Former PlayStation President thinks higher Nintendo Switch 2 game prices were inevitable

Many gamers were unhappy after Nintendo revealed that some Switch 2 games would cost $80. Most releases are less expensive, but the industry faces challenging economic conditions. Tariffs and inflation are threatening to make gaming more of a luxury. Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, isn't surprised by the rising costs of games. However, in a PlayStation Inside interview, he also proposes ways to avoid excluding buyers with lower budgets.

Yoshida served as President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios from 2008 to 2019. He then transitioned to lead PlayStation Indies until his retirement in 2025. Yoshida was still part of Sony when it hiked the price of first-party PS5 games to $70 in 2020. When asked about the cost of Switch 2 games, he stressed the impact of production costs. As gamers expect increasingly realistic visuals and deeper gameplay, studios are becoming larger and spending more. These added costs are eventually passed on to consumers.

To control prices, Yoshida thinks smaller teams can create immersive games. He points to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has succeeded on a modest budget. Despite a $50 asking price, players encounter first-rate voice acting and music. Another tactic publishers use to offset costs is remakes and remasters. Even though Oblivion Remastered offers enhanced visuals, most remasters cost less to produce than brand-new titles.

Microsoft recently raised the prices of its consoles and first-party Xbox games. Many analysts expect a similar announcement from Sony. Still, Yoshida sees subscription services as another method to keep gaming accessible. For example, Xbox Game Pass is an affordable way to play AAA titles on day one. Unfortunately, Game Pass may also become pricier in response to tariffs.