EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call, EA has firmly stated it will not follow the trend of increasing game prices, as seen with Microsoft and Nintendo's recent moves to $80. CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the company's commitment to delivering "incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase," highlighting the success of their co-op adventure game Split Fiction, which has sold an impressive 4 million copies.

Wilson elaborated on the evolution of EA's business model over the past decade, noting a shift from primarily selling physical copies to a broader spectrum 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, it's a significantly smaller part of our business, and we now have pricing representing everything from free-to-play all the way to deluxe editions and beyond," he stated. This diverse approach allows EA to cater to different segments of their audience while maintaining their focus on quality and value.

Wilson further explained that EA's strategy remains consistent regardless of price points, aiming to provide the best possible experience for players. "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," he said. He underscored that combining quality with value has proven to be a successful formula for EA, ensuring a strong, resilient, and growing business.

CFO Stuart Canfield reinforced this stance by stating, "From a guidance perspective [...] we have reflected no changes in our current [pricing] strategy at this point." This decision will be welcome news to gamers, especially in light of Microsoft's recent announcement to raise Xbox prices, including consoles, accessories, and upcoming first-party games to $79.99 during the holiday season.

The gaming industry has seen a general increase in prices, with AAA games jumping from $60 to $70 in recent years, and Nintendo setting $80 prices for some Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. The upcoming Switch 2 console itself is set to launch at $450, a move that has drawn criticism from fans, though analysts argue it's inevitable given the current economic climate.

Given EA's comments, fans can anticipate that future titles such as the next EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield games will maintain the $70 standard edition pricing.

In other news, EA recently cut around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, with broader layoffs affecting approximately 300 individuals across the organization.