The High-End of Console Gaming

Many people are rightly asking why gaming companies can get away with such higher prices today than they ever have done in the past. I have come to several conclusions on this. Console gaming is typically now more high-end than it ever has been. Not just in terms of the hardware, not just in terms of game productions and the costs involved there.

When the PS5 Pro came to market, that was the real test of the waters, so to speak. Everyone that’s jumping on getting that at a cheaper price has every right to. But also, it was the console that was a trendsetter in all of this. I think even more so than the Nintendo Switch 2. Then there are also more considerations. I’ve already talked about casual gaming, but there is a new generation of gamers coming that does not typically conform to our ideas of gaming today via console. They’re more typically inclined to be on mobile gaming. We’re probably the last generation of gamers that really love all aspects of the current setup. Therefore, in that mindset just as the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have sold out at probably the quickest pace they ever have done. It’s going to be very interesting if that kind of record pace continues. If it does, that means that our generation is typically willing to pay.

We can talk about tribalism, there is that. These companies know what they can get away with. But this time, I don’t actually think it’s going to be as easy as ‘vote with your wallets’. I actually think this time, this is a situation that’s going to be an ongoing scenario in the industry because of the high-end nature that console gaming is becoming.

When I say high-end console gaming. What I am saying is that the technology hasn’t been this advanced – as it’s catching up to PC. I think going into the next generation we will find out a lot more on a lot of the why’s that this is happening. Of course, for the now. The price rises for five year hardware are practically inexcusable. It’s going to be very interesting what lines they choose to go with to explain the reasons for those increases overall from their point of view.

However, I remember a time when I was on Push Square, or Pure Xbox. There was an article that came out. I remember commenting and saying on that particular article that they were aiming for professional gamers. I think many of us forget that there are people that are in gaming professionally as well. Whether it’s YouTube, IGN, Twitch etc. It’s kind of their job to really highlight areas that gamers are interested in. It’s typically those that are willing to spend no matter what the cost. In that sense, consoles are always going to sell. Of course, it doesn’t make great reading when you exclude a vast proportion of the gaming audience that has stuck with you throughout their entire gaming life.

It just really emphasizes to me that gaming has changed forever and no matter what assumptions of those reasons are or what the suits say is the reason. Or even, how many times we try to look for positives in things in the industry such as Game Pass.  I think there is going to be a vast majority who really just hate where the industry is heading and to be very honest with you. I’m there with you.