As the highly anticipated multiplayer reveal for Battlefield 6 approaches on July 31, with pre-orders also rumored to commence, speculation is rife about whether Electronic Arts (EA) will price the standard edition at $80. While the final decision is pending, recent statements from EA CEO Andrew Wilson indicate this might not be the case.
During a recent earnings call, as reported by IGN, Wilson stated, “We are not considering any pricing adjustments at this time.” He further elaborated that EA already implements a diverse pricing model for its varied game portfolio, encompassing free-to-play titles, standard paid releases, and premium deluxe versions.
Wilson emphasized EA`s strategy: “Our aim is always to cover the entire spectrum of pricing to best serve players and provide them with maximum value.” He confirmed that the company will keep exploring ways to offer value through different pricing models in the future, but no significant alterations are on the immediate horizon.
These recent remarks echo Wilson`s sentiments from a prior earnings call three months ago, where he made similar comments regarding $80 game prices, thus making his latest statements unsurprising.
Despite a recent European leak suggesting an €80 (approximately $94 USD) price tag for Battlefield 6`s standard edition, EA has not released any official pricing details. If pre-orders do indeed launch on July 31, more information is expected shortly.
Currently, Nintendo stands as the sole major publisher to release a new game at an $80 price point, specifically with Mario Kart World earlier this year. Interestingly, consumers could effectively reduce this cost by purchasing a $500 Switch 2 bundle. Microsoft had previously intended to introduce $80 titles, starting with The Outer Worlds 2, but subsequently reversed these plans.
An industry analyst suggests that consumers are prepared to spend $80 or more on new games, predicting that any publisher with the capacity will eventually raise prices. While Mario Kart World is currently an outlier, the average cost of new games could exceed $70 when factoring in deluxe editions. Furthermore, in-game microtransactions are a significant revenue stream, and Battlefield 6 is anticipated to include them.
However, not all publishers are increasing prices. For instance, 2K Games plans to release Mafia: The Old Country in August for $50. Take-Two, its parent company, stated this pricing decision aims for broader market accessibility. 2K elaborated that the $50 price reflects the game`s non-open-world nature and its shorter time commitment. “We believe there`s a substantial audience for engaging narratives that don`t demand extensive playtime,” commented 2K.