EA Defies Industry Trend: No Plans to Raise Video Game Prices

In a recent financial call, EA's CEO Andrew Wilson made it clear that the company has no plans to follow the trend of raising game prices, unlike competitors such as Microsoft and Nintendo, who have moved to $80 for their latest offerings. Wilson emphasized EA's commitment to delivering "incredible quality and exponential value" to its playerbase, highlighting the success of their co-op adventure Split Fiction, which has now 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 more diverse range of pricing models, from free-to-play to deluxe editions. He stressed that EA's goal is to ensure value at every price point, whether it's $1, $10, or $100. "When we can marry quality and value together, our business is strong, resilient, and continues to grow," Wilson stated, underscoring the company's strategy.

EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, reinforced this stance, indicating that the company's current pricing strategy remains unchanged. This news comes as a relief to gamers, especially following Microsoft's recent announcement of increased prices for Xbox consoles, accessories, and future first-party games, which are expected to cost $79.99 during the holiday season.

This decision by EA contrasts with the broader trend in the AAA gaming industry, where prices have escalated from $60 to $70 over the past five years. Nintendo has also announced $80 pricing for its upcoming Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 Edition games, amidst a $450 price tag for the Switch 2 console itself, which has sparked debate among fans and analysts alike, particularly given the current economic conditions.

Given EA's stance, fans can anticipate that the next iterations of EA Sports FC, Madden, and Battlefield will maintain the $70 standard edition pricing. This news comes on the heels of EA's recent layoffs, with around 100 jobs cut at Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment, and a total of approximately 300 positions eliminated across the organization.