of their operations, digital and varied pricing strategies now dominate. "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 explained. EA's current approach spans from free-to-play models to deluxe editions, aiming to cater 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 believes that combining quality with value ensures a robust, growing business.

CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this stance, stating, "From a guidance perspective [...] we have reflected no changes in our current [pricing] strategy at this point."

This announcement comes at a time when Microsoft confirmed it was raising Xbox prices, including controllers, headsets, and some games, with new first-party titles expected to cost $79.99 during the holiday season. The gaming industry has seen a general trend of price increases, with AAA gaming prices jumping from $60 to $70 in recent years, and 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 move that has drawn criticism from fans, though analysts see it as inevitable amid current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can expect the next releases in popular franchises like EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield to maintain the $70 standard edition pricing.

This news follows reports from last week by IGN, which stated that EA cut around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, with broader cuts affecting approximately 300 individuals across the organization.