Recently, it was confirmed that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the upcomingNBA 2K21would be priced at $70instead of the industry-standard $60. To some, this is a sign that video game prices are set to increase across the board when it comes to next-gen releases, but other publishers have pushed back against that narrative. Activision has recently commented on the subject as well, though it doesn’t seem to want to commit either way.
Activisionpresident Rob Kostich was asked during the company’s earnings call about next-gen game pricing, but he did not provide specifics. Instead he simply said that the company would be revealing its plans in regards to next-gen game pricing “soon,” though stopped short of giving a clear answer as to when that may be. “For now, we’re just very excited for the launch of new generation hardware. We think it represents another strong leap forward in creating a really incredible entertainment and value for our fans as we look forward.” So it’s possible that Activision could be hiking up the price of its next-gen games to $70, but it’s equally as possible that the game prices will stay the same, so fans will just have to stay tuned.
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It’s possible that Activision could hold off on raising the prices of its next-gen games for a year or so. That way it can see how the market reacts to the higher price point of games likeNBA 2K21, and it could also clear up potential confusion between the current- and next-gen versions of its games. For example,Call of Duty 2020will likely be available for PS4 and Xbox One as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X, and consumers may be thrown off if one version of the game is $10 more expensive than the other.
As it stands, Activision has yet to even reveal any next-gen games, though it’s largely assumed thatCall of Duty 2020will be a launch title for thePS5 and Xbox Series X. It’s also possible that Activision’s other big holiday 2020 game,Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, will make the leap to next-generation consoles as well, though that has yet to be confirmed at the time of this writing.
Perhaps Activision is waiting to properly revealCall of Duty 2020before it decides to discuss its more specific next-gen pricing plans. Rumors are swirling that aCall of Duty 2020announcement is going to take place through theWarzonebattle royalesooner rather than later, so fans should definitely keep an eye out.
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