EA Defies Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call with investors, EA CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that the company will not be raising the prices of its games, despite competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo increasing their prices to $80. Wilson emphasized EA's commitment to delivering "incredible quality and exponential value" for its players, highlighting the success of their co-op adventure game, Split Fiction, which has sold 4 million copies.

Wilson elaborated on EA's pricing strategy, noting the evolution of the gaming industry over the past decade. He explained that while selling physical copies in retail stores remains part of their business, it's now a much smaller segment. EA's current model spans a broad spectrum, from free-to-play games to deluxe editions, allowing them to cater to a wide range of consumer preferences and price points.

"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 emphasized that combining quality and value has proven to be a successful strategy for EA, leading to a strong, resilient, and growing business.

EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, reinforced this stance by stating that the company's current pricing strategy remains unchanged. This decision will be welcome news for gamers, especially following Microsoft's recent announcement of price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and some games. Microsoft's new first-party games are expected to cost $79.99 during the holiday season.

The trend of rising game prices is evident across the AAA gaming industry, with prices jumping from $60 to $70 over the last five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 price tags 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 but is seen as inevitable given current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can expect the next iterations of EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield to maintain the $70 standard edition pricing. This comes at a time when EA has also made headlines for cutting around 100 jobs at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment and making broader cuts affecting approximately 300 individuals across the organization.